Innova 2.8 E Diesel MT

The Toyota Innova is a compact multipurpose vehicle (MPV) and one of the bestselling cars from the Japanese manufacturers in the Philippines. The car had its Philippines debut in February 2016. The facelift version was launched in February 2021 and the Innova has since largely remained unchanged with some minor changes. The 2.8 E Diesel MT is the second entry-level variant in the Innova series. The car has been a big hit in almost all South Asian and Asia Pacific countries.  

Pros

• Spacious cabin with lots of storage spaces
• Power delivery better than most competitors
• Decent mileage

Cons

• Lacks some of the more important tech and safety features
• Engine isn't much refined
• Noise insulation needs improvement

Specs and Powertrain

The Toyota Innova 2.8 E Diesel MT engine is equipped with a 2.8-liter, four-cylinder, diesel engine which produces 168PS maximum power at 3,600rpm and 343Nm peak torque at 3,400rpm. The motor is paired with a six-speed manual.  The suspension setup comprises of a double wishbone in the front and a multi-link setup at the back. The car is mounted on coil spring shock absorbers

What is the difference between the Toyota Innova 2.8 E Diesel MT and the top model?

The Toyota Innova 2.8 V Diesel AT is the car's top model. It comes with a bigger 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system and ambient lighting. That aside, the top model has extra driver-assist features and safety equipment.  

Is the Toyota Innova 2.8 E Diesel MT available in petrol?

No. The entire Innova range is available only with a 2.8-liter diesel engine. 

Interior

The interior of the Toyota Innova 2.8 E Diesel MT is a basic and tasteful. The fabric seats vary in color according to the trim. Black is the dominant cabin color with silver accents across the dashboard and on the air-conditioning vents. Hard plastics have been used extensively to keep the car's price affordable. But the plastic is of good quality and doesn't look cheap. The cubbyholes and cupholders extend up to the last row. The door pockets are massive. The Toyota Innova is a spacious car. 

Is the Toyota Innova 2.8 E Diesel MT a seven-seater?

Most variants of the Toyota Innova have eight seats with three rows of seating. Only the high-end V variants can seat seven people since those are equipped with captain's seats in the middle row. 

Exterior

The Toyota Innova is not one of the best looking cars in the Philippines MPV market. That's because the car is aimed more at practicality than style. But the Innova 2.8 E Diesel MT has a solid body construction, typical of all Toyota vehicles. This model gets multi-reflector halogen headlights. The car rides on 16-inch alloy wheels. While wheel size is smaller than many of its competitors, it also creates more cabin space. The longer wheelbase also helps in this regard. The exterior of the Toyota Innova 2.8 E Diesel MT is rather plain and unexciting.  

What are the dimensions of the Toyota Innova 2.8 E Diesel MT?

The car measures 4,735mm in length, 1,830mm in width, and 1,795mm in height. It has a wheelbase of 2,750.mm.

Drive and performance

The 2.8-liter diesel engine of the Innova is the same unit that hauls the Toyota Fortuner. But in the Innova, the engine has been detuned for a lower output. Handling-wise, the car has good ground feedback. The steering wheel is nicely weighted and responds promptly to driver inputs. The car has a big turning radius and maneuvering through tight spaces could be a challenge. On city streets, the car rides well. Negotiating traffic isn't much difficult. The Toyota Innova takes time to rev. Once it does, highway rides are enjoyable.

How much ground clearance does the Toyota Innova 2.8 E Diesel MT have?

The car comes with 167mm of ground clearance. It's lower than other MPVs but high enough to challenge most bumps and potholes.

Passenger and boot space

The Toyota Innova 2.8 E Diesel MT has one of the biggest cabins in its segment. It's roomy and spacious. There's enough legroom and headroom even on the third row. With all three rows reclined, the third row is roomier than most MPVs. The seats offer nice support for long-range travelling. But diesel engines are noisy and some of that enters the cabin. Toyota needs to improve the Innova's noise insulation. With coil springs on all four wheels and a multi-link setup at the back, the ride quality of the Toyota Innova 2.8 E Diesel MT is a bit on the bouncier side. The car gives some jarring feeling while going over road imperfections. The Innova has a 300-liter boot space.

Comfort and entertainment

The Toyota Innova 2.8 E Diesel MT comes with a 6.7-inch full color touchscreen infotainment system with six speakers, and supports Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and voice recognition. The manual air-conditioning cools the cabin pretty fast. 

Safety features

The Toyota Innova 2.8 E Diesel MT is underequipped in terms of safety. The car comes with antilock braking, stability control, electronic door locks, and rear parking sensors. This model misses out on major safety equipment like lane-departure warning and blind-spot detection. But the car has a 4-star rating in the ASEAN NCAP. 

How many airbags does the Toyota Innova 2.8 E Diesel MT have?

The car comes with only the driver's and front passenger's airbags. The driver gets a knee airbag as well.

Fuel consumption

The Toyota Innova 2.8 E Diesel MT returns an average mileage of 12kmpl. It's higher than many of its rivals.

Value for money

The Toyota Innova 2.8 E Diesel MT has a starting price of ₱1.34 million. The car comes with a 3-year/100,000km warranty. It's targeted at buyers who want a practical family car with less fancy features.  Toyota has managed to keep the price affordable for this section. 

What other cars can be compared to the Toyota Innova?

The Mitsubishi Xpander and the Xpander Cross are the closest rivals of the Toyota Innova.

Verdict

The Toyota Innova 2.8 E Diesel MT won't get accolades for its looks and performance. The Innova is a hugely practical family car with great build quality and a spacious cabin. These are the reasons why it has been a bestseller. Spares are easily available and it comes with Toyota's brand reliability. The Toyota Innova 2.8 E Diesel MT is an affordable car, given the features.