SHORT DRIVE: PICKUP innovation
Should you save over 100,000 baht for the Innova MPV over the Fortuner SUV?
WHAT'S NEW?
The Innova _ the MPV variation built off Toyota's Hilux Vigo pickup _ gets the second facelift. Like in its Fortuner SUV sibling, the goal of this update is to make the Innova as car-like as possible to look at and be in.
That explains the sleeker head lamps, chromed front grille and new tail lights _ all aimed at giving the Innova a classier appeal.
The same goes for the inside that sees slightly better grade materials, a four-spoke steering wheel nicked from the Camry (and also used in the Fortuner now) and a TV screen for occupants sitting in the second and third row of seats.
The petrol unit is lazy.
In a bid to make the Innova more comfortable on the move, Toyota has softened the suspension.
Just a reminder: the Innova and Fortuner is based on the Vigo's chassis-on-frame body but utilises more ride-friendly coil springs at the rear in place of the leaf spring type, which is suited more for cargo-hulling.
WHAT'S COOL?
By being priced from 939,000 to 1.079 million baht depending on interior spec, the Innova is in a class of its own. It has more interior room than the similarly priced Honda Freed and nearly as much as in the 1.6 million baht Mitsubishi Space Wagon.
The Innova may have only six seats, but the centre ones are good to sit in as they are individual chairs with armrests.
Toyota's attempt in making the cabin more luxurious seems, to a certain extent, work and helps dispel the Innova's origin as a commercial vehicle.
And, of course, there's that TV monitor which makes sense in an MPV moving around families.
WHAT'S NOT?
Loads of them. First, the 136hp 2.0-litre inline-four petrol engine is sluggish and lazy. And mated to an ordinary four-speed automatic transmission, the 9kpl average we recorded on a trip to Hua Hin isn't attractive these days.
As another reminder: the Innova's 1TR-FE four-pot motor is for longitudinal and rear-wheel-drive applications; the ones used in the Camry and Corolla are for transverse and front-wheel-drive setups known as 1AZ-FE and 3ZR-FE accordingly.
Innova can look quirky.
Second, the driving manners in the Innova still lean on the crude side, despite the softer chassis setting. Grip and body control is lacking at high speeds, the steering isn't that precise and the ride still fidgets and vibrates over road expansion joints and potholes at low speeds.
Third, while there's enough usable space in the Innova, versatility is sort of ancient. Like in the Fortuner, the third row seats can only be stowed laterally against the sides of the car.
BUY OR BYE?
Mid-size MPVs priced at 1 million baht are uncommon, so there could be one good reason to go for the Innova. But if you really need three rows of seats, spending a little more for the Fortuner seems to be a better option.
In the Fortuner, you get seven seats, suave 4x4 looks and better ride comfort. And even though the Fortuner is a high-body SUV, its handling isn't inferior to the Innova's. Plus, the Fortuner's petrol engine is a bigger 2.7-litre producing 160hp. Even better, go for the 163hp 3.0-litre diesel version of the Fortuner.
Now, that's only advisable if you can afford the higher prices of the Fortuner (1.219 million baht for the petrol and an additional 100,000 baht for the diesel).
Where's the diesel?
Toyota Motor Thailand has stopped imports of the diesel-powered Innova even though the oil-burning technology has advantages over the petrol counterpart.
Company executives have pointed out that the Indonesian-built Innova in the past sold because many buyers wanted the petrol engine to convert it to running on natural gas _ a fuel type still controversially subsidised by the Thai government.
Toyota added that should punters go for a diesel-powered Innova, they would simply prefer to spend a little more for the Fortuner.
Which rather points to the Innova's acceptance among Thais _ the vehicle is merely bought by those who are very concerned about retail prices and running costs but not the product itself.
A TV monitor to entertain.
Credit: Bangkok Post (www.bangkokpost.com)
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