Toyota's Tweaked Siblings - New Innova & Fortuner

The Innova and the Fortuner has always been the prodigies of the Japanese brand Toyota in India. The duo have significant command over the company's sales and are class leading as well. The company recently facelifted the duo and the new 2012 models have already hit the roads. Until recently, the siblings looked different from each other but now the company has decided to give them pan-model family design, like other companies. Though the changes are primarily cosmetic, we can expect a lot more from them.

The upgraded Fortuner looks fresh, evident from the front view, and gets wider grille with lot of chrome, which is cohesive to the sleeker looking headlamps with projector-type self-leveling lights. This trapezoidal design three-tier front grille is reminiscence to the Toyotas across the globe. The headlamps gets individual washers, which sits on the sharper bumper which also houses redesigned front fog lamps.The bonnet is marked by acute character lines and the air-scoop for cooling the intercooler has grown up slightly. Other than the 12-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels and the body-coloured mirrors featuring turn indicators, there isn't any big deal in the sides. At the rear, the taillamps have been redesigned and feature prominent twin circular lamps while the entire unit is of a clear lens type. The tailgate layout too is new and now houses a chrome garnish with an embossed name tag. The rear bumper has been altered and the reflectors look similar to the Innova's. New colour shades are also available now.

The new Innova has almost the same design approach like its bigger sibling, the Fortuner. The design is more adaptive, to meet the characteristics of an MPV. The headlamps are more angular, with protruding turn signal lamps and bumpers are restylised. The fog lamps now become oval and beautifully enclosed while the stylish grille becomes upright with three chrome slats and Toyota badging at the centre of the topmost slat. The Bonnet has a more prominent V now while the windshield is large sized. The A-pillar and D-pillar are more slanted. The side profile gets new skirting with curvy design that continues till the rear. Rest the facelift looks similar to the old version except these few changes.

The interiors of both the cars are much more exciting that the earlier models and feel more upmarket. The Fortuner gets newer centre console and features bluetooth connectivity. The SUV also boasts of a new design instrument cluster that is bright and easier to read. The steering wheel is similar in design to the Corolla's and is a combination of mock wood and leather, apart from stereo controls it also features controls for hands-free mobile connectivity. The Innova's dashboard is the same with minimal changes. Mock wood surrounds in the centre console have been removed and is replaced with a brushed aluminium effect console. The instrument cluster too is different and the steering wheel is straight out of the Corolla offering stereo and mobile phone controls in the higher variants.

Though there are no engine upgrades for both the Innova and the Fortuner, the latter gets brand new two 2WD options - one mannual and the other is automatic transmission. Since a huge number of Fortuners are found in cities, which never go off-road, the 2WD variants have higher potentials, which can take advantage of better performance and fuel-efficiency than the 4WD, provided the fact the they will be a lakh cheaper.