Toyota Innova New Facelift: A Refreshed Take on a Timeless Favorite
In the increasingly competitive multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) segment, Toyota’s Innova has long been a benchmark for reliability, comfort, and practicality. The latest facelift of this family favorite represents Toyota’s commitment to keeping the Innova relevant while honoring its utilitarian roots.
Exterior Upgrades
The most noticeable changes occur at the front end, where Toyota’s designers have implemented a bolder, more contemporary fascia. A hexagonal-shaped grille now sports a distinctive chrome finish that stretches toward newly designed LED headlamps, which incorporate daytime running lights for a more premium appearance. The bumper has been completely redesigned with larger air intakes and integrated fog lamp housings featuring chrome accents, creating a more aggressive stance while maintaining the dignified character that Innova owners appreciate.
Interior Enhancements
Step inside the facelifted Innova, and you’ll find that Toyota has focused on elevating the cabin experience. The dashboard receives a complete overhaul with soft-touch materials replacing many of the hard plastics found in the previous iteration. A new floating-style infotainment screen takes center stage, growing to 9 inches in premium variants. This touchscreen interface supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, addressing a long-standing request from Innova owners.
Infotainment and Connectivity
The 9-inch infotainment system forms the centerpiece of these improvements, featuring a completely redesigned user interface with improved response times and sharper graphics. Connectivity options expand to include:
- Wireless smartphone integration
- Built-in navigation with real-time traffic updates
- Voice command functionality with natural language processing
- Remote vehicle monitoring through a dedicated smartphone app
- USB-C ports throughout the cabin for faster device charging
Safety Features
Toyota has never compromised on safety, and the facelifted Innova reinforces this commitment. The Toyota Safety Sense suite of active safety features now comes standard across more trim levels, including:
- Pre-collision system with pedestrian and cyclist detection
- Lane departure alert with steering assist
- Adaptive cruise control
- Automatic high beam
- Road sign assist
Engine and Transmission Options
The 2.4-liter diesel engine receives calibration updates to improve fuel economy by approximately 8% while reducing noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) levels. Output figures remain competitive at 148 horsepower and 343 Nm of torque. The 2.0-liter gasoline option also returns with minor refinements to the variable valve timing system, resulting in slightly improved response and economy.
The 6-speed manual transmission or the 6-speed automatic, with updated software for smoother shifts and better fuel efficiency, can be paired with both engines.
Hybrid Option
Perhaps most significantly, select markets will receive a hybrid option for the first time in the Innova lineup. This system pairs a 2.0-liter gasoline engine with an electric motor and small battery pack to deliver impressive fuel economy figures of around 23 km/l in combined cycle testing – a remarkable achievement for a vehicle of this size and practicality.
Conclusion
The facelifted Innova makes significant strides in the technology department, elevating the cabin experience, connectivity, and safety features while maintaining its focus on family-oriented practicality. With its refreshed styling, refined powertrains, and expanded technology options, the Innova remains a strong competitor in the MPV segment, poised to attract a loyal following from families and fleet operators alike.
