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November 21, 2022

2023 Toyota Innova Features Ground-Up Redesign; Introduces Hybrid Engine To MPV


It’s official: Toyota has dropped the diesel engine in favor of an all-gasoline line-up for the all-new 2023 Innova.

After teasing its front-end, its hybrid powertrain, and its interior, it was finally launched globally in Indonesia. The 6 to 8-seater MPV (variant depending) features an entirely new product philosophy. For one, the rear-wheel drive, body-one-frame construction has been chucked for a unibody (monocoque) construction. Then, Toyota has adopted the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA-C) platform. Shared with the likes of the Toyota Corolla Cross and even the Lexus UX, it now means that the Innova has switched over to front-wheel drive.



Dimensionally, the all-new Innova is slightly longer (4,755 mm) and wider (1,850 mm) than the current Innova, but is as tall (1,795 mm). Its wheelbase is a generous 2,850 mm, while its ground clearance is a manageable 185 mm.

Under the hood, the Innova adopts a 2.0-liter Dynamic Force gasoline engine (M20A-FXS). Featuring both port- and direct injection, it’s available in both electrified and non-electrified forms. In pure combustion form, it makes 174 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 205 Nm of torque from 4,500 to 4,900 rpm. Opting for the hybrid pushes the outputs to 186 horsepower at 6,000 rpm, while torque is 187 Nm of torque with an additional 206 Nm of torque provided by the electric motor. Mated to an e-CVT gearbox (there’s no manual), it makes for a 50 percent improvement in both fuel mileage and CO2 emissions compared to the current model thanks to a nickel–metal hydride (Ni-MH) battery stored beneath the front seats.



Toyota says the all-new Innova takes on more muscular (SUV-like) approach to its styling. This is seen in its upright grille, blacked out fender flares, and 16 to 18-inch alloy wheels. Inside, it remains a well-thought of MPV. Its longer wheelbase and front-wheel drive architecture frees up more space, while features include a dashboard-mounted gear selector and a large 10-inch tablet-style infotainment system with USB Type C ports and a wireless device charger.

The Innova available in three trim levels: G, V, and Q. The higher-end ones boast of an electrically-adjustable large sofa-style seating for the second row complete with extendable footrests and a rear entertainment system, LED mood lighting, dual zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, and even a voice-activated power tailgate. Higher grade variants also get Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 which offers an array of advanced driver assist technology such as pre-collision automatic braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and automatic high beam. This is on top of anywhere between two to six airbags, ABS with EBD, a 360-degree camera, and blind spot indicators.



For the Indonesian market, the all-new Innova bows in starting at IDR 458 million (P 1.671 million) and tops out at IDR 611 million (P 2.23 million) for the top-of-the-line Innova Hybrid Q CVT equipped with the Modellista body kit.

How do you find the all-new Innova?

2023 Toyota Innova General Specifications
  • Overall Length: 4,755 mm
  • Overall Width: 1,850 mm
  • Overall Height: 1,795 mm
  • Wheelbase: 2,850 mm
  • Ground Clearance: 185 mm
  • Front Tread: 1,560 mm
  • Rear Tread: 1,580 mm
  • Engine: M20A-FXS 16-valve 4-cylinder, DOHC, Dual VVT-i
  • Displacement: 1,987 cc
  • Bore x Stroke: 80.5 x 97.6 mm
  • Compression Ratio: 14.0:1
  • Fuel System: Direct Injection + Port Injection (D-4S)
  • Fuel Tank: 52 liters
  • Maximum Output: 186 horsepower (combined) / 152 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm (engine)
  • Maximum Output of Electric Motor: 113 horsepower
  • Maximum Torque: 187 Nm @ 4,400-5,200 rpm
  • Maximum Torque of Electric Motor: 206 Nm
  • Drivetrain: 2WD, FF
  • Transmission: e-CVT
  • Front Suspension: MacPherson Strut w/ Stabilizer
  • Rear Suspension: Torsion Beam Axle w/ Stabilizer
  • Front Brakes: Vented Disc
  • Rear Brakes: Solid Disc
  • Parking Brake: Electric Parking Brake w/ Auto Hold
  • Tires and Wheels: 205/65R16, 215/60R17, 225/50R18

