2018 Toyota Rush: What to expect

The Daihatsu Terios-based Rush SUV received a tremendous response here. That it shares its underpinnings with the Toyota Avanza and subsequently ended up competing with it is a different thing. Toyota has also used the opportunity to cement its place in a segment which has seen fellow Japanese competitor Honda go ahead with the BR-V. It is a bit strange that within a year of the launch of the new Rush, the company is out with another one.

Admittedly it is a facelift but why one for a car which is still doing strong sales numbers? It seems that we got the Rush a bit later than our neighbour Indonesia. The latter is where the Rush is made and now that earlier this year they got the updated model, it is time that both the countries run neck-to-neck. Hold on though! Toyota will launch the new Rush SUV here in a couple of days. We have got a list of things that you can expect from the 2018 Rush.

Design element

Okay, we give it to Toyota here. They have retained the design theme of the new Rush. The vehicle is still identifiable as a Rush. There are certain changes though. The headlights are all-LED units now and the fog lamps too are projector units. This should not only enhance the looks but also visibility in the night. There will be new graphics thrown in. In our opinion, Toyota could have done without these graphics. They do liven up the bland side profile but could have reserved it for perhaps a special edition model at a later date. There are 16-inch wheels on offer with new alloy wheels in the mix. In the Indonesian market, a TRD special edition too was launched along with the regular trims. This, in turn, brings in more cladding and 17-inch wider tyres. However, we don’t expect this in the Malaysian market. As of yet.

The rear also sees new lights as well as revised placement of the indicators. There is also a new faux skid plate. The ground clearance remains the same at 210 mm.

Inside story

Things have been spruced by in a big way inside as well. These include an updated 7.0-inch touchscreen music system, separate DVD infotainment, journey recorder camera, revised leather upholstery and more. This, we believe, will help Toyota set the Rush from the Avanza MPV. Toyota has also given USB ports for all the three rows. Yes, the Rush is still a 7-seater car and now one with more creature comforts.

Engine and transmission

There are no changes here though reports claim that the engine has been altered with for smoother performance. The 2NR-FE 1.5-litre petrol engine produces 104 PS at 6,000 rpm. The torque generated from this dual VVT-i engine is 136 Nm at 4,200 rpm. Toyota has added a 5-speed manual transmission and a 4-speed automatic as the choice for rowing through the gears. There will likely be no all-wheel or four-wheel drive on offer. The updated Toyota Rush will continue sending power to its rear wheels. We though wish that there was a power upgrade to the engine. It should have made around 120 PS. This would have been sufficient for hauling in seven people and luggage.

Safety at once

Toyota is likely to bring down all the safety features that are there on the Indonesian-spec model. These include six airbags, Hill Assist, ABS with EBD, Brake Assist, ISOFIX child seat mounts for second and third-row seats, body-on-frame construction, vehicle stability assist as well as seat-belt reminders for the front occupants.

The five-star crash rating from GNCAP also is an assurance about the safety of this SUV.

Final words

The Toyota Rush price should be nearly the same as the outgoing model. This is the idea we get from the Indonesian model. There was no price change despite the increase in equipment. There will be two trims on offer. According to the Toyota Rush specifications, it should likely be a winner. Bookings have already started and there are a few more colour options being added to the mix.