One week with my Innova Hycross ZX(O): Why I don’t regret my choice

I’ve been getting around 19 km/l on the highways and 17 km/l in heavy city traffic.

BHPian Synergy007 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Hey everyone! So, I finally got my Hycross ZXo HEV Variant this week, and I wanted to share my thoughts on it. I had my mind set on getting XUV 700 vs TATA Safari and was dismissive of Hycross as it was at the back of my mind. The only reason I went for Hycross is Team BHP forum and this thread especially which helped me to decide and go for the Hycross. Please feel free to ask any questions or doubts.

Pre-delivery: I waited three months after booking to get my car. To speed things up, I opted for financing through a bank and insurance recommended by Toyota. The sales associate was super helpful throughout the entire process, from booking to delivery. I ended up with a loan at an 8.5% interest rate, which was slightly higher than the 8.3% I could have gotten directly from the bank. The insurance cost me 2.5L for three years of comprehensive coverage, including zero depreciation and engine protection. I also added accessories worth 35k. I paid the initial booking amount and then made a down payment of around 10L using my credit card, which helped me rack up a lot of reward points (though there was a 2% fee for using the card).

Delivery: Picking up the car was a breeze since I had completed all the necessary paperwork in advance. The whole process took about an hour. I brought along a driver to help me get the car home since I had never driven an automatic before. After signing a few documents, I took the car and drove it home. The accessories weren’t available at the time, so I had to return to the dealership a week later to get them installed.

The accessories included a front under-run, rear under-run, chrome side protector molding, ORVM garnish, and mudguards.

Driving experience: I’m absolutely loving it! I started driving the next day, gradually increasing the distance. I was a bit nervous about switching from manual to automatic, but it turned out to be much smoother than I expected. I now realize how much effort I used to put into driving a manual. My left leg has a rest area, so I don’t miss the clutch, but my left hand still instinctively reaches for the gear knob when I slow down. I just need to get used to holding the steering wheel with both hands.

The driving experience is smooth, and I hardly notice when it switches from battery to petrol unless I check the MID. It’s a big vehicle, and the transition from a sedan to an SUV/MPV has been manageable thanks to the various sensors it has.

ADAS

• It features a 360-degree camera, which, while not the best quality, effectively shows nearby obstacles and vehicles, making it easier to navigate tight spaces, heavy traffic, and parking.
• The blind spot monitoring system is a lifesaver; it lights up an orange warning on the ORVM when another vehicle is trying to overtake from behind.
• The lane departure alert gives a gentle tug on the steering wheel if you drift out of your lane on the highway, but you can easily adapt to it. It won’t trigger if you signal before changing lanes, which encourages good driving habits.
• The rear traffic collision alert is super useful, as it can detect people, animals, or vehicles from a distance, even beyond what you can see in the side mirrors when reversing. I haven’t used the cruise control yet.

Mileage: I prefer driving at a comfortable pace and dislike that strong push-back feeling when accelerating. The Hycross is perfect for me; just a light press on the accelerator and you won’t even notice you’re cruising at 60 km/h. A gentle tap on the brakes is all it takes to slow down. I’ve been getting around 19 km/l on the highways and 17 km/l in heavy city traffic.

Ceramic coating: I had a graphene coating applied at CarzSpa for 35k, which comes with a 5-year warranty and includes maintenance every five years. Cleaning off dust has become much easier, but I’ll need to see how it holds up in the long run.

Lights: I decided to upgrade to NFS 110w bifocal fog lights, and it made a huge difference. They illuminate the road ahead without blinding drivers coming from the opposite direction. The upgrade cost me 18k.

Sun Glazing Film: The dealer installed sun control film with a 70% VLT for the windscreen and 50% VLT for the side and rear windows, using ceramic-coated film from Sunkool for 12k. It definitely helps in cutting down glare and keeping the heat inside the car more manageable.

P.S. This is a March 2025 model, so it’s branded as HEV instead of Hybrid. It produces a distinct HVAS (hybrid vehicle acoustic sound) when running on battery, which is a change from the previous model that was silent.