Just because it is based on a truck platform what's the problem? I've driven Innova before and it doesn't handle or drive like a truck.

If you want space Innova is  good choice without having to go for a fancy van like Serena. Most other 7 seaters are designed for midgets in the 3rd row.

Hi everyone, 

We need a car that fit 2 adults and 4 kids.... Hence,  we are considering Toyota Innova since our budget is 120K.
I always hear lots of complaints about the fuel consumption issue.

I looking for full honesty from people who had experience with current Toyota innova about the comfort of ride ,practicality and performance for the price...... 

Or any suggestions for the budget of 120k ?

Tried grand living,  alza and avanza before....  3rd row seating is torturing if ride for long distance.......  Therefore these 3  is out.

In that case, then Innova is for you coz the ground clearance is higher and no matter how much is the load, it won't sink in like Exora or Livina. No doubt the Innova shakes alot on a bumpy road its not really like driving a truck, more like a van with more controls over it. If you and your family are big size team, and price is a concern, go for Innova. If you want more comfort, then Serena is the cheapest.

No $$$$ or else I need to eat Maggi or bread everyday 😂😂😂😂

Just my humble opinion, no offense,

You should try the same amount of passengers and luggage up Uncle Lim's hill to really stretch the VVTI engine to the limit.
180NM of torque at 4000RPM means at 2000RPM-2500RPM probably you are using half of it only, to carry heavy loads.

Cameron Highland, regardless Tapah or the Simpang Pulai, both the hill incline is not that steep compared to Uncle Lim.

I dont own a Innova, but I've test driven the Innova (not the latest generation) at one showroom and I find the auto gearbox tune to be quite relaxed. Not as spirited as the older generation Camry 2.0L (yes I know, 2 different cars and engine).

You can say a car is underpowered if it feels sluggish carrying a load of say 4-5 adults on the flat. To test it with full load on a steep hill isn't fair even if it goes up sluggishly as many other average cars would feel the same.

I'm no expert but 2.0L engine seems about right for the size of the Innova although it may not give a spirited drive. If 1.5L is good enough for the Sienta why is 2.0L on the Innova considered under powered? If you compare their curb weights Innova is 33% heavier than Sienta and has 33% more engine capacity. This is a rough rule of thumb - we could compare max HP but a car isn't driven at max HP all the time.

Go check Hyundai starex. Luxury, comfort, roomy, and the best part,  diesel power.

Around rm 100k for a 2 years used car.

My family own livina,  alza and avanza....  So already try them all.....
3 row seating is torturing.... For long distance traveling....

Test drive both Serena & Innova, then make your decision.....
I've driven both and IMHO Serena totally beat Innova in refinement and comfort...
In fact it's almost as good as the more expensive Estima

innova just a bit bigger then avanza for 3rd row seat

at least is faster than crz. 1st gear side by side to fn2 type r.
becos rear weel drive, i did other stunts too, but that defeat the purpose of mpv so im not mentioning here.

btw, i cannot overtake exora. did passed japan imported estima after he speed cut.

my comment from 2008 until now.
e throttle, need to learn its lag response
weak brake after going several round of high speed >160kph
funny abs that too sensitive
small fuel tank. able pg--kl then low fuel light on. mixed usage slow drive 400km per tank (fully aggresive city drive can make 280km. hiway 330km)
good front grip as the double wishbone. turning circle not good.
interior stuffs. nothing break yet. pass.
exterior stuff. broken fuel door cable. toyota give dumb solution so i just leave it unlock.
other modify, service and misc. nope just a stock mpv for carry ppl and big item.

Oh yes...
its stated here.
Only in Indonesia, they get both the 2.0L and the 2.5L D4D turbo diesel engine (turbo without intercooler).

On the other hand, the Exora gets a perfect match - Turbo and CVT. Which manufacture does that kind of combination except for Subaru.

Eventho i know Exora is bigger then Sienta.. I'm not taking it due to reliability and after sales service issue..

Had a wonderful 4 years experience service at Toyota, compare 10 years at proton which give me a lot of headache..

Serena S-Hybrid is only minor hybrid.. Fully developed hybrid is Prius n Camry Hybrid which totally different with Serena S-Hybrid (S for small)
Even second hand around rm90k for 2 years old Serena

You are talking about which car?

