More to Love

MANILA, Philippines - Since its launch in 2005, the Toyota Innova has been the Philippines’s best-selling Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) selling 70,000 units cumulatively. When it was first launched, it offered the Filipino family a comfortable, dynamic and affordable MPV which offered features often reserved for much more expensive rides. So when the time came: how do you improve on something so accepted, so loved by the Filipino buying public? Simple: offer the same comfortable, dynamic and affordable equation and place it into a bolder, sexier package. This forms the basis of the 2012 Innova.

Still built in the Santa Rosa, Laguna plant, the new Innova has been refreshed with bold exterior and interior enhancements that add more style and sophistication in the way it looks and feels. All in all, it features no less than fifteen major enhancements to both its exterior and interior features to make it even more aesthetically pleasing and comfortable.

From the front, the Innova features a new hood that features four distinct strong character lines flowing onto a revised front grille that’s sandwiched at the top and bottom with a chrome accent. The headlamps and front fog lamps have also been re-shaped to a stronger, arrow-shaped design. Finally, accentuating the Innova’s more powerful image are the new front and rear bumpers. At the side, the Innova’s side protection molding (accentuated with chrome on some trim levels) is thicker and more protruding for added safety against door dings and the lower rocker panel is now lower giving a sportier look. At the back, the 2012 model features a new number plate garnish which incorporates the “Innova” name while the tail lamps feature a new, protruding design that gives a sharper appearance.

Inside, the 2012 Innova’s cabin lends a new feeling of elegance and comfort as well as practicality. For one, there’s comfortable seating for up to eight passengers (the V grade features a 7-seater configuration thanks to second row captain’s seats). The practical aspect is provided by folding, tumbling and reclining second and third row seats which can be arranged to almost any requirement. The feeling of elegance has been upped thanks to a newly re-designed steering wheel with integrated audio controls, a restyled instrument panel, interior wood grain trims with silver accents as well as an integrated 2-DIN CD/MP3 player with an auxiliary input jack for portable audio devices. Dual air conditioning is standard across the line with the G and V grades benefiting from a fully-automated set-up.

Under the hood, the 2012 Innova carries on with no major mechanical changes; and why change when it isn’t broke? The same choice of fuel-efficient, refined engines remain: a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder VVT-i gasoline with 136 horsepower and 182 Nm of torque, and a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder D-4D diesel with 102 horsepower and 260 Nm of torque (200 Nm for the manual transmission variants), both of which are Euro II compliant. The transmission choices remain a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed electronically controlled automatic.

On the safety front, the Innova offers genuinely solid handling thanks to the front Double Wishbone and 4-Link with Coil Spring set-up at the back. 205/65 R 15 is standard across the entire Innova line-up with all but the J grade getting a newly designed alloy rim. In addition, the 2012 model has airbags as standard across the line (dual SRS airbags for all but the base J grade which only has a driver’s airbag). Additionally, anti-lock brakes (ABS) are now standard for all but the J grade.

The 2012 Innova comes with the most number of variants that can cater to every customer need. Currently, it’s available in four different grades with 12 different variants. There are also eight colors available: Silver Metallic, Black, Bronze Mica Metallic, Super White II, Red Mica Metallic, Beige Metallic, Light Blue Mica Metallic and White Pearl (only available in the G and V variants). Pricing starts at P813,000 for the J grade, P923,000 for the E, P1,040,000 for the G and P1,165,000 for the V.

Along with the launch of the 2012 Innova, Toyota Motor Philippines also introduced its loyalty program which offers customers who currently own a Tamaraw FX, Revo or Innova to avail of the 2012 Innova with savings up to P40,000! And for those who own other Toyotas, they can acquire the new Innova with savings up to P30,000. This special promo expires today, February 29, 2012.

Toyota Motor Corporation Philippines has taken the challenge to improve the Innova, and they have succeeded. The 2012 Toyota Innova continues to offer everything a Filipino family can wish for: refined and comfortable driving, practical and worry-free ownership – now all in a bolder, sexier package.