2018 Toyota Rush: First impression

Toyota is out with its new Rush SUV for the Malaysian market. Now in its second generation, the Toyota Rush is bigger as well as much more muscular to look at. If you thought that the preceding model was quite a plain jane, this one would definitely make you rethink the statement. After all, the new Rush is quite a macho vehicle now. Toyota launched the new Rush in Malaysia a week ago. The Toyota Rush price in Malaysia starts from RM 93,000 for the 1.5 G AT trim and RM 98,000 for the S AT variant. Here are our first impressions of the 2018 Toyota Rush SUV.

Design

Now, this will be the subject of huge discussions. To be honest, looks are subjective. In our opinion, the Rush SUV looks much more grown up than before. It is longer by 230 mm at 4,435 mm. The width and height though stay the same. Toyota has also added new LED lights to the equation along with LED DRLs. These look nice with the chromed grille and lend the vehicle a much needed aggressive profile. The bonnet of the new Rush also has a power bulge to it. Inasmuch, Toyota has brought the vehicle closer to the Fortuner SUV, and that isn't a bad thing, isn’t it? There are two trims on offer as we already know, and they are divided based on the seating option. So, while the 5-seater gets 16-inch diamond cut alloys, the seven-seater gets 17-inch wheels. The rear profile has been altered, and the lights are LED units now. The door instead of opening to the side now opens upwards.

Cabin details

The interior has been revamped and features distinction from the Avanza MPV. These include soft-touch materials and a bigger 7-inch touchscreen infotainment unit that connects to the web. This system will also mirror a compatible smartphone though Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are absent. The speakers differ on the variant chosen, the one with a higher number of seats getting more speakers. There is also included navigation. Toyota has also given dual zone climate control in the new Rush. There are separate AC vents for the second row. The instrument cluster is revamped and now has legible and attractive looking dials. The seats, as well as the upholstery too, is new.

Boot space for the seven-seater trim is only 213-litre while that of the five-seater is 200-litre more. It is but judicious to say that area in the cabin has increased and the third row for seven variants is a bit more spacious.

Engine and transmission

Apart from ironing out the occasional spike in power, there are no other changes. The 1.5-litre naturally aspirated motor makes 104 PS of power at 6000 rpm and 134 Nm of peak torque at 4200 rpm. This engine can be optioned only with a 4-speed automatic that sends the power to the rear wheels. Toyota used to give a 5-speed manual option earlier. However, it has now been discontinued. The engine is okay-ish in its performance.

Safety ranking

Toyota had come in for flak earlier for offering the Rush with only dual airbags. The latest version rectifies all those mistakes. The new Toyota Rush gets six airbags, hill start assist, ABS with EBD, traction control, vehicle stability assist, and ISOFIX child seat mounting points. It may be noted that the seven-seater trim also gets advanced safety features like blind spot monitor, all-around panoramic view camera and pre-collision warning system. The previous Rush had a five-star GNCAP rating, and we don’t see any reason why this one too shouldn’t emulate those results.

Final words

The first impression of the 2018 Toyota Rush definitely is very positive. The car not only impresses with its feature list but also in the way it is styled. Toyota hasn’t increased the price by much considering the added features on offer. Overall, a good buy then! The Toyota Rush competition includes the Honda BR-V as well as the Mitsubishi Xpander.