We are driving the new @ToyotaSA Rush this morning. It slots into an important gap in the SUV segment. for Toyota. The Rush is spacious and comfy, and will be enticing for families and shuttle transport business owners. #rushlife 🎥 @SiaMhlongo pic.twitter.com/0g2e643kWd

— Khulekani on Wheels (@khuleonwheels) July 5, 2018

By Rebaneilwe Semakane

The SUV segment is crowded and is bread and butter for manufacturers these days. In South Africa, Toyota has been conspicuous by its absence in the smaller SUV segment dominated by the likes of Ford Ecosport. No longer will that be the case. The Toyota rush is here to compete in the small SUV segment, bringing about a sense of excitement, adventure and thrill to the driver.

Interior

The interior layout adopts a strong symmetrical design with easy to use operational zones. The upper dashboard houses a touchscreen audio system, equipped with Bluetooth, USB and Android Auto Plus Show/Apple CarPlay functionality. This high-tech audio unit also allows the user to customize the layout and apps, which will definitely appeal to the younger crowd.

The seats are finished in patterned black fabric with complementing black fabric inlays on the door panels. The rear seats feature three independently-adjustable headrests and 60/40 tip-forward function.

Getting ready to put the new @ToyotaSA Rush through its paces this morning. We think you’ll be pleased to hear that fuel consumption is claimed at 6.6 litres/100km for the manual version and 6.7l/100km for the automatic. #rushlife pic.twitter.com/CL9VxQHhBv

— Khulekani on Wheels (@khuleonwheels) July 5, 2018

Toyota did not forget to add convenience when it comes to road trips. There are quite a number of cup holders and storage compartments, making travelling simple. The front doors can hold two bottles, whilst the rear doors feature a cup holder integrated into the door handle which is supplemented by a low-mounted bottle holder. The boot space is incredibly massive at 609 liters and the car can seat five people. The rear seats can be folded to provide additional luggage space.

The interior features list includes power adjustable and – retractable exterior mirrors, auto-off LED headlamps, roof rails and fog lamps. The 6-speaker touchscreen infotainment system offers Android Auto Plus Show, Miracast and CarPlay functionality. There is also built-in Satellite Navigation to seamlessly navigate to any destination. The car is also user-friendly to passengers, as they can connect their smartphones to enable Google Maps and various music streaming apps.

Good morning bahlali. We are in PE for the launch of the all new @ToyotaSA Rush. Kuyasheshwa. We are looking forward to this latest edition to Toyota’s SUV offering in Mzansi. So far, only one engine is offered in the range, a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine with 77kW/136Nm. You can opt for a 5-speed manual transmission or a 4-speed auto. You’ll be pleased to hear that fuel consumption is claimed at 6.6 litres/100km for the manual version and 6.7l/100km for the automatic. #toyotarush #toyota #rush #suv #budgetbeater #affordable #newcar #car #country #urban #rushlife #portelizabeth 📸: @sia_mhlongo

A post shared by The Car People (@khulekani_on_wheels) on Jul 4, 2018 at 11:15pm PDT

Exterior

Is it a baby Fortuner or private school educated Avanza? That debate rages on but we can tell you that the exterior looks inviting. The new Rush features a prominent angular design with pointed LED headlamps and a large trapezoidal grille. The grille features wide horizontal slats finished off in dark grey and a centrally mounted Toyota emblem. An inverted contour line separates the upper and lower air-dams and creates a triangular space which house the fog lamps. The side design then lays emphasis on Rush’s ground clearance and spaciousness, whilst black fender trim and lower panel finishes aim to bring on a rugged feel to it. Buyers have a choice of five exterior colours namely; Tusk White, Quicksilver, Ruby Metallic, Liquid Bronze Metallic and Graphite Black.

An integrated Reverse camera and Park Distance Control (PDC) add both convenience and safety. A keyless entry system with door-handle mounted access button and push-start ignition allow drivers ease of entry and use.

Engine and drive

The new Rush is powered by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder DOHC engine, which produces of 77 kW at 6000 rpm and 136 Nm of torque at 4200 rpm. The engine utilizes Toyota’s trusted VVT-i system. Buyers have a choice of either a 5-speed manual transmission or 4-speed automatic – rear wheel drive. Fuel economy is a strong focal point with the manual-equipped Rush using 6.6 liters per 100km and the automatic variant doing 6.7 liters per 100km.

We drove the Rush around Port Elizabeth. The ride is comfortable and the car feels composed at take-off. The car does at times sound like it could do with an extra gear to alleviate pressure on the engine. Nonetheless, the gear changes feel smooth and the gear timing is precise in the automatic. Families will enjoy the Rush over long distances as it rides well and offers tons of space.

Pricing

Rush 1.5 manual transmission: R299,900; and

Rush 1.5 automatic transmission: R313,500.

Prices include a six-services/90,000 kilometre service and a three-year/100,000km warranty. The service intervals are set at 15,000 kilometres.