I remember when pretentious office-types would ask me for a good MPV reco and cringe when I say ‘Innova’ because, back then (think first-gen), it reminded people of the Revo, which not too long ago was based on the Tamaraw FX. With the arrival of the Avanza and the second-generation Innova, things have really leveled up for the latter, so much so that it now offers thirteen trims and among those is the very stylish ‘Touring Sport’. After a week of city driving, here’s my take on what’s to like about this special trim of the Innova. Fancy exterior First off, that Red Mica Metallic, which seems just a shade darker than your ordinary red, is simply beautiful/seductive as complemented by the black 16-inch alloy wheels. This pairing you can do on your own really – just get a 2.8 E A/T and the wheels to match – but why bother when you can let the experts at Toyota do it for you. But that’s not all the exterior enhancements offer. To complete its dark and mysterious theme, it gets smoked headlamps, and a dark glossy grille and an all-around black body cladding with chrome strips. On a personal note, since the test unit wasn’t totally tinted, I’d go with a 20-10 percent tint to perfect the look. Basic interior The cabin may seem bare at first, with the fabric seats and the chic dashboard layout that seems to be without much equipment, but it does come with modern necessities. There’s Bluetooth connectivity, which takes care of the Anti-Distracted Driving Act and allows you to play your songs on the phone over the cabin speakers. The rudimentary instrument panel is easy to read with its large dials for the speedometer and tachometer with the fuel and temp gauge right below. In the middle is the trip computer and gear indicator. The steering wheel comes with basic buttons all found on the left side – call and hang-up, plus infotainment controls only. If you want a lot of tech stuff, look elsewhere. I applaud the simple, clean and no-fuss look of this interior. It makes it look spacious and easy on the eyes. Great engine Powered by a 2.8L diesel engine with variable nozzle turbo and intercooler, it puts out a healthy 171-PS and 360-Nm of torque straight to a six-speed automatic transmission with manual mode. Whether you’re flying solo or with the gang, this engine is highly capable of powering along the highways or up steep inclines even in the city if you wish to push off from 0 in a jiffy. I engaged PWR (power) Mode just to get a feel and, easily, you get faster response times because the engine is prepped for high revs so it makes the drive more exciting. ECO was more than enough for city driving. Overall consumption in pure city driving is as seen in the photo, 11.8 kilometers per liter. The diesel clatter is something the Innova has never tried to mask so if you want a quieter machine, it may be something to consider. Reasonable price At P1.374 million, it is P65,000 more than the E A/T variant, which is where it gets i  ts base from, but you do get the trimmings and trappings of this upmarket model that will set you apart. Again, you may wish to DIY but really, for 65k, you’re willing to physically hunt down these parts down in stores or even online? I didn’t think so. The wheels alone may set you back some 40k so why bother doing it piece-by-piece when you can get the whole package straight out of the dealership! So if you’ve had a change of heart and are now thinking of which variant to get, for its good looks, ease-of-use, dependable engine and fuel efficiency, I highly reco the 2018 Toyota Innova 2.8 Touring Sport A/T. Text and photos by Eric Tipan