TEST DRIVE - First Impressions of the New 2019 Toyota Rush 1.5 S

Sometime during the 4th quarter of 2018 I had a chance to participate in a short media drive of the all-new 2019 Toyota Rush 7 Seater compact SUV. This happened during the recent preview of the car recently. Three of us motoring media folks shared a Rush and we drove from MAEPS in Serdang to Cyberjaya, Putrajaya and back. It was a short couple of hours but if you watched the video on YouTube, we did manage to try it out on the highways, city streets and also some dirt roads around the Cyberjaya/Putrajaya area. 

The 2019 Toyota Rush is essentially a budget SUV that can carry 7 people inside it. The previous Rush was sold here from 2008 to 2017. That version was based around a monocoque chassis whilst this new one now shares its roots, or platform with the Toyota Avanza/Xenia in that it now sports a very SUV-like unibody or ladder frame type chassis. Whilst some may say that this is a regression in some ways, it does make the new Rush more of a proper SUV like its larger siblings - the Fortuner and Land Cruiser. The only thing short is that it is only rear wheel drive and not a 4x4 like its big brothers.

Of course, when it is powered by a 105ps 136Nm 4 cylinder 1.5liter engine having just rear wheel drive is adequate when it also needs to carry 7 people inside it. Couple that to a 4 speed traditional torque converter gearbox and you know that this is Toyota's answer to budget motoring for the masses. Ample performance and not an ounce more. So actually this is good enough for such a car if you maintain at Malaysian highway speed limits and lope along as gracefully as you can in a compact SUV cum MPV. 

So in starting our drive experience in somewhat more detail, we note as we are about to step into the cabin that this is an affordable 7 seater SUV from the start. It gets some nice design cues inside and out but you know it is firstly built to a set size and a set budget. The exterior gets some nice styling cues which makes it more aggressive looking than the more feminine, and rounded styled previous model. The interior gets Toyota's latest design cues too and it is pretty ergonomic with the exception of the low set steering wheel. It could do with a steering wheel which can be set up a little higher for larger people like me.

The driver's seat seems well padded and the Rush seems comfortable when you sit in the second row and also at the third row. Even a chubby bloke like me could get in and out from the third row seats easily. No issues if  you are normal sized. So don't bloody overeat and become XXXL. XL would be sufficient.

Anyway, yes, the Rush's 1.5liter engine and 4 speed automatic combo may see archaic but it's there because it should last throughout the ownership period of the first two owners (my prediction). It's a Toyota. One built to basic specs for countries where the terrain is tougher (Indonesia, Philippines to name a few). It's basic, but it makes its torque (pulling power) quite low down its normally aspirated rev-range so it isn't that lethargic. The gearbox also shifts down easily if you give it some poke. Four gears to play with means that you may be caught out occasionally but in most circumstances, its adequate. Remember...adequate. Not Sepang levels of performance.

The long travel suspension seems to work well and the SUV is predictable through most normal speed corners during our drive. It will settle into understeer quite early on but this is predictable. But you could still have some fun if you are on some gravel or dirt since its rear wheel driven (like in the video you see in here). The suspension also seems to work fine on gravel roads and you don't feel any jarring effects. At highway speeds it seems nicely planted at 110kmh. Of course, if you try hustling it, it will drop a gear and try to hustle. The key word is TRY.

So drive it as what it's meant to be. Transport, and you will be satisfied with it. Performance is merely adequate but it does offer Toyota levels of fit and finish, albeit with hard plastics all around. There are leather seats in the 1.5 S spec variant we tried, (and 13 cup holders) as well as the usual (easy to add) high specced infotainment unit in the higher specified variant as well as a lot of active safety features - the new Rush is 5 star ASEAN NCAP rated folks.

So, all in all, when this comes out it will be priced from RM93,000 for the 1.5 G and RM98,000 for the 1.5 S which we tested here. Prices are still estimates and it will also be assembled by Perodua on the same assembly line as the upcoming Perodua ARUZ variant of this Rush .... which will be selling for cheaper - with some minor differences in infotainment unit, front bumpers, dashboard top bit, and two less cupholders at 11. There will be some differences, with Toyota being a Toyota if you know what I mean.

Aside from that, this, compared to the Toyota Avanza (which it doesn't replace unfortunately) is the better compact 7 seater SUV or MPV that Toyota is offering on sale today.

[update - Test Drive impressions (without any photos as it still hasn't been launched officially as yet) on the Perodua Aruz is here]

The Toyota Rush Specs for Malaysia:-

The 1.5 G variant is equipped with halogen headlamps and fabric seats. 

The 1.5 S variant has LED headlamps, leather seats, halogen foglamps and pre-collision system. 

Both get the "R-Blade" bodykit, 17-inch alloy wheels with 215/60 profile tyres, LED taillights, single-zone air-conditioning with rear blower vents, 6.8-inch DVD-AVX head unit with screen mirroring function, multi-info display, Panoramic View Monitor with four cameras, Toyota AutoTag built-in SmartTAG, four electrical outlets, keyless entry and start, digital video recorder (DVR) and 13 cupholders.

Active and Passive Safety in the new Toyota Rush -

Six airbags 

Blind spot monitor with rear-cross traffic alert

ESP and pre-collision system. 

The pre-collision system in the 1.5 S  first alerts the driver at speeds of 4–100 km/h (2.5–62.1 mph) (vehicles)/4–50 km/h (2.5–31.1 mph) (pedestrians) when an imminent collision is ahead. The operational speed for the system is between 4–80 km/h.

The system will automatically apply the brakes in an attempt to prevent or mitigate a crash. Part of the pre-collision system are front departure alert that alerts when the car moves ahead by three metres, and pedal misoperation control. 

The Rush is also equipped with traction control, hill-start assist, ABS with EBD and brake assist, and pedal misoperation control. (For both variants)