I am planning to buy the 8-seater Toyota Innova HyCross petrol variant, mainly for highway use. Could you advise on its mileage and also suggest any alternative vehicles within a ₹25 lakh budget?

Autocar India

•9h

You should go for the Toyota Innova HyCross GX (O) if you want a true 7-seater with the roomiest third row of seats. The HyCross's 2,850 mm wheelbase and flat floor make the third row friendlier for adults than the Tata Safari or the Mahindra XUV 7XO. Furthermore, it's backed up by Toyota’s proven reliability and hassle-free ownership in India.However, you will have to compromise when it comes to the powertrain. The Hycross' 2.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine isn't as punchy as the Tata Safari and XUV 7XO's turbocharged units, and real-world mileage is quite poor, as we managed 6.9kpl in the city and 12.4kpl on the highway. The Toyota also doesn't get a diesel engine option like the other two.If you prioritise performance and high-end features, either the Safari or the Mahindra XUV 7XO makes more sense. As for pricing, the Innova HyCross GX (O) is priced between Rs 20.43 lakh and Rs 20.56 lakh (ex-showroom).

Toyota Innova HyCross

Tata Safari

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

•2d

You haven't mentioned your budget, but since you're considering a brand new Toyota Innova Crysta GX Plus variant, it is safe to assume that you're comfortable spending close to Rs 25 lakhs (on-road). Since this vehicle will be used for commercial purposes, it would be better to buy a new car to start with. You will be able to claim tax refunds as well as benefit from asset depreciation in your company's books. Additionally, you get the peace of mind of a new vehicle, and the backing of a company warranty.To address the second part of your question, the Maruti Ertiga VXI MT or Toyota Rumion S MT costs half as much as an Innova Crysta GX Plus, resulting in a tremendous saving. In fact, you can even buy two cars for the price of one Innova. Both, Ertiga and Rumion are equally reliable. And even though these are petrol-powered, they're quite fuel efficient, and their maintenance costs will be lower than that of the diesel Crysta. Between the Ertiga and Rumion, even though they're the same, the Toyota is a bit more expensive, hence purely from a savings perspective, the Ertiga makes more sense.Overall, all three cars you've listed are reliable, dependable, and are backed by the widespread, strong network of Toyota and Maruti. It is up to you to decide whether you want to buy a new Crysta GX or if you're happy to buy one, or even examples of the Maruti Ertiga and Toyota Rumion.Whichever you pick, these are cars you can't go wrong with.

Toyota Innova Crysta

Maruti Suzuki Ertiga

Toyota Rumion

Autocar India

•16h

While both brands are very popular, there's no doubt that Toyota has an edge over Mahindra when it comes to resale value. This is especially true of the Innova brand, which has made a strong name for itself with regard to reliability and longevity since its introduction in 2005, and that has passed on to the Innova HyCross strong hybrid as well.Moreover, given that electric cars have only been around a relatively short time and the longevity of their batteries is yet to be proven, there is uncertainty around them, and thus their resale value is generally lower than that of vehicles with an engine, which aren't solely dependent on their battery.So even after three years, the Innova will have a stronger resale value than the Mahindra XEV 9S. And yes, while the Mahindra has a long list of the latest features, the Toyota Innova HyCross in top-spec trim gets all the essentials and then some.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Mahindra XEV 9S