Siliguri, April 24: Accustomed to heavy-duty army vehicles and four-wheel drive jeeps carrying tourists, the rugged roads from Gangtok to Nathu-la saw a new kind of carrier yesterday.

India's first sedan-cum-multi-utility vehicle (MUV) climbed the mountainous route with a complement of six passengers and luggage.

?There wasn't a hitch, and the Innova negotiated all the climbs and curves with ease,? said K.K. Swamy, the deputy managing director of Toyota Kirloskar Motor, after returning from the trip.

He stressed this to dispel any doubts over whether his group's latest product was suited for hill roads or not. The Bangalore-based Swamy, however, assured that spare parts for the vehicle would be available for the next 10 years.

First launched in Mumbai in February, the ?international innovation multipurpose vehicle? was unveiled for the people of north Bengal after a series of launches through the country.

The engine and the gearbox of the vehicle are imported from Japan and assembled in Bangalore.

Though at Rs 7.4 lakh, the diesel model costs a lakh more than the diesel Qualis, Pradip Sharma, the chief executive officer of Topsel Toyota, Siliguri, is confident that the Innova will be a popular vehicle. ?About 25 bookings have already been made since the beginning of this month,? he said.