36 comments:

  1. Probably the biggest improvement of Toyota's midsized MPV since the transition from the Revo to Innova. I understand Toyota's decision to keep the interior and exterior styling familiar and not totally out-of-this-world in order to make the dramatic drivetrain transition seem less intimidating. It is, if I am not mistaken, also the first "common" or "pang-masa" Toyota vehicle in the Philippines with Toyota's Dynamic Force tech. If priced right here in the Philippines, the Innova Hybrid will be the big push for electrification in the Philippines, at least as a hybrid; similar to what the Prius did when it first launched in developed countries over a decade ago. Other carmakers should follow suit ASAP because the later they release their hybrids, the slimmer their chance of competing against Toyota here in PH

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    1. Most certainly. If the 1st gen Innova was already a quantum leap from the Revo of yore, this will practically be like a car from another planet once you drive the Zenix back-to-back with the last ever Tamaraw.

      As for the Dynamic Force tech, the Innova Zenix will also be the first ever Toyota sold with the Direct Shift CVT (the one with a legit launch gear) and will even get the 5th gen hybrid that debuted with the EU-spec Corolla Cross and the 5th gen Prius. Overall this car is pretty exciting for all the right and wrong reasons (the Innova may no longer be a PH made product anymore with this magnitude of a change). Toyota will probably have a 2023 to remember with an all-new Innova on the way and an all-new Vios not too far behind.

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  2. Looks to be too expensive & exotic to be used as the default UV Express for Baguio City or similar situations. The manufacturer that can make a basic RWD diesel MPV would easily corner this huge market. And no, those FWD 1.5L gas-powered pilit na 7 seater subcompact AUVs aren't the answer.

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    1. UV Express operators moved on to Urvan,View Transvan and Hiace..Diesel powered RWD market shrunk due to stronger demand for much cheaper FWD MPVs.

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    2. Right. Those ancient "10-seater" diesel RWD body-on frame Tamaraw / Revo / Adventure / Crosswind generation are long gone, as it is not economical to create a new diesel vehicle that meets today's emissions. Clean turbo-diesel is expensive and not worth it with today's oil prices where gas is recently cheaper. Transport companies have moved on to proper sized commuter vans, while families have downsized to 1.5 liter gas 7-seater FWD unibody Xpander / Avanza-Veloz / Mobilio-BRV / Stargazer. The Innova now is too expensive a vehicle, and at its asking price point people will rather buy a proper midsize SUV.

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    3. Not in mountainous towns like Baguio, where the white Innova is the default UV Express vehicle of choice along with the primitive jeepneys. Larger vans are used for extra-urban travel.

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    4. Urvan and Hiace are miles better than the diesel Innova.

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    5. Could Toyota continue to sell the current-gen alongside the new one (like the case of HIACE), to address that market if it proves to be viable? That could be a manageable transition for owners not willing to part with RWD and Diesel power yet.

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    6. Might be possible. Toyota Indonesia has done that with the Avanza. However, the old-generation Avanza is only available for fleet clients only.

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    7. I'd rather get an Innova than a PPV-SUV.

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  3. So basically it's a 3-row, 7-seat Corolla Cross, slapped with the venerable "Innova" emblem.

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  4. It looks more like an SUV now. Everything's the same these days.

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    1. Toyota undercut their own overpriced RAV2 with this model. If this comes in cheaper than the base model RAV2 then there's no reason to buy that anymore with its conventional gas-guzzling engine, bare interior & only 5 seats.

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    2. Highly reminiscent of Mazda's redundant SUV strategy, where they introduced similar models like the cx8 and cx 9, and the cx 50, 60 etc. It seems Toyota also wants to make everything a type of crossover or SUV.

