Toyota Kijang Innova facelifted over in Indonesia

August 2013 - Toyota Indonesia releases a facelift of the consistent selling Toyota Kijang Innova for the Indonesian market. We know this van, or people carrier as the Toyota Innova. This is the third facelift since its introduction in 2003 and this is the look that we Malaysians may get eventually. I hope we don't as it isn't drop dead gorgeous, more like drop dead and that's the end of it ugly.

This facelift adds a larger more horrifyingly ugly grille, redesigned bumpers front and rear as well as some trimming here and there. The interior gets a four spoke steering wheel and dual airbags. I may suggest a paper bag for the driver to cover his head while driving the darn thing. I again have to state that I hope that Toyota Malaysia does not use this facelift.

I have never been interested in the Toyota Innova.
And no, writing this article isn't my way of telling you people out there that I now am interested in this supposedly passenger vehicle. It is just my way of spreading the word and telling people otherwise.

This vehicle, much like its smaller sibling was designed for Indonesia, India and other really third world countries. It has a robust (read: totally antiquated) ladder on frame chassis, a 2.0liter 136ps engine that is shared by the Toyota Hiace van and the Hilux pickup and other commercial vehicle stuff - it isn't a high tech fuel saving engine as fuel figures are run of the mill average at its best. If a passenger vehicle is based on a commercial vehicle, it isn't going to be efficient, comfortable or good looking. The lucky thing is that Malaysians have been smart enough to choose the Proton Exora, Nissan Grand Livina and the Perodua Alza over this ugly beast and  also not choose its smaller and equally abysmal Toyota Avanza.

This brings me to my personal experience with the Innova. I basically was chauffeur driven in one all over Jakarta a couple of years ago while on holiday. In Indonesia, the Innova is everywhere. People use them because of its robustness and the fact that Toyotas are regarded as the reliable vehicle to have. And they are bloody reliable, these Toyota vehicles. There's no denying this fact.

And how was the experience? Not very memorable, with the exception that my daughter, who was quite used to the ride in my coilover equipped Impreza or even the cars accessible to us - a Proton Wira, Perodua Myvi, Toyota Camry, a few Mercedes Benzes at that point of time, ended up feeling sick nearly every time we boarded the Innova to go someplace. She even puked a load on one occasion. In fact, our trip in a small mini bus was more cosseting for her. She didn't puke even once while on the bus trip to and from Bandung. I think the little girl must think that the bus is better than the Innova.

As for Yours Truly, I noticed that while carrying seven passengers (one pre-teen and two teenagers, rest adults) the 2.0liter petrol engine was pinging slightly from the lower grade octane (RON91 - the standard grade of petrol over in Indonesia or the evern lower RON88 that is also sold there ) that the Innova was using. It was adequate for navigating the jammed packed streets of Jakara and nothing more.

The Toyota Innova is what it is. A car that was designed for the rough and tough conditions of Jakarta or New Delhi and their outskirts where the roads aren't that great. It is also nondescript and one can travel anonymously through most cities in Indonesia. Bloddy good if you don't want to be a target for anyone who carjacks for a living. And that's about it. Here in Malaysia, where things aren't as bad (trust me it isn't)....buy something else. Please.