This Review isn’t about comparing the Toyota Innova and the Chevrolet Tavera as options for a purchase… I have not looked at running

costs, servicing, driving experience et al. Instead, in this review, we shall look at the differences between the Innova and the Tavera as vehicles you may hire on a holiday for long trips.
Why the Innova and Tavera only? Well, because they are popular as Taxis, unlike a Safari or Scorpio. Also, they are better than the old Sumo, though the new Sumo Grande may change things in the Taxi operator segment.
So without further adieu, let’s get on with this comparo.

          

First things first, looks… err… wait a sec, do you really care about the looks of a taxi which you are travelling in? No. So let’s examine a far more important business… Interiors, since that is where most of us will be spending time as passengers.
I have travelled in an Innova G-4 Diesel and a Tavera Neo B3 LS2.5, both of which were in a reasonably agreeable condition, with 30,000 kms on the odo.

          

As soon as you get into the Innova, you immediately feel the expanse of space, this thing is huge inside! Even with the front passenger seat pushed all the way back, a 5’9” person in the middle row will easily have enough legroom. The environment, of beige colour, is also a nice place to be, and Toyota’s thoughtful touches stand out… like bottle holders for each row, including the back rows, AC vents for all 3 rows, with individual controls for each row, and the ability for the front passenger to close his AC vents. This is an important feature, since in the front AC only Tavera, the front passenger will feel the most cold, but he has no choice, since the rear passengers want comfort. Also, the Innova’s AC cooled the cabin a lot more effectively than the Tavera’s, thanks in part to those individual vents for each row.

          

The back row is normally where most people hate to sit, but in the Innova, it’s not too bad. Agreed, making 3 sit in the back for long periods of time is torturing them, but children will easily feel comfortable in the back seat of the Innova, as compared to the Tavera. The Tavera’s interiors also lacked essentials like bottle holders, and the seats were a bit more uncomfortable than the Innova’s both front, middle and rear. The quality of materials could also not match the Toyota’s.

          

The engine noise in the Innova is not intrusive at all, even at a cruising speed of 100kmph, while the Tavera seemed to run out of breadth by that time, and the drone from the engine was a lot more at 100kmph. You would feel more comfortable covering the miles in the Innova than the Tavera. Why? Well, apart from the more comfortable seats, better Air Conditioning, less noise and better materials, the Innova has a ride quality which easily thumps the Tavera. Maybe the Tavera I travelled in had not a well maintained suspension, but the impression I got was that the Tavera allowed more bumps to filter into the cabin over the same stretch of road than the Innova. Also, the secondary ride was worse than the Innova’s, i.e. after the front wheels feel a bump, it travels through the car, then to the rear wheels, whereas in the Innova, the suspension smothers bumps much more nicely, though it still isn’t nowhere near Mercedes levels, you definitely do not want the driver doing high speeds over any bumps in either vehicle.

          

Regarding luggage, well, both will carry that on the roof, and both should accommodate enough luggage.
So there you have it, the Toyota Innova has a better Air Conditioning system, more comfortable seats, better interiors, a quieter engine and a better ride… then why should you even consider a Tavera for hire for a long trip… in one word Price… generally, as far as I have seen, the per km/per day cost of Hiring a Tavera is lower than an Innova, though the rates vary from place to place and from Tour Operator to Tour Operator.

          

The Tavera is not a bad vehicle, far from it, and if Toyota were still selling the Qualis instead of the Innova, it would have given it a tough fight. But I say, if you can afford it, definitely go for the Innova, it is a more comfortable vehicle to be driven in.

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