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  5. The new Innova is like a bigger Avanza.

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  6. Some observations and a bit of prediction-eering: 1. The wheels seem small in relation to the wheel well and body and are also not flush to the width of the car. 2. Wind deflectors seem to be standard fit. I also see it in photos of the new BR-V. 3. This looks like the new face Toyota will adopt for next-gen Fortuner and Hilux. 4. Suddenly some wallets in the country have been closed to wait out the launch here instead of buying what's currently available.

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  7. The torque output of the new gas engine is much lower than the diesel unit. It will make this a gas guzzle in city traffic.

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    1. The CVT should compensate for that. CVTs are more efficient than regular A/Ts. On top of that, the 2.0 dynamic force engine has the world's highest thermal efficiency in production petrol engine, meaning it's very efficient at turning fuel in to energy.

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  8. The cheapest RAV2, err 4, is already at 2.2M, and that's with a conventional gasoline engine & only 5 seats, no way this would come in lower than that, so this model won't even come close to becoming a mass-market bestseller like the current version. It's just kuchi-level fanb0i wishful thinking that this Innova would become a great mass market seller like the current one is. The 7-seater 1.5L AUVs are already at 1.3M, while the cheapest Grandia is at 1.8M, and those long 15-seater vans aren't even a choice for most operators for intracity transport. Those 2 brilliant people above think these UV Express operators should be buying Fortuners or Grandias instead, lulz. 🤡

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  9. huh, im not sure i understand this vehicle anymore, seems like br-v avanza and the likes are now filling the place innova used to have, and innova is pushing into the fortuner territory(?). everything's blurry these days

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  10. This is a Perfect combination with many of the beautiful exotic and sports cars here in the PH.

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    1. UnknownPanda (Keane Calimlim) Please no unrelated topics here.

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  11. At least this is a true Toyota using TNGA. However, TNGA seems to command prices 1.5Million & up.

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  12. Another observation is that the 3rd row still has that stuck-on middle headrest instead of an integrated one. I hope this time the third row folds flat instead of the crude and outdated mechanism of the old one.

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    1. The third row seats already folds flat based on the vlogs I see on YouTube.

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  13. The hybrid is around 2.2m and the gas 1.7m (Indonesian price). Those are already SUV price category. Innova is no longer the poor man's SUV. The styling though and overall features are cossover-ish so good bye "poor" Innova. Let's see how this new category will fare in this tight wad market.

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  14. Looked like toyota is still in a long way of catching up with the newer Chinese cars. No turbo yet. All the Japanese cars have dated engines. Low tech. Bad suspension

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    1. What??? 🤔🤔🤔Maybe what u mean is another way around. The most important things to consider in buying a car are the reliability/durability of engines and transmission, after all its primary purpose is to transport you with out hassle.

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    2. Turbos have their advantages but not everyone wants a turbo. Turbos are an additional complexity that is avoidable in the operation of a vehicle. They are costly to replace and maintenance costs are higher.

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  15. Remember back when AUVs looked like SUVs (top of the line Revo, Adventure, Crosswind), and it's no surprise with this vehicle if it looks more like a Crossover slash SUV. They already did this kind of styling a long time ago. They're just bringing it back.

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  16. Diesel powered AUV RWD genre is lone gone since PPV SUVs and FWD mini MPVs are way more popular since late 2010's.
    Isuzu Traviz is the last diesel RWD AUV commercial vehicle developed and released.

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    1. In your fantasy world maybe. Visit mountainous provinces first before making that sweeping, baseless claim.

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  17. Not sure but I've been hearing news that the next-generation Fortuner might come with a diesel hybrid power plant.

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  18. Uly, is the hybrid the primary motor when driven like the Nissan Kicks or is it just what they call light hybrid.

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    1. This is basically a Corolla cross with extra 2 seats. So probably like the hybrid corolla cross.

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