Mas comfy! 2023 Toyota Innova first-drive impressions

The Toyota Innova is a popular multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) in the Philippines. 

Buyers and owners love it for its versatility and for its diesel powerplant. Now that a new version is available, many Filipinos are excited for its local arrival. 

It's also a popular vehicle in Indonesia, where the all-new Innova made its global debut on November 2022, with the Toyota multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) now having a six-month waiting period there. 

With the Innova reservations flying off the shelves and limited units available, only a few lucky buyers know what the Toyota MPV offers in its newest iteration, especially on long road trips. 

Our friends from AutoFun Indonesia got to test drive the 2023 Toyota Innova from Yogyakarta to Jakarta, an approximately 560-kilometer trip. Here are their first impressions and photos of the highly awaited MPV. 

Better chassis, better comfort

Right off the bat, the 2023 Toyota Innova offers you a more muscular design and a more luxurious feel. 

With its new Toyota New Global Architecture or TNGA platform and monocoque chassis, it provides better ride comfort, performance, and, most importantly, fuel efficiency figures thanks to the hybrid drivetrain in the top-spec Q variant.

It no longer shares the same ladder-frame construction as its siblings the Toyota Hilux and the Toyota Fortuner. 

Its new chassis also increases ground clearance by 18mm and offers an extra 40 mm of cabin space compared to the previous model. This all means being a passenger in the second row is significantly more comfortable than the previous Innova. 

The new comfort levels are also thanks to the new chassis and suspension setup. The 2023 Toyota Innova now uses Macpherson struts at the front and a torsion beam at the rear, compared to the front double-wishbone and 4-link rear suspension setup of the old model. 

The dampening for the new Innova is now adjusted to be a little softer so that it can easily absorb any road imperfection that might come its way. 

“When facing potholes or bumps in the road such as speed traps, there is no typical ladder frame vibration that shakes the car body strongly, "Kick" and vibrations generated from under the car feel more muffled," said AutoFun Indonesia content head Budi.

"Facing a bumpy road, there is no feeling of excessive shaking when sitting as a passenger in the back,” our colleague added.

Also Read: From electric tailgate to hybrid power -- here's what's new with the all-new Toyota Innova

Rear-seat entertainment system

The second row of the 2023 Toyota Innova is now the place to be, thanks to the addition of a Rear-Seat Entertainment (RSA) system for the V and Q variants. 

The RSA system consists of two 10-inch touchscreens behind the front seats. These offer access to features, such as movie streaming and much more as they are Internet-capable. 

However, these screens can vibrate while moving, resulting in a shaky viewing experience. There is also an annoying sound generated by these screens when they vibrate. 

A captain in comfort

On the road trip with the 2023 Toyota Innova, the Q variant also came with captain seats for the second row and offers an Ottoman bench. 

The backrest and leg rest of these seats can also be electrically adjusted, offering better comfort and ease of use. 

One thing to note is that when the leg rest raises, the distance from the front seat to the second row decreases, which means that your feet may end up touching the front seats. 

However, despite the minor inconvenience, the cabin of the 2023 Toyota Innova Q model is still great, with the huge moonroof giving the vehicle a comfortable atmosphere and a spacious impression. 

Worth the wait?

We have yet to see the official specifications of the Philippine version of the 2023 Toyota Innova. 

However, based on what the Indonesian version offers, it will be more comfortable and fuel-efficient than ever. 

Overall, the 2023 Toyota Innova is an excellent step above the previous generation of the vehicle. It may no longer cater to the diesel and hardcore ladder frame lovers out there, but if a premium vehicle is what you are after, the Innova offers that. 

Will you get the all-new Toyota Innova once it launches in the Philippines?