4 things to love about the Innova Touring Sport

It wasn’t too long ago when office-types would cringe when I reco the Innova as a daily office drive. Maybe it’s that first-gen body they don’t like or it’s the image of the Revo that comes to their mind (which not too long ago was the Tamaraw FX), but a lot has changed since then.

The arrival of the Avanza significantly changed the status of the second-generation Innova into something more than just a plain MPV (multi-purpose vehicle).

First of all, it grew bigger and shed the conservative exterior for a sharper and more sophisticated look that would satisfy any soccer mom or Mr. Big Shot businessman any day of the week.

But to appeal to the adventurous types out there, Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) amplified the Innova’s strong and robust image with the Touring Sport which comes with enhanced exterior features to show off a more youthful vibe as it appears on the road.

It is available with a five-speed manual transmission (MT) and six-speed automatic transmission (AT) with sequential control.

Here are five things to love about this newest trim of TMP’s best-selling MPV in the Philippines.

Exterior

That Red Mica Metallic, which looks like a shade darker than your ordinary red, is oozing with appeal and really sets it apart from other Innova trims and other MPVs, for that matter.

Gone is the rounded body shape that made it look plain and ordinary. It has now trimmed and slimmed down to show more lines and curves for added texture and style. Overall, it is just so much more pleasing to look at.

That all happened without giving up any real estate as the Innova is now bigger than its predecessor with a length of 4,735mm, width of 1,830mm, height of 1,795mm, and a wheelbase of 2,750mm.

Plus, it’s the only trim with smoked multi-reflector halogen headlamps, a black grille with chrome accents, 16-inch matte black alloy wheel, and fender molding with FR & RR diffusers near its bumper.

My pro tip? If you’re getting one, give it a 20-10-percent tint to make that red really pop against the black elements of the exterior.

Interior

It uses keyless door lock/unlock but key-in ignition.

The interior appears bare with the plastic dashboard and fabric seats but that’s somehow saved by the contoured layout of the dashboard and the faux carbon fiber trim that makes the whole cockpit look chic.

The air-conditioning controls are all manual and there’s an infotainment touch display on the center stack with CD + tuner + MP3 + Bluetooth + Navigation- ready with USB and Auxiliary Input. Audio is sent to the cabin’s six speakers.

The instrument panel is rudimentary but easy to read with its large dials on the speedometer and tachometer. It comes with a fuel and temp gauge right below. In the middle is the trip computer and gear indicator.

Telephony and infotainment controls are on the left stalk of the urethane steering wheel.

Second-row occupants will also enjoy the aircon vents above that will definitely help cool down the cabin all the way to the back of the cabin even on a hot and humid day.

There aren’t a lot of tech stuff here but the layout is the clean and shows a no-fuss interior with plenty of space for its eight-passenger capacity and even for cubbyholes and pockets for various devices and gadgets that you bring along.

Engine

It uses the same engine as the top trim, a 2.8-liter diesel engine with variable nozzle turbo, a chain drive, and intercooler. It puts out a healthy 171hp and 360Nm of torque straight to either a five-speed manual transmission (MT) or six-speed automatic transmission (AT) with sequential control.

PWR (power) Mode gives much faster response times because demand from the engine is increased and it keeps the revs pretty high so that it can adjust immediately to road conditions and driver input. Based on audial and visual cues, this is not a fuel-efficient mode.

If you want to save fuel, stay on ECO mode, which, for drives within the city, will be more than enough even if retards engine response for higher fuel mileage.

Overall consumption in pure city driving is 11.8 kilometers per liter with the Innova 2.8 Diesel AT.

Ride and handling

The diesel clatter is something the Innova has never tried to mask so if you want a quieter machine, it may be something to consider.

With a four-link coil spring in the rear, it still gives the kind of stiffness you need for cargo loading, but the independent coil spring, double wishbone with stabilizer in front suspension lightens the recoil a little bit to make it feel just a lot less rough and more comfortable in the city.

What’s impressive is the ability of this unit to make itself feel light, whether you’re riding solo or with the gang. Overtaking or up steep inclines are no problem even with a curb weight of close to 1,700 kilos.

Photos of the Innova G from Toyota Motor Philippines