Toyota Innova

Inside the cabin, Toyota Innova features a uber-cool dashboard that is again unconventional for the MUV standard. With a characteristic flow at the top, it comes with a large 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system at the centre, surrounded by fake aluminium panels and a thick fake wood panel on both sides. The centre console becomes sort of minimalist towards the bottom portion with small buttons for climate control.

The updated infotainment system now houses a 9.0-inch touchscreen display with Wi-Fi support, internet browser, voice commands, reverse camera, Android Auto, and Apple Carplay compatibility. It is available in 2.0 X and 2.0 G variants.

The leather-wrapped T-shaped steering wheel is adjustable in both tilt and telescopic manners and incorporates integrated buttons for audio and Bluetooth. It looks similar to somewhat seen on the Toyota Fortuner;

The high roof and large windows aid in making the interior more airy and open, something fundamental in a MUV. The seats are comfortable, and there is enough space in all three rows. The overall build quality feels built to last, in a typical Toyota fashion.

Though Innova always had a striking exterior design, the third-generation model set standards even higher for the MUV. It looks far from being boring and gives some higher-priced SUVs a run for their money, as far as overall styling and stance are concerned. Dimensionally, it is 4,735 mm long, 1,830 mm wide, 1,795 mm tall, and has a wheelbase of 2,750 mm.

The front design is dominated by a huge gloss-black grille with two parallel chrome stripes near the top, whereas the bottom corner gets boomerang-shaped chrome strips. On the upper corners of the grille, there are voguish headlights featuring fancy LED projectors and daytime running lights. In addition, top-spec X trim gets lower body skirting for a sporty appeal.

On the sides, the MUV looks sharp and aerodynamic, thanks to its long stance complemented by a long character line flowing all the way from the headlamp to the rear tail light. The overall side profile looks more elegant with classy 17-inch alloy wheels and chrome finish for door handles and window waistline.

At the rear end, the MUV features a large roof spoiler, tail lamps with a gloss-black piece of trim between the two, and a pokey bumper with some more plastic and chrome trim.

Always known for its road manners and comfort within the cabin, Toyota Innova created a new benchmark in the segment. It comes with the conventional suspension setup, feels more composed, thanks to the longer wheelbase, and large 17-inch alloy wheels shod meatier tyres. Inside, all the three rows have a generous amount of legroom, shoulder room, and headroom. The third row can accommodate two full-size adults with ease.

The MUV comes with only a single engine option in the Malaysian market. All the variants are powered by a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder In-line DOHC engine churning out 139 PS of maximum power and 183 Nm of peak torque. The engine is mated to a new 6-speed automatic transmission with Sequential Shifter and returns a mileage of almost 11 kmpl as compared to 8.9 kmpl before.

With a 5-star ASEAN NCAP rating, the MUV features seven airbags, ABS with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist, vehicle stability control, traction control, hill start assist, front and rear parking sensors, ISOFIX mounts and blind spot monitor with rear cross traffic alert. Better yet, all these are available even on the base variant, which is always a welcome sight.

The top-spec Innova might look a pricey vehicle to some atRM 127,126; however, it is well justified with the number of features and comfort it offers. Toyota Innova ticks all the boxes right – be it styling, performance, comfort, or equipment levels. It proves that MUVs can look stylish and be desirable. Also, the comfort level and space offered inside is clearly unmatchable. Indeed, Innova has been the king of the segment and given the finesse of the new generation model.