What's in a name? Why the all-new Toyota Innova will be called the Zenix

The all-new Toyota Innova will now be called the Toyota Zenix, and it will be available starting this Thursday, June 22nd, at Toyota showrooms nationwide. 

As reported previously, the next-generation MPV will feature a hybrid powertrain to headline the brand's push toward carbon neutrality. This will be the same 5th-generation Toyota Hybrid System found in the all-new Toyota Prius. It features a new power control unit and transaxle designs, lighter components, a more powerful lithium-ion battery, and revised calibration for more responsive driving. 

The Toyota Zenix also represents everything new with Toyota and its cutting-edge hybrid system. Some might say that along with the new monocoque chassis, front-wheel drive, 10-speed CVT, and the ditching of the diesel engine, it is no longer the same Innova that many Filipinos have come to love. 

Also Read: 2023 Toyota Innova unveiled! Hybrid confirmed

So, is the name change justified?

The interesting thing about automotive marketing is that, at the end of the day, it's all about telling a story. Car companies spend millions of pesos to convince buyers that their products are the best in the market and that they should buy them. But to do that, the message must be convincing and clear. 

Toyota Motor Philippines could have easily called their all-new MPV another Innova and been done with it. But the differences to the outgoing product are so evident that it must have felt like a different model altogether. 

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

So here are some reasons why we think Toyota's bold move to replace drop the Innova name and replace it with the Zenix nameplate is a good call.

Everything's new

The old Innova has become a staple in the MPV category. Filipino families have trusted it for almost two decades; it has also been a default workhorse for many businesses. It has truly lived up to the Mulit-purpose Vehicle classification.

However, despite being associated with a proven track record, the Innova name also relates to antiquated tech. From the ladder-frame chassis to turbodiesel engines and rear-wheel drivetrain, the Innova is now the product of an older generation. 

The all-new Toyota Zenix is built on a unibody TNGA chassis, similar to the brand's cars. It will be front-wheel drive; it will have a 2.0-liter gasoline engine, a CVT, and hybrid technology. It is engineered to be more comfortable and less utilitarian while also maintaining the versatility that the Innova MPV had boatloads of. 

Creating a new model line with the name change lets go of the past product's shortcomings and embraces the future direction Toyota is sending this category. Plus, the new Zenix name also justifies the higher sticker price. Toyota has announced its two variants: 

• ₱ 1,670,000.00 for the gas variant
• ₱ 1,953,000 for the HEV

An almost two-million peso Innova would have been a bitter pill for car buyers to swallow.

Besides, this isn't the first time Toyota introduced a new name to an existing product line. The Innova itself was the successor to the Revo, which was the successor to the Tamaraw FX. And the Altis tag is now just as standard as the Corolla name itself. 

The name says it all

A cursory check online reveals the meaning of the name, Zenix. According to urbandictionary.com, Zenix is a  "name given to a person of high intelligence and kind nature." 

Now, considering how evolved this new generation MPV is compared to its Innova predecessor in terms of comfort, technology, and design, adding the Innova nameplate might confuse buyers about what the product stands for.

The Zenix is undoubtedly different from the truck-based people-mover Innova. So creating a new product line that matches all the new features is justified even from a non-marketing point of view.

Because the Innova will still be produced locally 

As we have also reported, a possibility before will now become a reality. Toyota Motor Philippines will continue selling the current generation Innova with a diesel engine. So expect an optimized lineup come Thursday as the Zenix starts appearing in showrooms. 

Not only will this satisfy the traditionalists who see MPVs as "pang-harabas" workhorses, but it will also keep jobs at the TMP factory in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

There is still a massive market for the diesel Innova. It sold 17,810 units in 2022 in various trims. So, it makes sense for TMP to retain this name and differentiate it from the Zenix. While both models are MPVs, each does its job differently and offers distinct features unavailable to the other.