Toyota Innova 2012 2.5 G (Diesel) 8 BS-III - Design Review

In a country like India, you expect a carmaker like Toyota to be known for its small cars or entry-level sedans – but unfortunately this Japanese carmaker got those form factors to our market only recently. The big-T had a completely different strategy for India and it made its mark in our market by providing the most trusted people-carriers ever seen in this space – the Qualis and then the Innova. The latter has had such a stronghold in the market that any new player would have to think ten times before developing a product to compete with this workhorse. Now, Toyota has given the Innova a cosmetic makeover though – since new, better equipped vehicles like the Tata Aria and/or better value-for-money products like the Mahindra Xylo facelift, Nissan Evalia/Ashok Leyland Stile, Maruti Suzuki Ertiga etc. are warming their palms to grab the Innova’s market share. Let’s see how things have shaped up…

Well, speaking of the shape, the Innova is still the same people-carrier van that you have seen for over six years now. However, with the facelift, Toyota has tried to give the Innova a more car-like fascia. So what you get is a new front end that looks much similar to the new Camry and Corolla Altis. The headlights aren’t diagonal, wedge-shaped units anymore – instead they are horizontal and upright and wrap around the corners of the front end. The grille too is more upright now to gel with the re-profiled headlights. The bumpers have been redesigned too and get new fog lamp housings. Toyota has given the bonnet two prominent creases that flow into the grille – again aiding the car-like design on the front end.

The side profile remains more or less similar to the earlier Innova with a similar silhouette. There is the minor addition of the side skirts and the ORVM-mounted turn blinkers – which go ahead and give the Innova a slightly more premium touch as compared to the earlier model. The alloy wheels have been given a minor facelift too but the sizing remains similar to the outgoing ones. There is a new, stylised ‘intercooler’ emblem next to the front wheel arches now, which replaces the earlier ‘D-4D’ badging.

The tailgate of the new Innova remains largely unchanged. The only difference that the keen eye will notice is the revised detailing on the taillights. The ‘Innova’ monogram has been traded in for an embossed logo on the elongated chrome strip above the registration plate. On the top end variant, this chrome strip also hides a reverse camera that aids in parking this long people carrier. Overall, the new Innova now looks more docile, yet premium, as compared to the model it replaces.

Also Read:

Toyota Innova User Experience Review

Toyota Innova Performance Review