Toyota Innova Zenix

The interior of the 2023 Toyota Zenix is a huge improvement from the regular Innova. None of the earlier MPVs from the Japanese manufacturer had a premium feel that the Toyota Zenix offers. Even the basic model comes with a soft padded dashboard in a two-tone color combination. The car has captain’s chairs at the back along with a number of storage spaces. The hybrid version has leather seats. Both the front and rear rows, and the leg-rests are power adjustable. The door-tops get soft padding. Hard plastics have been used in some unimportant areas to reduce production cost. But the plastics don’t look cheap and are much improved from the standard Innova.

The 2023 Toyota Innova Zenix’s cabin is roomy and airy. That’s because it’s mounted on a car platform instead of a truck chassis. The floor area is much increased from the earlier Toyota MPVs. In fact the Zenix has one of the largest floor spaces in its segment. Headroom and shoulder-room is much improved than earlier. Even the third row has more space compared to most of its competitors. 

Operating instruments in the cabin are ergonomically placed. Toyota has moved the gear selector from the central console to the dashboard. The lever operation is now more smooth and solid. The driver and front-passenger gets ventilated seats. The panoramic sunroof lends the car a more spacious cabin. The second and third row gets their own air-conditioning vents. 

Passenger and boot space 

The 2023 Toyota Innova Zenix has one of the best passenger spaces in the MPV segment. The second row is available in optional bench-type seats. The seats are quite similar to the front row and offer the same level of cushioning and under-thigh support. In the captain’s seat configuration for the second row, the backseat can be electronically reclined. There are optional, electronic-controlled Ottoman extensions for the middle row. The captain’s seats offer almost a business-class experience. Getting into the third row is easy. The middle row easily slides forward and cedes enough space. It has enough room for average-size adults. 

The 2023 Toyota Innova Zenix comes with a 300-liter boot space that expand to 991 liters with the third row folded flat.   

Comfort and entertainment

The highlight of the dashboard is the floating 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support. There’s also a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster, flanked by analog dials for the tachometer, temperature and fuel gauge. Both units are easy to operate. The car comes with automatic climate control with roof mounted air-conditioning vents on the second and third row. The second row also gets window shades. All these make travelling comfort in the Innova Zenix the best in class.

The wide grille in the front of the 2023 Toyota Innova Zenix forges a more SUV-type look. The MPV is 20mm wider and 20mm longer than the regular Innova. That explains the Zenix’s increased cabin space. The car looks handsome from all angles. It now looks more like a midsized crossover-MPV than the earlier rather staid design. The bonnet line is raised and it gets a good amount of chrome. The hexagonal front grille is finished in gunmetal. The all-LED headlight units look sleeker. The 2023 Innova Zenix also gets dual-function LED daytime running lights (DRLs).

That the Innova Zenix attempts to look more like an SUV is evident from the bold shoulder line and the flared wheel arches. Both of these add a lot of visual muscle. The car runs on five-spoke, 18-inch alloy wheels that look small compared to the body dimensions.

What are the dimensions of the 2023 Toyota Innova Zenix?

The premium MPV measures 4,760mm in length, 1,850mm in breadth, and 1,788mm in height. The wheelbase is of 2,830mm. 

What is the ground clearance of the 2023 Toyota Innova Zenix?

The car has a ground clearance of 185mm and the cabin has a flat floor, courtesy the TNGA platform.

The 2023 Toyota Innova Zenix returns a mileage of around 6.7-liters/100km which is around 15kmpl under mixed riding conditions. The petrol-hybrid trims gives a better fuel economy but customers have to shell out a premium of RM 37,000 over the standard model. 

The 2023 Toyota Innova Zenix is available in two models and both get an all-new engine. The standard Zenix is hauled by a naturally-aspirated, four-cylinder, 2.0-liter petrol engine that produces 74PS maximum power at 6,600rpm and 205Nm peak torque at 4,500rpm. The motor is mated to Toyota’s Direct Shift continuously variable transmission (CVT) with 10 virtual ratios. The CVT unit comes with Toyota’s Sequential Shiftmatic program. The switchover from the six-speed automatic transmission (AT) to CVT will boost the car’s fuel economy. 

The higher HEV trim comes with a fifth-generation hybrid electric synchronous motor, powered by a nickel-metal hydride battery, with the same 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine. 

The Toyota Zenix not only tops the Innova range, but is a truly all-new model, mounted on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA). It has a monocoque body and is a front-wheel-drive car. The TNGA frame has brought better agility, greater rigidity and an improved ride comfort to the Zenix, compared to the regular Innova. The low center of gravity has also improved the car’s stability. The 2023 Toyota Innova Zenis is lighter by 170kg, leading to improved fuel economy. 

