The Toyota Rush is one of the go-to MUV of the Filipino families alongside Mitsubishi Xpander and Honda BR-V. In 2019, Toyota introduced the Rush in the Philippine market. The all-new Toyota Rush was only available in seven-seater configuration (1.5 G) until its five-seater variant (1.5 E) came out. Known to some as the "Mini Fortuner" (because of its exterior design) it is better than an Avanza and cheaper than a Fortuner. 

Toyota Rush's exterior design allows for smooth mobility, less drag from wind resistance, and gives a sporty look that rivals the Mitsubishi Xpander in the MUV segment.

Powered by a 1.5L gasoline engine mated to a 4-speed automatic or a 5-speed manual transmission, capable of producing 134 Newton-meter of torque and 102 horsepower - which means uphill slopes can be climbed without any stress, or have any engine breakdown during the offroad adventure. 

EXTERIOR

The Rush is similar to its other sibling, the Toyota Fortuner but only more compact and smaller, comparable to the Avanza and Innova - two bestsellers in the Philippine market. It has chrome-finished radiator grilles, directional fog lamps, and a modern, slick-looking headlight that complements the whole sporty SUV vibe. 

But what makes the Toyota Rush a champion in its own league and not “just a copy” of  the Fortuner is the overall compact feel it brings to the table. 

Headlights

Aside from the tapered hood that heightens the Rush’s overall aesthetic, the Advanced LED technology used in this model will last an average of 30,000 hours before dying out. Which means better lighting results during night time. Which really means more fun for our nocturnal petrol heads who love to go out when it’s already dark outside.

Chassis

The staggering front design and the bright headlights aside, the chassis is equipped with an eye-catching shark-fin antenna, rain visors, and repeaters.

Although it shares a similar chassis after the Avanza, the tapered chassis with smooth to pointed curves for fenders makes the Rush less resistant to wind drag affecting it to consume less fuel in the long run. 

Dimensions

The all-new Toyota Rush becomes more reliable with  its competitive specifications. One distinct feature of an MUV is its spacious design able to carry as many people as it allows without cramming like sardines in a can. The Rush has overall dimensions of 4435 mm in length, 1695 mm in width, and 1705 mm in height. The wheelbase is 2685 mm, a front and rear wheel thread of 1450 mm, and a ground clearance of 220 mm making it great for city and off-road drives.

Toyota Rush Dimensions

Alloy Wheels

No other aspect of a vehicle catches attention more than a nice set of alloys to match the overall aesthetic. The 1.5G variant comes with two-tone 17-inch Alloys while the 1.5E variant comes with two-tone 16-inch Alloys. 

Having bigger, better alloy wheels snowballs to its safety features since bigger wheels usually means there will be more traction because there is more rubber… thus, more… grip.

Rear Design

Well, the Rush is on par with the other MUVs. It’s complete with bright tail lights, a rear bumper, spoiler, integrated with a third brake light below the spoiler, rear windscreen wiper, tailgate, and a cleverly-hidden exhaust pipe.

What makes this goodie unique from all its competitors is its compact design that enables it to lean towards a “family-oriented design” because of its economy.

INTERIOR

Central Console

What we love about Rush is not just the exterior but the interior design as well. From a first glance, the central console might not impress the tech-savvy drivers but for the family guy who wants more than just an SUV for his fam, the Rush got his back.

First off, you can remotely control both side mirrors to rotate inwards towards the vehicle’s windows when not in use. This is to ensure that side mirrors are kept safe from getting damaged from external forces. You can also rotate the mirrors vertically to suit your height just in case you are not comfortable with the default angles of the mirrors. Talk about catering to anyone’s needs.

Next one is the switch for the corner sensor. This will turn on warning signals that tell you if you are about to bump into a wall, a pole, a person, or another car. It’s perfect for drivers that don’t have enough practice when parking.

The control panel also allows you to use bluetooth, radio, auxiliaries, DVD, and USB to plug your phone. Some add-ons available in the market is the GPS tracker for the latest versions of all Toyota vehicles that came with a navigation system installed. 

7-Seater Configuration

What secured Rush’s spot in the Philippine market was not just its awesome features, or imposing design - it was the 7-seater configuration. See, a majority of Filipinos who buy vehicles don’t choose their autos based on sophistication or mere aesthetics, a lot of them choose practicality above everything else. 

Here is where the Rush comes in to save the day. 

It has 3 rows of seats, 2 in front, 3 in the middle, and another 2 at the back. There are levers installed in each row to enable the passengers to fold the chairs and make way for people to sit at the back. 

The foldable seat feature allows for the last 2 seats at the back to be folded and create space for your belongings up to 514 cubic centimeters. 

