2023 Toyota Innova Old vs New: Spot the differences

With the launch of the 2023 Toyota Innova, many of you are probably wondering how different it is from the previous version. It might be that you’re considering the said model as your next car, or you currently own an Innova and you’re just curious.

The all-new Toyota Innova represents a new chapter in the MPV's history, and we'll help you spot the new features it brings compared to the outgoing model. 

Global Premiere of the All New Kijang Innova Zenix

2023 Toyota Innova Old vs New: Exterior 

At 4,455mm long and 1,850mm wide, the new Innova is longer and wider than its predecessor. Height remains the same at 1,795mm, while the wheelbase has been extended at 2,850mm.

Toyota says that despite the increased proportions, the third-generation Innova is 170 kilograms lighter than the second-generation model, as the former is now underpinned by the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA-C) unibody platform for the first time, shared with the Noah/Voxy minivan. This is a marked departure from the ladder-frame International Innovative Multi-purpose Vehicle (IMV) platform that the Innova originally shared with the Hilux pickup and Fortuner SUV.            

A distinctive front end defines the new Innova

Up front, the new Innova brandishes streamlined LED headlamps flanking a downsized hexagonal grille, compared to the larger intake on the previous iteration. The front bumper has been redesigned to incorporate a full-width black plastic trim piece, now sporting a pair of horizontal LED daytime running light strips on either side. As with the older Innova, the new one features round foglamps close to the front chin, albeit moved closer towards the center.   

True to Toyota's positioning of the Innova as an "Innovative Multipurpose Crossover," black body cladding can now be seen at the sides. The wheel arches are noticeably more angular in appearance compared to the round contours on the outgoing Innova, joined by a revised character line on the profile that gives the new model a more 3D character. A flattened roofline results in a sleeker silhouette, while the third-row windows have also been redesigned.  

Where the old Innova had a manually-operated tailgate, the new Innova offers a voice-activated power tailgate as an available option. This is surrounded by new LED tail lamps that do away with the fang-like turn signal clusters in favor of a more horizontally oriented layout. Below the chiseled rear apron sits the rear bumper that visually echoes its front counterpart. Completing the look is a set of 18-inch alloy wheels on all corners.  

The new Innova (right) packs a more crossover-oriented exterior over the old model

>>> Related: Toyota Innova Maintenance: How much does it cost to own one?

2023 Toyota Innova Old vs New: Interior  

The 2023 Innova brings a more upscale interior, with increased overall space stemming from the shift to the new platform. Toyota has carried over the three-row seating layout to the new model, with improvements in occupant head- and leg room. Depending on the trim level, the new Innova can seat either seven or eight people inside, with second-row captain's chairs featuring an ottoman function and the rear bench having a central headrest.    

For the first time in the nameplate's history, the cabin now comes with a full-length panoramic sunroof up top, surrounded by ambient lighting. Climate control vents for the rear passengers are also mounted along the length of the ceiling, compared to the rear-facing blowers on the old version. 

2023 Toyota Innova Old vs New: Tech & safety 

A 7-inch digital gauge cluster comes to the new Innova, making relevant vehicle information more legible for the driver to see. The touchscreen infotainment monitor has been moved up the dashboard as a floating-type display while being upgraded to 10 inches. Smartphone connectivity and voice commands are available options, with rear occupants also benefiting from a pair of 10-inch touchscreens mounted behind the front headrests. Wireless charging is also offered.   

Another first for the Innova nameplate is the inclusion of Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, bringing driver-assist features such as a Pre-Collision System, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert, and Automatic High Beams. These complement the standard safety features including six airbags, stability control, and hill-start assist. The new Innova also offers a 360-degree camera array and blind-spot monitoring.   

The interior on the old Innova (left) and the new model (right)

>>> Related: 

• 2021 Toyota Innova: Expectations and what we know so far
• List of used Toyota Innova for sale in Philippines

2023 Toyota Innova Old vs New: Engine & Drivetrain

There are two significant changes under the hood where the new Innova is concerned. First is the return to a gasoline powertrain, doing away with the diesel engine that has been the sole option for the second-generation Innova. The second is the adoption of Toyota's fifth-generation hybrid assist for propulsion. 

A 2.0-liter standard combustion engine is offered as the default option, rated at 172 horsepower and 205 Nm of torque and driving the front wheels through a continuously variable transmission or CVT actuated by paddle shifters. This is joined by another 2.0-liter gasoline engine working with an electric motor powered by a 6.5-Ah nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery, resulting in a total system output of 183 horsepower and 187 Nm of torque. Routing power to the front wheels is an e-CVT.      

The 2023 Toyota Innova offers the same hybrid powertrain as that found on the fifth-generation Prius

For the latest car news, reviews, and more helpful car maintenance tips, keep reading here on Philkotse.com.