Introduction

It is quite difficult to fathom that the Toyota Innova is over a decade old. Sure, there have been a few updates along the way but the popular MPV has stayed in pretty much the same shape and yet it now costs (the top-spec trim does anyway) nearly twice as much as it did back in 2004. That being said, the Innova will soon be replaced by a new bold looking model with nicer interiors and a powerful drivetrain, all at the expense of an even higher price tag. And given that the existing Innova is already quite a pricey affair (especially the top-spec ZX trim), perhaps now is the right time to hunt through the classifieds and opt for a less-driven used Innova despite its high resale value.

Why I'd buy it

The Innova is built to last, and last long. And it’s why I’d buy it in a heartbeat if I were to keep and run a used car for years to come. The overall built quality is first-rate and it will probably take 6-digit figures on the odometer for the cabin plastics to start rattling or squeaking. And because everything inside the cabin and the mechanical bits are hardwearing, the Innova is immensely reliable on the long run. Do not be surprised to see mechanically fit cars with well over 2 lakh kilometres on the clock.

Don’t let its enormous footprint fool you; the Innova is quite easy to drive in the city. A high driving position, light steering and a large glasshouse all contribute to mask the sheer length. Helping matters further is the torquey 2.5-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine along with the shorter gearing that ultimately make the Innova surprisingly zippy to drive in the city.

Why I'd avoid it

As good as it performs within the confines of the city, the Innova runs out of breath quite briskly out on the highway – the urban-friendly gear ratios are to blame here. In fact, it does 100kph at a rather high 2,700rpm in fifth gear, which is never good for a 100bhp diesel engine’s efficiency. This also takes a toll on the highway efficiency which, at around 12kmpl, is not really a segment leading figure.

While this isn’t exactly a reason to avoid, the fact that less-driven examples are few and hard to find comes across as a dilemma for prospective buyers. Thanks to its bulletproof reliability and all-round appeal, Innovas are truly deemed as workhorses and as a result, often rack up close to 50,000km in a couple of years of ownership and that ultimately makes the hunt for a clean, low mileage example quite tedious if you ask me.

My favourite version

There are plenty of trim levels to choose from but ideally, the VX 7 seater BS4 trim makes the most amount of sense. It comes with dual airbags, ABS, climate control and even a reverse camera as standard. A well-kept three-year-old example with around 25,000km on the clock can be had for Rs 12 lakh.

Quick facts

Price (used): Rs 6-15 lakh

Engine: 2.5-litre, 4-cylinder common rail turbocharged diesel

Gearbox: 5-speed manual

Fuel efficiency: 11-15kmpl