Innova Crysta vs XUV500 : Which One to Pick?

We Indians love the Toyota Innova — there's no other way of saying it! What else justifies sales of close to six lakh units over a span of a decade? Yes, the good ol' Innova has been a darling of the chauffeur driven seth and the taxi market at large. That said, it was a boring design and was utilitarian for the sticker price. With the Crysta, Toyota has addressed those issues. It looks like a business lounge on wheels, and from the inside — it is one!

On the other end of the spectrum is the Mahindra XUV500. A vehicle that had all imaginable creature comforts stuffed into it, from the word go. Yes, there have been some niggling concerns over reliability and quality. Nonetheless, the XUV has been the poster boy for Mahindra, packing technology cars a segment above usually have.

Wondering how the Crysta stacks up against the Mahindra? We have the answer!

Dimensions and Design

Design-wise, the cars are as different as chalk and cheese. While the Innova Crysta follows the traditional MPV design directive to the T, the XUV500 is a butch crossover that has an imposing presence.

The Innova carries clean and understated looks. Nothing feels out of place, and bits like the smoked out projector headlamps, the large hexagonal grille and the 17-inch wheels make the Crysta look handsome. The Mahindra, on the other hand, is full of aggression. Elements such as the gloss-black grille with chrome whiskers, flared wheel arches and the sheer visual bulk of the XUV500 is likeable. 

Space and Seating

Like before, the Innova Crysta is available as a seven and an eight-seater. We're glad the Crysta retains the widely loved captain seats for the second row, and are pleased to report that they are even more comfortable than before. 

The XUV500 is wider than the Crysta, but has a smaller wheelbase, thereby compromising on some legroom. Headroom is marginally better in the Crysta as well. Both cars also have a third row of seats. The Crysta trumps the XUV500 in this department too, with even more space both in terms of legroom and headroom.

Engines 

Mahindra has stuck with its 2.2-litre mHawk motor for the XUV500, that generates a healthy 140PS of power and 330Nm of torque. The motor can either be had with a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic. Moreover, one can also pick between FWD and AWD. 

The Innova Crysta gets two diesel engine options — a 2.4-litre and a 2.8-litre unit. The smaller engine develops 150PS and 343Nm of torque, whereas the bigger unit develops 174PS and 360Nm. While the smaller engine is available only with a 5-speed manual, the latter can be had only with a 6-speed automatic. 

Pricing

Prices for the Mahindra range between Rs. 12.0 lakh - 17.8 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai). The Crysta starts at Rs. 13.84 lakh and goes all the way up to Rs. 20.78 lakh. For the same price (approximately Rs. 15.99 lakh) as a top-spec XUV500 manual, one can choose the Innova Crysta with a bigger 2.8-litre engine mated to an automatic transmission. However, at the same price point, the Crysta isn't as well-equipped as the XUV500 as it misses out on features such as leather upholstery, automatic climate control, projector headlamps, touch-screen audio system and a lot more. The only upside is that it has a bigger engine and an automatic gearbox for the same price. 

The two also cross paths around the 17.5 lakh mark. One can choose between a top-spec AWD automatic XUV500 or the VX trim of the Innova Crysta with the 2.4-litre engine. Here, the Mahindra and the Toyota are on par when it comes to features, with both getting some premium elements such as ambient lighting, projector headlamps with daytime running lamps and offering top-notch safety, with six and seven airbags respectively. The tables turn, in this case, wherein the 2.4-litre engine is available only with a manual transmission, whereas the Mahindra brings an automatic transmission to the table. Moreover, the XUV500 gets an all-wheel-drive setup as well. 

Wrapping Up

One pays a premium of Rs.3.5 lakh for the top-spec manual Innova Crysta compared to the XUV500. The price-gap widens with the automatic, where the Toyota is expensive by nearly Rs. 4 lakh. While both cars are on par when it comes to features, one does get much better quality of plastics, a more powerful motor and Toyota's reputed reliability for the added price. In case you still need some help deciding, do check reviews of the XUV500, XUV500 Automatic and the Innova Crysta to get a better idea. 

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