Toyota Rush - Top 5 features

Toyota Rush reached Philippine shores just a couple of years ago but had made headlines because of its similarities to the Fortuner and is even dubbed as the ‘baby Fortuner’ by the motoring media because of its sleek design that mimics its bigger sibling. The Toyota Rush is a compact SUV after all and measures 4,435 mm in length, 1,695 mm wide, and has a height of 1,705 mm with a wheelbase of 2,685 mm.

The Toyota Rush comes in 3 variants but is equipped with the same 4 Cylinder, In-line, 16 Valve DOHC, Chain Drive with Dual VVT-I engine capable of delivering 102 hp of maximum power at 6,000 rpm and 134 Nm of peak torque at 4,200 rpm and is mated to either a manual or automatic gearbox. Rush has a displacement of 11,496cc. The Rush 1.5 G AT rides on 17 x 6.1/2J alloy wrapped in 215/60 R17 rubber while the 1.5 E trims are fitted with 16 x 6.1/2J Alloy rims wrapped in 215/65 R16 wheels. 

Here is a look at the variant-wise Toyota Rush price list:

Variant	Price
1.5 G AT	Php 1.1 million
1.5 E AT	Php 1 million
1.5 E MT	Php 968,000

Besides coming from a well-loved established car brand, good aftersales service, exterior design, and more affordable price tag compared to the Fortuner, here are other top features that we think will make you consider this compact SUV for your next car purchase.

1. Adequate passive and active safety systems

Because we Pinoys love SUV as a family vehicle, high on the must-have list is the passive and active safety and driver-assist features. And the Toyota Rush specs sheet is packed full of it! In fact, the Rush got 4 of 5 stars for adult occupant protection and 4 of 5 stars for child occupant protection from the ASEAN NCAP.

All Toyota Rush comes standard with the Toyota vehicle security system (TVSS); all its seatbelts are 3 pt. ELR; has a child lock protection; ISOFIX and tether anchor equipped for child protection restraint, warnings for seatbelts and door ajar; and has driver, passenger, front side, and curtain shield SRS airbags to cushion passengers for impact.

Other safety features worth mentioning are:

• Anti-lock brake system (ABS) with electronic brake distribution
• Vehicle stability control
• Traction control
• Hill-start assist
• Emergency stop signal
• Back sonar
• Alarm with immobilizer

2. White pearl option

If you like white, then this is a feature you’d love. After all, nobody likes their cars being mistaken for a taxi. And with the white pearl option available in all trims—yes, even the basic 1.5 E MT trim has the white pearl option, your car won’t be mistaken for a public vehicle. Just add Php 15,000 and your Toyota Rush will have that classy, pearly white look. If white is not your color, Rush comes in several other vibrant colors that will suit your personality.

Here is a list of Toyota Rush color options:

• Bordeaux Mica
• Bronze Mica Metallic
• Dark Red Mica Metallic
• Silver Mica Metallic
• Black Metallic
• White

3. Better infotainment system

Another feature that’s great about the Rush is it did not skimp on the infotainment system. All trims come standard with a 7-inch touchscreen display with weblink connectivity for iOS and Android. It also comes with CD, MP3, AUX, USB, and Bluetooth connectivity. The Audio system comes with 8 speakers for the 1.5 G and 6 speakers for the 1.5 E.

4. Improve handling

The rear-wheel-drive of the Toyota Rush allows for more balanced performance, eliminates torque steer, and better handling. Rear-wheel drive allows the Rush to have enhanced acceleration as the weight of the vehicle shifts to the rear part at the time of acceleration from a stop which transfers the weight on the rear, increasing the tractions of the tires for faster acceleration.

5. Seating capacity

Another major feature of the Toyota Rush is its seating capacity. Unlike the Ford EcoSport or Hyundai Tucson that can only seat 5 people, the Toyota Rush can actually seat 7 passengers including the driver. Its bench-style seats are two one-seat and two-seat chairs. Each part of the bench is a one-touch tumble, slide that can be reconfigured based on cargo and passenger needs. If you have more cargo than passengers, then both the second and third-row seats can be tucked away. For oddly shaped cargo like surfboards, one side of each of the two rows can be folded while still being able to sit two people on each row.  

Toyota Rush is a good family-car that can go the distance. Be it the daily grind of the city or a weekend getaway to the beach or a trike to Baguio, the Rush is a value for money that offers flexibility and reliability.

Also read: Cross-Segment comparison: Toyota Rush vs Toyota Avanza