
Product Description: The Toyota Innova Zenix Hybrid is an MPV with SUV stylings. It may look a little old but it drives with more oomph than you would expect. It's also quite a practical car given its size and layout.
Offer price: 202000
Currency: MYR
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Appearance - 6/10
6/10
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Efficiency - 5/10
5/10
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Features - 8.5/10
8.5/10
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Materials - 8/10
8/10
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Performance - 8/10
8/10
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User Experience (UX) - 8/10
8/10
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Value - 6/10
6/10
Summary
The Toyota Innova Zenix Hybrid has the opposite problem of the Corolla Cross Hybrid, but it’s still a good car nonetheless. However, it’s going to be hard to sell given its high price tag, which is likely a result of it not being assembled locally.
Overall
7.1/10Pros
+ Spacious
+ Pleasing and practical interior design
+ 2-2-3 seat configuration, last row can be converted into huge luggage space
+ Wireless Apple Carplay and wired Android Auto support
+ Drives quietly, comfortably, and more oomph in acceleration
+ Good road visibility because height
+ Strong brakes
+ Reasonable maintenance costs
+ Big sunroof
+ Strong air conditioning system
+ Full-sized spare tyre with tyre inflation kit
+ 8-year warranty for hybrid battery, inverter, and ECU
Cons
– Exterior design is not for the younger spirit
– High fuel consumption
– 3rd row of seats are more for children and shorter people
– No dual-zone climate control
– Captain seats cannot be folded down flat
– Expensive and awkwardly priced
Innova Zenix Hybrid Specifications
Engine | |
Model | M20A-FXS |
Type | 4-cylinder, In-line, 16-Valve DOHC with VVT-i |
Displacement | 1,987 cc |
Bore x Stroke | 80.5 x 97.6 mm |
Maximum Output | 112 (152) / 6,000 RPM |
Maximum Torque | 188 Nm / 4,400 – 5,200 RPM |
Hybrid Electric Battery | |
Type | Nickel Metal Hydride Battery |
Motor Generator Type | Permananet Magnet Synchronous Motor |
Battery Capacity (3HR) | 6.5 Ahr |
Max. Output kW (PS) | 83 (113) |
Max. Output Combination | 186 PS (system) |
Max. Torque | 206 Nm |
Transmission | |
Type | E-CVT |
Chassis | |
Suspension (Front / Rear) | MacPherson Strut with Stabiliser / Torsion Beam with Stabiliser |
Brakes (Front / Rear) | Ventilated Disc / Solid Disc |
Tyres & Rims | 225/50 R18, Alloy |
Spare Tyre & Rim | 205/65R16 Steel |
Steering | Electric Power Steering |
Dimensions | |
Length / Width / Height | 4,760 / 1,850 / 1,790 mm |
Wheelbase | 2,850 mm |
Kerb Weight | 1,685 kg |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 52 L |
Minimum Turning Radius | 5.67 / 6.08 m |
Exterior Features | |
Headlamps (Type) | LED (with Auto High Beam) |
Headlamps (Daytime Running Lights) | With (LED) |
Headlamps (Levelling) | Manual |
Fog Lamps | With (LED) |
Front and Rear Wipers | Intermittent with Time Adjustable & Mist / with Reverse Linked Function |
Rear Tail Lamps | With (LED) |
Radiator Grille | Hexagon Grille with Glossy Finish |
Wing Mirrors | Auto Retractable, Auto Fold, Welcome Lamp & BSM Indicators |
Antenna with Shark Fin Design | Shark Fin |
Roof Rails | With |
Interior Features | |
Interior Colour & Trim | Black |
Smart Entry & Start System | With |
Drive Mode | SPORT / ECO / NORMAL / EV |
Multi-Information Display (MID) | 7″ Colour TFT |
Air Conditioning | Automatic A/C / Automatic Rear Cooler |
Steering Wheel (Type) | 3-spoke Leather with Tilt & Telescopic Adjustable |
Steering Wheel (Switches) | Audio, Meter, Telephone, Adaptive Cruise Control, TSS3, Drive Mode |
Illumination System | With (Front Door, Cup Holder & Centre Tray) |
Gear Shift Lever | Leather & Silver Ornament |
Digital Video Recorder (DVR) – Front | With |
Inside Rear View Mirror | Electrochromic Mirror |
3D Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) | With |
Audio (Type) | Display Audio with 10.1″ Capacitive Touch Screen, Wired / Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto™-ready Connectivity, USB & Bluetooth® |
Audio (Speakers) | 4 x Speakers 2 x Tweeters |
Seats Material | Black Leather |
Front Seat (Driver Seat) | 8-way Power Seat |
Front Seat (Front Passenger Seat) | Manual Adjust |
Front Seat (Front Armrest) | With Sliding Armrest |
Front Seat (Front Cup Holders) | With |
Rear Seat (Type) | Captain Seat, Walk in Slide & Side Table |
Rear Seat (3rd Row) | 5:5 Tilt down |
Rear Seat (Rear Armrest) | With Cup Holders |
Rear Air Ventilation | With |
Power Windows | Front and Rear with Auto Up/Down & Jam Protection |
Power ports | 2 x rear USB ports 2 x 12V power outlet |
Luggage Box | With |
Carpet Mat | With |
Safety – Active | |
Pre-Collision System (PCS) | With |
Lane Departure Alert (LDA) with Steering Assist | With |
Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) | With |
Lane Tracing Assist (LTA) | With |
Automatic High Beam (AHB) | With |
Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) & Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) | With |
Tyre Pressure Warning System (TPWS) | With |
Parking Sensors | With (Front x2 & Rear x2) |
Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRC) | With |
Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), Emergency Brake Signal (EBS) | With |
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) | With Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA) |
Hybrid Regenerative Braking | With |
Parking Brake | EPB and Brake Hold |
Safety – Passive | |
SRS Airbags | 6 (Driver, Passenger, Side & Curtain) |
Seatbelts (Warning) | With (All) |
Seatbelts (Front) | 3-point ELR x2 with Pretensioner and Force Limiter |
Seatbelts (2nd Row) | 3-point ELR x2 |
Seatbelts (3rd Row) | 3-Point ELR x3 |
ISOFIX | With *2 + Tether Anchor |
Security | |
Security System | With Immobilizer, Siren with Back up Battery, Ultrasonic Sensor, Glass Brake Sensor |
Vehicle Telematics System (VTS) | With |
Fuel Consumption

