2023 Toyota Innova Hybrid unveiled for Indian market. PH next?

MANILA: In India, the 2023 Toyota Innova Hycross 2023 was officially launched as the latest generation of the Innova MPV, according to the ZigWheels outlet of that market. The model is available in five trim levels — with prices starting from around P1.2 million to around P1.9 million, when converted to local currency — and is powered with either a gasoline or gasoline-hybrid powertrain.

The petrol engine is only available in the first two trim levels of the 2023 Toyota Innova Hycross, while the hybrid powertrain is only available in the top three variants. For the middle row seats, the MPV can be ordered with either bench or captain seats, as before.

The concept of the 2023 Toyota Innova, according to Toyota Innova Chief Engineer Hideki Mizuma, is an "Innovative Multipurpose Crossover." He stated that Toyota's goal was to develop a versatile crossover with the space and utility of a minivan with global values. The 2023 Toyota Innova Hycross, according to Mizuma, is a car for a new era, inheriting the DNA of a vehicle that has long been loved by the public and has undergone various improvements.

Changes to the third-generation Innova are significant, beginning with the appearance that now wears a bold crossover style. The exterior concept of the 2023 Toyota Innova Hycross is "Glamorous and Tough," with curves and body sculptures that are both elegant and rugged.

The new model does away with the body-on-frame chassis of its predecessors. Instead, the Toyota Innova Hycross 2023 is built on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA): GA-C platform, which features a monocoque structure that improves driving comfort.

A two-liter gasoline and petrol-hybrid engine with 174 and 186 horsepower, respectively, that are connected to CVTs and e-CVTs, are the new powertrain options. According to Toyota, the hybrid vehicle will get 21.1 kpl and travel 1,097 kilometers on a single tank of petrol. The claimed performance time from zero to 100 kilometers per hour is 9.5 seconds.

ADAS, ventilated front seats, a big panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control, a 360-degree camera, and a digital driver's display are some of the key features of the 2023 Toyota Innova Hycross. Six airbags, a wireless phone charger, a larger 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto are further noteworthy features.

As for the driving character and fuel efficiency of the 2023 Toyota Innova Hycross, ZigWheels India has described these qualities as thus in their review of the model.

“[The> easy-to-drive nature is the hybrid powertrain which is responsive at low speeds thanks to the instant torque from the electric motor. It also feels refined thanks to it running most of the time in EV mode at low speeds and even when the four-cylinder petrol motor comes to life to charge the battery, it feels seamless and the drive remains smooth and comfortable.

The petrol motor too is refined and it is only when you floor the accelerator that the motor gets noisy as it stays at high RPMs to accelerate faster,” our counterpart wrote.

ZigWheels.com also compared the fuel consumption of the new version against its predecessor.

“[This powertrain shines> in terms of fuel efficiency. Despite being this large, heavy, and being driven enthusiastically, the Hycross was consistently doing 14-15kpl which is incredible. In our experience when driven similarly the Crysta diesel [current Toyota Innova> returns around 11-12kpl and the petrol 2.7 would have been under 10kpl.”

When or whether the 2023 Toyota Innova Hycross will be launched in the Philippines has not yet been confirmed by Toyota Motor Philippines.

Photos from ZigWheels.com

Also read: 5 of the most searched for MPV models in ZigWheels PH