Just done the test drive today on Nissan Serena..... My hubby drive the car while I'm sitting in the 3 rd row.......
Innova vs Serena
Driving @ handling - Serena win
Comfort.                  - Serena win
Furthermore Nissan is doing Huge promotions now....
So have decided to go for Serena

would go for estima...

emm.. if you can overcome that, I would say Estima is way way better.

My father in law had a Innova since 2005, and in last year change to a new Serena.  And at times my family (of 4) travel with him to KL and SG, so I can relatively say the pro and con of Innova vs Serena on normal daily usability.

Innova (used 10yr)
--------
+ It's hell of a durable car, in the past 10 yrs it nvr gave my FIL any headache, only normal service required, absulutely nothing !!
+ Driving in 2 or 3 ppl, the car is not so comfy due to its suspension settings (from ladder frame).  But if you sit 5-6 ppl in the car, it's quite comfy.  It's a big MPV, so drive like one.  Don't bother about handling.
+ Durable, and it's aToyota, so the resale value is pretty fine after 10 yrs used.  Bought 105-108k, sold for 40k after 10 yrs, since not much issue with maintaince, it's about 6.5k per year.
+ High ground clearance, parking not afraid of hitting curbs.

- The biggest issue for Innova is not the FC, as it's pretty decent for such a large car.  But it's the small fuel tank !!  On town driving, it lasts only 350-380km per tank due to its smallish size   Even on long haul JB-KL, it barely last 450km.
- 8 seaters setting, getting in and out of the car is not as easy as those with sliding door and walk thru central path.
- Swing doors, for a proper MPV for large family, at least for me, sliding doors is much much prefered.  It takes up a lot less space to open and close, so your passengers will not hit the wall or other cars easily.
- The car is ugly, damn high wheel arch gap    It does not make the car pretty even if you change to larger rim, in fact it makes its ride harshier.  And you should never lower the car coz it compromise the ride.
Serena (used 1 yr +)
---------
+ Great features for the money.  LED headlights, powered sliding door, SAT NAV, mild hybrid (much better than normal hybrid coz less electronics integration with hybrid battery).
+ Magic seat setting is awesome.  Can easily convert into 7 seats or 8 seats.
+ FC is decent in town, excellent on long haul.  I could nearly do a 700km on a single tank going from JB to Kuantan via Mersing road.
+ Better SAFETY features, VSC is fitted although airbags count is still at 2

- My FIL still said Toyota is better    Especially on the service center quality.  Nissan support made him 
- For my old man ok, but I DAMN HATE the CVT.  The car is at least 150kg heavier than a Innova.  Even the engine is more powerful, it has to work hard to proper the car.  The CVT kind of amplify this point, as the engine rev up before I could feel the power.  Definitely not to my liking, but I reckon that most ppl are ok with it especially for MPV (ppl don't expect to zoom zoom around).  Personally I like the kick feel from conventional gearbox.
- Reliability, nothing happened so far.  But Serena FB group members, a few of them suffered from CVT failure (on CBU pre-facelift batch).  Not heard of CKD issue yet.
- Resale value definitely not as strong as Innova, further dampened by Nissan aggressive offer from time to time.
- EPS (electric power steering), bad feedback when driving.  Again for most ppl ok, but I am very particular on that.  Dont like it.
Estima 2005
----------
I changed my wife Alza into a old Estima after considering many points above.  Was thinking hard on Biante but the lack of used car (back in last year) and new ones too expensive.  Space for Biante also too small to be a proper fullsize 7 seaters.

+ Estima has god car like resale value, especially those with 7 seats and 2 power door. I expect to lose RM4-5k a year with my old Estima
+ Comfy, damn comfy.  So much so that my kids ask my not to drive my Audi A6 on weekend drive to my FIL house or when we go travelling 
+ 2400cc has decent power, never feel I needed more

+/- FC on long haul is pretty good.  one litre RON 95 can hit 11km, but on town driving even if I maintain at below 2500RPM most of the times, it drinks    about 7-8km per litre.

- SAFETY, quite lack of it.  Crucially even the new Estima 2006-2015 model does not have ESP / VSC   Latest 2016 new facelift I am not sure.  Too expensive anyway.

Not much comment on the ACR50 (06-15) model, it's quite expensive to the extend that is not worth it.  Yr make 2006 car is a whopping 20k more than a 2005 car (old model).  And this model has notorious EPS (glok glok sound) and CVT.  So I did not consider it when I was searching for my Estima last year.