New Toyota Innova: Reasons to buy

The second-generation Toyota Innova that we see on the roads today was launched in Malaysia back in December 2016. This new Innova brought around many changes to the already well-serving and big seller that it was. Compared to the bland and blobby design of the old model, the new Innova looked far more upmarket and belonging to the price tag that it wore. Toyota also took the decision of updating the interior, tacking on more safety kit, while engineers managed to massage more power from the engine.

The 2019 Toyota Innova is offered in the base 2.0E trim at RM 115,280, mid-option 2.0G at RM 123,400, and as the full bells-and-whistles 2.0X variant at RM 132,400. Just in case you haven’t made your mind on buying the new Toyota Innova yet, here are some reasons why you should.

Looks far better than before

While the previous model lacked a certain visual appeal, with the new one, you should have no such qualms. Toyota seems to have gotten the message loud and clear, so for the new iteration, the Japanese carmaker upped the ante. The front of the new Innova is now dominated by a sizeable gloss-black grille with two parallel chrome stripes near the top, while the bottom corner gets boomerang-shaped chrome strips. The voguish headlamps now feature fancy bi-LED projectors and daytime-runners as well.

Meanwhile, the shapely bumper is fitted with the Innova’s turn indicators, and chrome-surround LED fog lights within a single housing. Further down, there’s a faux skid plate/spoiler arrangement and some more chrome garnish. The revamped side profile now boasts new, black-finish 17-inch alloy wheels with slightly exaggerated fender flares, some SUV-esque black lower body cladding, angular C-pillar and rear quarter glass, and some more chrome bits to add to the new model’s premium appeal. The restyled rear now features a large roof spoiler, stylish tail lamps with a gloss-black piece of trim between the two units, and a pokey bumper with some more plastic and chrome trim.

It’s also bigger than before, coming in at 4,735 mm in length, 1,830 mm, and 1,795 mm in height - that’s an increase of 150 mm, 70 mm, and 35 mm, respectively. No alterations are made to the 2,750 mm wheelbase, and the cabin remains spacious as before. Overall, the new Toyota Innova definitely puts forth a more assuring and richer story than the car it replaces.

A posh interior complements the exterior

Opening the door of the new Innova will reveal the effort that Toyota has put in to bring it up to speed. For the most part, there is no dull and dreary trim in here, and everything is exactly where it should be. Of course, the fake wood inlays all over the place are overkill, and it certainly doesn’t belong on the steering wheel. However, along with the grey/silver trim on the door, dashboard, and centre console does help in lifting the ambience of the cabin. The large windows and high roof aid in making the interior more open and airy - something fundamental in an MPV. The design of the dash, doors, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and instrument cluster undeniably look and feel posher than before. The seats are comfortable, and there’s enough space in all three rows, too.

On the features side of things, you can now have auto-on and auto-levelling headlights, automatic climate control, drive mode buttons, power-adjustable driver’s seat, keyless entry with push-button ignition, ambient lighting, parking sensors with rear camera, plus an 8-inch touchscreen with navigation, voice recognition, Wi-Fi, smartphone connectivity, etc. The interior space of the fully-loaded Innova feels surprisingly rich, that’s despite that fake wood trim. The carmaker has even improved upon the NVH with extra insulation, whereas build quality and reliability remains a major strength.

Improved safety kit

After owners complained of the lack of safety features in the previous model, Toyota seems to have pulled up their socks when it came time to launch the new Innova. It now comes armed with a 5-star ASEAN NCAP rating plus seven airbags, electronic stability and traction control programmes, hill-hold assist, and anti-lock brakes among others. Better yet, all these are available even on the base variant, which is always a welcome sight.

More power, lower fuel consumption

The 2.0-litre, naturally-aspirated engine now benefits from the implementation of Dual VVT-I, which is Toyota’s parlance for variable valve timing. This means it now produces an extra 3 hp and 1 Nm - bringing the total output to 137 hp and 183 Nm. Combined with the new 6-speed automatic transmission, the new Innova returns almost 11 kmpl (compared to 8.9 kmpl before). However, the marginal increase in power means this still isn’t a fast car.