Apart from the Rush’s awesome capacity to cater 7 passengers, the seats of the 1.5G variant has leather finish while the 1.5E variant has fabric. Both were created to fit a customer’s ideal budget.

Steering wheel

Meanwhile, the Toyota Rush’s steering wheel is ergonomically designed for better grip that prevents your hands from any injury when steering. It is made from carbon with a leather finish which enhances the premium feel of the interior. Aesthetics aside, Toyota Rush's steering wheel is much easier to turn due to its lightness that results in an above average maneuverability on top of the tight turning radius that makes it suitable for narrow streets.

Another feature of the steering wheel is the ability to adjust vertically so the driver can find a comfortable position and not cram his legs, preventing any injury in the long run.

Front Instrument Panel

Let’s also take a look at Toyota Rush’s combination meter. Complete with display menus of important information such as the tachometer, speedometer, fuel capacity, mileage, and direction indicators arranged in a fashionable style that’s attractive to look at. 

On the flip side, Toyota installed 8 Surround Sound speakers that have a crisp audio output for its entertainment features. Which makes it a steal for drivers who love to play music while on the go.

FEATURES

Designed for Safety

The all-new Toyota Rush can now brake by itself, stopping the car from colliding with anything in front, back, or side of it. Toyota called its Advanced Driver-Assistance System (ADAS) as Pre-Collision System (PCS) implying that the system was built to prevent any accidents before it is even present. The Toyota PCS is activated when it detects an object ahead. The Pre-Collision Warning will start to buzz in intervals from slow and steady (if you are closing in but still far away from the object) to fast and loud (if you are about to collide with the object) before the vehicle self-activates its brakes.

The Anti-lock Brake System Technology prevents the tires from locking if sudden braking is necessary. Furthermore, the Hill-Start Assist (HSA) safety feature prevents the car from running backwards while driving on slopes with steep inclination. Not to mention the 6 SRS Airbags installed strategically in the vehicle that will protect the passengers in case a severe accident occurs.

And because the Rush is a premium model, all of its variants are fitted with 6 SRS airbags, stability and traction controls, a 360-degree monitor, Blind Spot Monitor, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and a front digital video recorder that compounds to a satisfactory overall safety score.

Designed for Comfort

Unlike other MUVs, the Toyota Rush is packed with comfort features such as air conditioning vents installed in strategic points of the vehicle to maximize cooling effects, a 12V socket for the third-row seats in case at the back passengers need to charge their phones, and USB port for charging located on the driver seat so he or she can connect his or her phone for GPS tracking or simply playing music. The latest Rush 1.5S variant comes with leather-finished upholstery for that premium feel.

Designed for Entertainment

Designed for safety, designed for comfort… expect it to be designed for entertainment as well. There is a 7-inch tablet installed at the dashboard where you can access the AM/FM Radio, Bluetooth Connection, USB Socket, DVD Player, Front Speaker, Rear Speaker and 2DIN Audio of the car.

POWERTRAIN

Engine

Of course, aside from the features mentioned above, anyone looking to buy a car looks at the engine performance as the key deciding variable whether a vehicle is worth buying for its price. The Toyota Rush is equipped with a 2NR-VE 4-cylinder Dual VVT-i engine with 1,496 cc capacity that is capable of producing 134 Newton-meters of torque or 102 horsepower. It’s a satisfactory performance for a vehicle of this caliber.

Transmission

Transmissions make driving easy or sophisticated. For the road veterans, the 5-speed manual transmission may be up to their alley. They can have better control over the car’s speed performance that fits their driving capabilities. The 4-speed automatic transmission, on the other hand, is mostly recommended for the fresh graduates of driving schools due to its simplicity. The Rush’s differential is also located at the rear which means most of its power will come from behind… a world in difference compared to its two rivals, the Mitsubishi Xpander and the Honda CR-V which are both front-wheel driven.

Driving Characteristics

The Rush uses its sibling Avanza’s 102-hp 1.5L 2NR-VE Dual VVT-i gasoline-powered engine. Since the Rush is heavier than the Avanza, the power-to-weight ratio suffers. As a result, you’ll need to reach 3,500 to 4,000 RPM before you feel the pull with its 4-speed automatic transmission.

Fuel Consumption

On the contrary, Toyota equipped the Rush with an Electronic Fuel Injection System to maximize its fuel efficiency to support the vehicle’s 2NR-VE 4-cylinder Dual VVT-i engine. It consumes around 8-9 liters of fuel per 100 kilometer displacement when driving in cities and 7 liters per 100 kilometer displacement on the highway depending on how you drive.

CONCLUSION

The new design of the Toyota Rush, compared to its predecessors, far outperforms its rivals when it comes to competitive pricing, features, interior & exterior design, and performance. Although, most of its strengths are great for families who love going out of town.