- Olga Kokorina
- Translated by Olga Apetenok
- Ru He Fr
Toyota Innova Minivan. Frame inside, Kijang outside
The Toyota Innova is a compact minivan produced by Toyota (Japan), although this vehicle is not available in the Land of the Rising Sun. Production began in 2004 in Indonesia, then in other countries. The vehicle is sold in India, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Brunei, the Middle East, Myanmar, Ecuador, Egypt, Jamaica and Argentina, but not in Japan itself. The name ‘Innova’ is an abbreviated English word for ‘innovation’.
Interestingly, the Innova is not a derivative of any passenger model, as usual. The minivan comprises a frame chassis assembled on the Toyota IMV platform. This makes the Innova akin to the Hilux pickup and the Fortuner SUV. It has a frame inside and Kijang outside. Keep on reading to find out what it means!
In Indonesia, the official name of the minivan is Toyota Kijang Innova. Kijang is an Indonesian word that denotes muntjacs (deer that live in that area), as well as a series of rear-wheel drive vehicles, which included pickups, light commercial vans and minivans, which were sold mainly in Southeast Asia. The Toyota Kijang first appeared in Indonesia in 1977 and immediately became the most popular vehicle in the country. The Innova has not only inherited the name from its ancestors, but also the basic principles: strong build quality, Asian-style design, the ability to serve people and endure hardships.
The first generation
The first Kijang Innova was released in Indonesia on September 1, 2004. The minivan could be equipped with a 2-liter 1TR-FE gasoline engine with a VVT-i system (136 hp), a 2.7-liter 2TR-FE VVT-i gasoline engine (160 hp) or a 2.5-liter 2KD-FTV diesel (102 hp, Common Rail). There were 4 trim levels, with the top-end version featuring a 2.7-liter engine with a 4-speed automatic transmission, but this modification was removed in 2007 due to low demand. The remaining vehicles offered a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic transmission. All variants were rear-wheel drive only.
The Toyota Innova did not become very popular in some countries, so its production ended there (South Africa), but at the same time there were regions where the vehicle was in demand and went into mass production. For example, the Innova faithfully worked as a taxi in Vietnam. The model was the first product of Toyota Motor Vietnam (TMV). Indonesians loved the vehicle so much that the vehicle was restyled three times (2008, 2011 and 2013).
The second generation
The second generation Innova was released on November 23, 2015. The vehicle was based on a new platform from the Fortuner of those times and new diesel engines, while 2-liter and 2.7-liter gasoline engines were borrowed from the previous generation after modernization. There were two transmission options: a 5-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic transmission. The second Innova was produced in Indonesia and India, and was also supplied as vehicle kits for further assembly in Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. Moreover, the Innova was supplied to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates with a 2.7-liter 2TR-FE engine (164 hp) and a 6-speed automatic transmission. The vehicle featured an independent front suspension and a rigid axle rear suspension.
The new Toyota Innova became 150 mm longer (4,735 mm), 55 mm wider (1,830 mm) and 45 mm higher (1,795 mm). The wheelbase was the same 2,750 mm. The minivan had seven seats, but more expensive versions with separate second-row seats were six-seater. The interior had the contour lighting. The list of minivan equipment became longer. The list of options included seven airbags, a stability control system, two air conditioners, a keyless entry system and an electric fifth door.
In October 2020, the restyled vehicle was shown in Thailand. The restyled 2020/2021 Toyota Innova received new bumpers, a radiator grille and modernized optics, acquiring LED dipped-beam headlamps. There is also an updated media system with an 8-inch screen (for top-end trim levels). There is a new flagship version called the Venturer. It is distinguished by plastic trims along the perimeter of the body, black decor and dashing 17-inch wheels (16-inch wheels are standard). The interior is finished with artificial leather, and the multimedia has a 9-inch screen.