We drove the Toyota Innova Zenix for about a week, accumulating a mileage of 221km according to the odometer. We also used up 20.54 litres of fuel, which translates to a fuel consumption figure of about 10.76km/l (9.29l/100km). The drive consists of about 65% city drive and 35% highway, with me being mostly on Normal and ECO modes, with Sport mode being used sparingly.
To me, this is abnormally high considering that the Corolla Cross Hybrid almost doubles the efficiency at 16.84km/l (5.94l/100km), with both cars being Toyota’s own hybrids. There was also never a point where the hybrid battery was drained completely so it had to fully rely on the combustion engine. Furthermore, the Innova Zenix Hybrid was not subjected to traffics as heavy as we did with the Corolla Cross Hybrid, nor was it ferrying a lot of passengers as 80% of the drive was me by my lonesome and the other 20% was with just one other person.
It could be an issue specifically with the unit that we reviewed but we might consider trying it again to see if we can optimize the drive better but for now, the fuel consumption is quite high, especially by hybrid standards. It’s worth pointing out that other reviewers are able to get it below the 14.3km/l (7l/100km) mark, which isn’t close to our figures from the Corolla Cross Hybrid review, but it’s a more reasonable figure given the Innova Zenix Hybrid’s size.
Maintenance Cost

A major part about ownership cost isn’t paying directly for the car itself but caring for it. Given that this is a 2.0L Hybrid crossover, you might think that the maintenance cost would be pricey but it’s actually not bad. Assuming there are no major repairs or surprise part replacements needed, this is what you’re looking at over the course of 5 years:
Compulsory 1st Service | RM225 |
8 x Maxcheck Advance | RM2,600 |
2 x Maxcheck Advance Plus (Major Service) | RM1,170 |
Grand Total | RM3,995 |
Do note that this doesn’t account for certain things like cabin air filters and petrol injector cleaners, which customers will be advised to do so every 30,000km and 10,000km respectively. Customers can also opt for their 5-year Toyota Service Savers package, which will will include all the services mentioned above and discounts (20% off for alignment, balancing, and air conditioning packages, 10% off for selected parts) for just RM3,790. I’m surprised that it’s cheaper than the Corolla Cross Hybrid, albeit by a small margin that would practically be negligible when you divide it over the course of 5 years.
The Good


There are a number of good reasons to consider the Toyota Innova Zenix Hybrid. For starters, it’s a large, spacious car. This one has a 2-2-3 seating configuration, though you will realistically only fit in 6 adults at once, with the shorter ones in the 3rd row. You can also opt for a 4-seater configuration which will yield an enormous luggage space in the rear, which would otherwise be small with the 3rd row of seats up.



The space in the driver’s seat is also spacious and comfortable, with it being able to accommodate me, a 186cm (6 ft 2) adult with longer legs. Even when I have the seats pushed all the way to the back, the passenger seat directly behind the driver’s seat still has decent space, so there will be no issues with two tall people being seated back to back. Head space is also decent throughout the cabin. There should also not be issues if your body is on the wider side, for as long as you’re staying away from the 3rd row of seats.

