Refreshed Innova Minivan Completes Toyota’s Thai IMV Lineup

BANGKOK – Toyota Thailand’s long-standing reputation for building functional and reliable no-frills vehicles for emerging markets is best typified by its Innova compact minivan, the third model in its locally built lineup to come from the auto maker’s International Multipurpose Vehicle program.

The other two IMV vehicles, the Hilux Vigo pickup and Fortunner SUV, received early-summer makeovers, and the 7-8-seat Innova now follows suit.

Innova minivan offers body kits for customization.

The Innova often is overlooked, but it forms a core component of Toyota's strategy for emerging markets.

For example, it is the best-selling vehicle in the rapidly expanding Indonesian market, where it is known as the Innova Kijang. The minivan also plays an important role in India, where it is used for most everything, from taxicab to police car.

Other regional markets that assemble the Innova include the Philippines and Vietnam.

The upgraded Innova better fits with Toyota's mild repositioning of the Hilux and Fortunner to create a more distinct line of vehicles.

The three models reflect a stronger design language and more luxurious appointments to appeal to upwardly mobile consumers who want vehicles that reflect their changing standing in society. The new styling, Toyota hopes, also will bridge the gap between minivan and passenger car.

To accomplish this, the Innova’s bland styling receives a friendly family-hauler front grille with sharp planes. This combines with a stronger new bumper incorporating a gaping lower intake that symmetrically opposes the grille. The fog lamps now are round and slot into new black frames. A new hood and sharply profiled headlights complete the front fascia.

Optional body kits are available for buyers wanting more of a more custom look for their vehicles. These include deeper front and rear bumpers, side skirts and a tailgate spoiler that gives the Innova a more muscular stance.

Also available are 15-in. alloy wheels, a rear-lighting unit and body-colored door mirrors. The vehicle’s exterior comes with a choice of three colors: silver, black or white.

With minivan body kits gaining in popularity in emerging Asian markets, these added styling cues should help the Innova grab the attention of design-conscious buyers who otherwise would pass on a minivan.

Inside, the Innova’s cabin seeks to push the minivan more up-market with softer touches that break up a sea of hard plastics. There is a redesigned instrument panel and more-pronounced control knobs.

The radio/CD player has been improved and USB/auxiliary ports now are available. There also are wood and metallic trims and a chunkier steering wheel, wrapped in leather for higher-trim levels. New eyewear storage and a reading light have been added. All models come with air conditioning.

The refreshed Innova arrives in Thai showrooms this month with a 2.0L engine coupled to a manual or automatic transmission. Prices range from 840,000 baht ($27,600) for the 2.0E manual model to the 2.0V automatic for TB1,079,000 ($33,740).