Why the Innova still rules India’s roads
Maruti Alto, Swift, WagonR and Hyundai i10, are less than 4 metres in length, and consequently are far cheaper, thanks to a lower tax rate. In its 18th year, the car is on an unprecedented high—the addition of a hybrid version late last year is likely to catapult it to all-time-high annual sales this year. In fact, that version enjoys a near two-year waiting period and the demand is such that Toyota has had to halt bookings for two variants.
So, why is the Innova Toyota’s golden goose in India? And why has no other vehicle in the MPV segment come close to competing with it in the last two decades? When it was launched in February 2005, the Innova had big shoes to fill. Toyota’s mainstay at the time was the Qualis MPV—globally, the third-generation Kijang—in which the Japanese carmaker had driven into India in early 2000. Despite its boxy shape, the Qualis had built a reputation as a no-nonsense workhorse and at the time some questioned the decision to discontinue a hugely successful car to bring in another.
“We anticipated the requirements of customers and the Innova was a result of that. Based on the global IMV platform (which also spawned the Fortuner and Hilux), it was meant to be a spacious, convenient and practical vehicle for consumers in India," says Atul Sood, associate vice president, sales and strategic marketing, Toyota Kirloskar Motor Ltd. “In a way, the Qualis highlighted the need for a vehicle like that in India, which was not being fulfilled.
The Innova simply built on that foundation." In 2005, the Innova came with a 2 litre petrol and 2.5 litre diesel engine. The MPV had a rear-wheel drive system, and was longer and wider than the Qualis. It could also be equipped with modern safety features such as
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