Toyota Innova Crysta

The Toyota Innova Crysta is a very popular and reliable car, known to run for several lakhs of kilometres, and it is likely to remain so for a long time. The fact that it is being discontinued in 2027 should not be a reason to sell it. Given particularly Toyota's strong and reputable reliability, and the relatively low maintenance required for a vehicle of this size and sort. 

If you are happy with the car, you should keep it, and the resale value of the car will not drop significantly. Moreover, while the Crysta might not live on past 2027, its platform and engine will be in the likes of the Hilux and Fortuner. So parts availability will not be an issue, and Toyota will support its huge base of Crysta customers for many years to come.

Firstly, to clarify the uncertainty around diesel, it's lifting as far as bans and regulations go. Even in Delhi, with the most stringent GRAP 4 restrictions in place. 

A modern BS6 diesel is exempt, which points to a realisation that modern diesels are clean and are not being targeted by the authorities. The Toyota Innova Crysta is your best choice from a space point of view, and gives you the option of a third row of seats as well. 

However, Innova Crysta is mainly aimed at the fleet segment and comes only with a manual transmission and a very functional interior that feels a bit downmarket. 

If you find the Hyundai Creta diesel comfortable, you can go for that as it has a wider rear than the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder hybrids. Also, the hybrid battery eats into boot space, so for your interstate trips, you may not have enough space for your luggage. 

Another good option is the Kia Seltos diesel, which has the most spacious back seat of all 

The Toyota Innova Crysta will be discontinued when the CAFE 3 emissions norms come around in 2027. But it should not be a cause for concern in terms of maintenance. As the Toyota Fortuner and Hilux - which share the same IMV platform and diesel engine - are expected to continue on. 

Thus parts availability will not be an issue and, as ever, Toyota's reputation for reliability and service precedes it. If you are still concerned, however, the Mahindra XUV 7XO is the next best option, and a much better value than the Innova Crysta, if not quite as spacious. The company has raised its production standards considerably since the days of the KUV100, so rust is unlikely to be an issue. 

As EVs are still relatively new, their performance after 15 years is still an unknown quantity. EV batteries are expected to have a shelf life of 10-12 years. During the course of which the battery's capacity to hold a charge will gradually deplete. 

After this point, it will have to be replaced, which is a high cost, although the savings on fuel over the years are expected to offset it. This, of course, reduces their resale value considerably compared to petrol or diesel cars. 

Public charging infrastructure is improving at a rapid rate, so the problem of busy chargers should be less with each passing year. But the best charging solution remains to have a charger at your home and at your destination, and to charge in small amounts as needed.

As for hybrids, the same battery concerns apply to them too - it's just that the batteries are smaller and therefore cheaper to replace. Self-charging strong hybrids aren't burdened with charging and therefore not dependent on charging infrastructure. But while they are super efficient, they still use petrol, which is expensive. Still, if you do plan to keep the car for 15 years plus, a hybrid would be a safer bet overall.