Informative Comparisons and Road Tests:
THIS MONTH WE HAVE COMPARED THE ALL-NEW TOYOTA INNOVA CRYSTA WITH THE Renault Lodgy and the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza with the Mahindra KUV100. We have also tested the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Mercedes-Benz C 250 d.
It may be recalled that the Toyota Innova was launched in 2005 priced at Rs 8 lakh and now, 11 years and a couple of facelifts later, the price has gone up to Rs 18 lakh. The new Innova Crysta is a big improvement over its predecessor. The engine now delivers more performance, better fuel effi ciency and refi nement. One of the problems with the old Innova was that while cruising at 140-150 km/h, you felt that the engine was over-revving and running out of breath. In the Innova Crysta you can cruise effortlessly at 150 km/h. The ride quality, handling and stability have all improved. This MUV now offers a lot more space and luxury. Now there is an automatic variant with a 2.8 engine as well.
Today if you can drive a car half decently and read a little bit on the Internet, you become a self-proclaimed expert on automobiles. To evaluate a car, an SUV or an MUV you should be able to push it to its limit and also have driven a variety of cars so that you can benchmark and compare a product with the best in its segment. All cars feel good below 120 km/h; it is only when you exceed 140/150 km/h that good handling stands out, inspiring confi dence and a feeling of safety and security. The Internet is very good but it also has its disadvantages because anybody can thrash a car and post the report on the Internet. As the old saying goes, a little knowledge is dangerous.
EDITOR – ASPI BHATHENA
