A front grille with 4 smoked chrome slats, LED headlights, LED DRLs and a chunky front bumper.
It looks like a multipurpose vehicle, but Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) calls it an entry-level sport utility vehicle.
Whatever it is, the 2018 Toyota Rush, launched last May, raises the bar for affordable compact 7-seater SUV/crossovers or SUV-flavored 7-seater MPVs.
The Rush displays safety features that are impressive for its market segment and retail price range.
All variants, from the top-of-the-line P1.07 million G grade A/T (automatic transmission) 7-seater, down to the P948,000 E grade M/T (manual transmission) 5-seater, are fitted with six SRS airbags as standard equipment.
Competitors in the affordable 7-seater segment only have two airbags each.
All Rush variants have vehicle stability control, which includes traction control, hill start assist and emergency stop signal, anti-lock brake system (ABS) with electronic brake distribution (EBD), rear parking sensors, LED high mount stop lamp, and alarm with immobilizer.
Rear wheel drive
The Rush is more capable of carrying a full load of passengers and cargo on long journeys since all variants are rear wheel drive.
Competitors like the Mitsubishi Expander, Honda BR-V, Honda Mobilio, and Suzuki Ertiga are front-wheel drive.
Moreover, its 220 mm ground clearance together with its 31-inch approach angle and 26.5-inch departure angle make the Rush better equipped to tackle flash floods and rough terrain compared to competitors.
Design-wise, the exterior of the Rush hints at Fortuner styling cues, once again raising the bar in looks, being more upscale than Toyota’s popular Innova MPV despite the latter’s higher price point, and more classy than the Avanza.
The dimensions of the Rush slot in between those of the larger Innova and smaller Avanza.
The dual tone interior looks upscale with its brushed chrome trim and 7-inch entertainment touchscreen.
The Rush is shorter than the Innova, but longer than the Avanza; wider than the Avanza, but narrower than the Innova; and shorter than the Innova, while taller than the Avanza.
The Rush’s wheelbase is 2,685 mm versus the Innova’s 2,750 and the Avanza’s 2,655 mm.
The turning radius of the Rush is a convenient 5.2 meters.
Stylish presence
A front grille with four smoked chrome slats, LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, a chunky front bumper lined with broad chrome trim, a front underguard, and rectangular housing for circular fog lamps give the Rush a stylish presence on the road.
At the back, long, wrap-around LED combination taillights bridged by black trim and a rear spoiler complete the picture.
The interior of the Rush is also a class above, with soft-touch materials, multicolor optitron meter gauges with a multi-information display (MID), chrome trim on the 3-spoke steering wheel, a 7-inch capacitive touchscreen infotainment system, dual front and rear air conditioning, numerous power outlets, 13 bottle holders, and a push start system.
The third row seats in the 7-seater G grade Rush split/fold 50/50 to enlarge the 213-liter trunk space, while cargo capacity is bigger at 514 liters in the 5-seater E grade.
Extras in G grade
For the P122,000 price difference between the 7-seater Rush G grade A/T and the 5-seater Rush E grade A/T, these are the extras the buyer gets: 17-inch machining alloy wheels (versus 16-inchers in the E grade), badges, side body plastic cladding, rear parking camera, roof rail, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio and telephone switches (urethane and audio in the E), automatic front aircon (manual in the E), 8 speakers (6 in the E grade), and smart proximity entry (keyless entry in the E).
The 2NR-VE 1.5 liter, inline 4 cylinder, 16 valve, dual VVT-i petrol engine produces 102 hp and 136 Nm peak torque.
The Rush is equipped with Toyota’s 2NR-VE 1.5-liter, inline 4-cylinder, DOHC, 16 valves, dual VVT-I, EFI (electric fuel injection) engine, mated to either a 4-speed A/T or 5-speed M/T, same as the 1.5 Avanza and the 1.5 Vios.
The powertrain delivers 104 ps (102 hp) and 136 Nm max torque, adequate enough to briskly accelerate from standstill, but prone to straining at speeds above 120 kilometers per hour.
The ride is bouncy and truck-like even in the driver’s seat due to a rigid axle at the rear, like the Avanza’s.
The ride becomes more comfy when the Rush is fully loaded with passengers or stuff. After all, it was built to be a family or people carrier despite its SUV nomenclature.
Why Toyota chose an aging 4-speed A/T for the Rush is puzzling, but maybe they want to keep the vehicle affordable despite the plenitude of safety, infotainment and connectivity features.
As for build quality, the doors don’t close with a solid, reassuring thud like vehicles built in Europe and some models made in Japan. The steel gauge seems to be as thin as the Avanza’s.
History
Like the Avanza and Wigo, the Rush is made in and imported from Indonesia.
The 2NR-VE 1.5 liter, inline 4 cylinder, 16 valve, dual VVT-i petrol engine produces 102 hp and 136 Nm peak torque.
The Rush is not exactly a new Toyota model, as it has been running around in Indonesia as well as in other markets since 1997, along with its twin, the Daihatsu Terios.
The 2018 model year Rush, all new from the ground up, was developed by Toyota together with Daihatsu, a carmaker that Toyota wholly owns.
The Rush is a badge-engineered crossover with more standard equipment than the Terios.
Summing up, the 2018 Rush looks like another best-selling winner for the Toyota brand. It is already being called the baby Fortuner, and has a six-month waiting period for delivery to buyers.
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