What are the color options available for the 2023 Toyota Innova Zenix?

The car is available in Silver Metallic, Platinum White Pearl, Grey Metallic, Avantgarde Bronze Metallic, and Attitude Black Mica color options. There’s also a solid white color option for fleet customers.

Is the 2023 Toyota Innova Zenix available in diesel?

No. The car is available with a petrol engine only. 

The 2023 Toyota Innova Zenix comes with a lot of driver-assist features and safety equipment. The car is equipped with Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 3.0. It includes pre-collision warning, dynamic cruise control, automatic high beam, lane departure assist, road sign assist, and lane tracing assist. The TSS 3.0 comes with a new camera sensor. The expanded detection angle helps detecting obstacles closer to the sensor. Other safety features include blind-spot monitoring, child seat anchors, and antilock braking. Equipment-wise the Innova Zenix is among the best in class. The car is yet to be tested by the ASEAN NCAP. 

How many airbags does the 2023 Toyota Innova Zenix have? 

The car comes with six airbags.

How many cameras does the 2023 Toyota Innova Zenix have?

The midsized MPV comes with one 360-dgeree camera.

Value for money

The Zenix is a great improvement over the standard Toyota Innova. It’s a much better car in every department. It looks great from all angles. The cabin is feature-rich and the travelling comfort is the best among all cars in the midsized MPV segment. It’s a value for money vehicle for those who want to travel in better comfort than any run-of-the-mill MPV. The 2023 Toyota Innova Zenix is also a great performer on highways. At a starting price of RM 165,000, the Innova Zenix is a great option.

Warranty

The 2023 Toyota Innova Zenix is available with a five-year, unlimited kilometers factory warranty. Toyota Malaysia, understandably, is betting big on the premium MPV segment with the Zenix, which is an upmarket product. The self-charging, 1.3kWhbattery back comes with an eight-year, unlimited kilometer warranty, exclusive from what’s offered on the rest of the car.  The warranty covers the power management circuit, inverter, and all hybrid components.

Are original spare parts of the 2023 Toyota Innova Zenix available in Malaysia?

All original spare parts of the Innova Zenix will be available at the company’s dealerships and workshops. Maintenance is expected to be headache-free because of Toyota’s brand worthiness. 

2023 Toyota Innova Zenix vs Nissan Serena S

The Nissan Serena S is one of the closest rivals of the Innova Zenix is the Malaysian market. Both cars have an identical, 2.0-liter petrol engine. But the Serena S has a higher maximum power output at 172PS. The facelift Serena S hybrid was launched in September 2022. Looks-wise, the Zenix is much ahead of the Serena S. The upholstery is full leather and the second row comes with captain’s seats witch a roof-mounted LCD monitor. Both the Zenix and Serena S are equal travelling comfort. The latter is priced lower at RM 149,888.

2023 Toyota Innova Zenix vs Proton X90

Proton in Malaysia’s own car brand and among the most popular. The Proton X90 was launched in May 2023. While the company claims the car to be an SUV, it’s more in the crossover-SUV class. Being a fully homegrown brand, the X90 is priced much lower than the Innova Zenix. It’s available in four variants. Even the most expensive model, with a starting price of RM 152,000, is priced lower than the Innova Zenix top model. The engine is a 1.5-litre petrol unit. The Proton X90 is a very capable car, more inclined towards practicality than being premium

2023 Toyota Innova Zenix vs Citroen Grand C4 Space Tourer

The Citroen Grand C4 Space Tourer is a family MPV, hauled by a 1.6-liter powertrain, producing 165PS maximum power. It’s a seven-passenger commuting MPV that drives beautifully in city traffic. The car is available in its 2020 version and is assembled locally in Malaysia. The seats are comfortable, though not of the Innova Zenix’s standard, and offer great support for long trips. Feature-wise too it’s less equipped than the new Zenix. But at a starting price of RM 144,980, it’s a more affordable option.

Is the 2023 Toyota Innova Zenix worth buying?

All new cars, irrespective of their brand worth, face initial skepticism after their launch. Price conscious buyers will wait for the first reports to come in before making a choice. It was the same with the regular Innova before the car became a crowd favorite. But the Zenix may not have to wait to attain success. It’s targeted at buyers who want to travel in premium comfort, compared to a standard MPV. The warranty offered by the 2023 Toyota Innova Zenix is among the best in class. The TSS 3.0 makes the car much safer than its rivals. Also the TNGA-based monocoque chassis offers better travelling comfort than the older-generation ladder-frame Innova. The 2023 Toyota Innova Zenix, even at a premium price, is definitely worth a buy.