IF there's one automaker that is almost always ready to disrupt the market, that would be Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP). The country's largest automaker by a huge margin is ready once again to repeat the same feat among seven-seater multipurpose vehicles (MPVs) with the new Toyota Zenix. If the name isn't what you were expecting, then you're not alone. Overseas, this is called the Innova Zenix, but in the Philippines, this won't replace the Innova. Instead, it'll be sold alongside it, hence the Zenix designation.

There's a reason why it won't directly replace the Innova — even if that was supposed to be its job. In the Philippines, where roads have inconsistent quality, there are families living in far-flung areas who prefer the Hilux-based IMV platform of the second-generation Innova that first came out in 2016. On the upside, this new, front-wheel drive (FWD) Zenix's TNGA-C platform means it gets a significantly roomier interior and top-notch comfort provided by a car-based monocoque platform.