What really makes the car feel more spacious than it actually is would be the huge sunroof. It goes from about a half of the driver’s seat position to where the 2nd and 3rd row of seats meet. It’s a great way to get some natural light in and it certainly makes the drive more enjoyable, especially for the passengers. To my surprise, the air conditioning system is more than adequate in keeping the car feeling cool while having the sunroof revealed without its cover on a hot sunny day’s drive. Each row has their own vent so that helps a lot.

One major feature that I’m sure many will be happy about here is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support. To be precise, Android Auto is available only in wired but for Apple CarPlay, you can connect wirelessly. It’s a step above from the Corolla Cross Hybrid not just because of this but because connection on both wired and wireless are stable, you get a larger infotainment display, and the speakers are better overall.

Considering the points above, the interior is certainly much better than the Corolla Cross Hybrid as it’s designed more practically and it looks more pleasing as well. It’s not just because of the larger infotainment system as you have more storage space in the cabin. As you do have cupholders on the driver’s and front passenger’s air conditioning vent, it frees up the center cupholders to put your small items like wallets, smartphones, and more. The use of Electronic Parking Brake adds convenience and frees up more space.
The Innova Zenix Hybrid, to my surprise, drives surprisingly well. Not only does it feel like you’re driving a typical sedan car as opposed to something much larger, there’s more oomph in its acceleration. In fact, ECO mode in this feels more akin to Corolla Cross Hybrid on Standard mode, and like that car, it powers on silently and drives on the quieter, comfortable side.

The height adds another layer of enjoyment and safety as you get much better road visibility compared to most other cars out there. I’m surprised it can take turns like a champ given the height, but remember to not go too fast when doing so, and don’t try to drift with this, ever. Brakes are also on the stronger side, giving you more confidence in case of sudden obstructions.
Lastly, you get pretty solid options in cases of emergencies as the Toyota Innova Zenix Hybrid not only comes with a tyre inflator kit, but it also has a full-sized spare tyre included just in case. Most hybrids tend to not come with spare tyres or just a space-saver type due to a lack of space inside but for this one, it’s stored in the undercarriage. Furthermore, this one comes with 8 years of warranty for the hybrid battery, inverter, and ECU with an option to extend it to a total of 10 years.
The Bad


Of course, the Toyota Innova Zenix Hybrid has its share of drawbacks. For starters, the Toyota Innova Zenix Hybrid has the opposite problem from the Corolla Cross Hybrid, where the inside looks good but not so much for the outside. Sure, it has more SUV stylings and it’s shaped more dynamically, but it looks like an old person’s car. To be precise, Malaysians would refer to it as the “kereta ustaz” look. While it might be a good fit for young adults for long-term use, I’m certain many will shy away because of its looks.
One odd things that wasn’t brought over from the Corolla Cross Hybrid is dual-zone climate control. This means that whatever temperature that was set will be shared throughout the cabin. With that being said, air conditioner works great, even with the sunroof exposed, so I personally wouldn’t complain about it. If you frequently ferry people around and they prefer a different temperature, then it can be slightly annoying.

While it is a spacious car, the 3rd row of seats aren’t exactly usable except for children and people who are on the shorter side. This might be a hard limitation to overcome without making the car even larger but it’s worth noting if you need to ferry more than 4 full-sized adults often. The captain seats on the 2nd row, which cannot be folded flat, also means you can’t seat 5 people without using the 3rd row as well.

Lastly, the Toyota Innova Zenix Hybrid is also quite a pricey car as it starts from RM202,000. The price point also feels a bit awkward as it’s expensive for those who want value from a compact SUV, but it’s also far away from more premium offerings like the Toyota Vellfire that costs double. Personally, a price of around RM170,000 would have been the sweet spot as it rightfully deserves to be above the Corolla Cross Hybrid in terms of price, but this one a bit too far up there that most people would strongly consider alternatives for the same price.
Toyota Innova Zenix Hybrid Verdict

The Toyota Innova Zenix Hybrid has the opposite problem of the Corolla Cross Hybrid, but it’s still a good car nonetheless. It’s an MPV with SUV stylings, and I believe we can bring down the fuel consumption further (which we might consider driving it again for further testing) but it’s going to be hard to sell given its high price tag, which is likely a result of it not being assembled locally.
At the end of our Toyota Innova Zenix Hybrid review, I award this hybrid with our Bronze Pokdeward.

Big thanks to Toyota Malaysia for sending us this car for the purpose of this review.