Toyota South Africa works with a plan – to dominate the market with budget-conscious transport solutions that offer fair value and high levels of practicality. The new Indonesian-built Rush, is no exception, according to BERNIE HELLBERG.
It’s not often that Toyota gets caught napping. Considering that the brand’s model portfolio covers just about every segment you can think of. But given the success of family-oriented yet budget-friendly B-segment cars such as Ford’s EcoSport, the Renault Duster, and Hyundai Creta, it’s almost surprising that Toyota has only now joined the fray in this segment.
Yet here they are, at last, coming in late perhaps, but hitting the market hard with an offer that many buyers will find hard to refuse.
WHAT IS THE TOYOTA RUSH?
Like its segment rivals, the Toyota Rush is a five-seater crossover intended to do suburban duty for soccer moms everywhere. Aiming for a market that’s not quite ready for the RAV4, but that’s too sophisticated for Toyota’s Avanza people carrier, the Rush is a great compromise that is likely to sell in droves in our Toyota-obsessed market.
A few things you should know about the Rush, though, is that it resembles, rather closely too, the latest version of the Daihatsu Terios. In other markets, the Rush also comes with seven seats, although Toyota here reckons that South African buyers prefer fewer seats and more luggage space, over the other way around.
UPFRONT AND INSIDE
Powered by Toyota’s tried and tested 1.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine, the Rush is said to deliver 77 kW and 136 Nm of usable torque. Buyers can choose between a five-speed manual, four-speed automatic transmission, and can expect frugal consumption in the region of 6.6-l/100 km for the manual, and 6.7-l/100 km for the automatic rear-wheel-drive Rush.
Although somewhat sparsely adorned, the Toyota Rush’s interior is practical and comfortable. It’s not as plush as some of its rivals, but it offers high levels of standard spec that includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite navigation, dual-zone climate control, and a six-speaker sound system with touchscreen, USB and Bluetooth.
Basically, everything you can think of at this level of the market. But if that’s not enough, also standard is a reverse camera with park-distance control, LED headlights, keyless entry and push-button ignition.
One of the Rush’s most attractive features, however, is the amount of space for passengers, and luggage. The luggage bay of the Rush, for example, is bigger by far than any of its rivals. For even more space, the rears seats can be folded away too.
Being a family vehicle, decent safety spec is also essential, so Toyota fitted the Rush with ABS, stability control, and no fewer than six airbags for front and rear passengers.
NOT QUITE IN A RUSH
For all its practicality and value for money, the Rush is no bombshell in the performance department. Best described as having ‘adequate’ usable power, our vehicle performed reasonably well during its launch drive route, which included sections of mix-use roads, highway, and gravel. Despite its excellent ground clearance, along with sufficient ability to negotiate the odd gravel road with ease, we wouldn’t recommend the Rush for too serious off-road duty.
While performance during the journey with only two up was sufficient, we can’t imagine that the experience would be the same with a family of five and their luggage onboard. At highway speeds, the Rush felt strained to reach the high revs required to maintain 130 km/h comfortably. Another gear would help alleviate some of the strain, as would a decent run-in period. Toyota engines traditionally take a while to loosen up a little.
LAST WORD
Toyota may have been late to the compact crossover game, but in their usual fashion, the brand has gone all in to ensure the success of its newest model. Some may say that its badge alone will be enough to carry the Rush to glory, but in our opinion it offers more than enough for those looking for a family-oriented crossover with legendary reliability and surprising style, to stand on its own feet.
The Toyota Rush comes standard with a three-year/100,000 km warranty and a 90,000 km service plan with intervals every 15,000 km.
Report by BERNIE HELLBERG | Images © TOYOTA SOUTH AFRICA