The Toyota Rush 2018 has been in the news for quite some time. This is a seven-seater mid-size SUV from the Japanese major. Toyota has tasted big success in India with its UVs. There have been rumors that the Japanese automaker is considering to get this SUV to India. The next-generation Toyota Rush has already been unveiled. It comes with many enhancements in styling and gets sharper looks. However, this SUV seems unlikely to come to India. Our sources reveal that Toyota is looking at getting some other SUV for this segment, in India. The company is exploring various possibilities and currently is not rushing into it. There are chances that an all-new SUV may be launched later, which will be a derivative of the Rush. However, it is too early to predict.
The older Rush felt more like a mini Fortuner. It has a typical ladder frame chassis design The new model looks is more like a crossover or rather MPV, rather than an SUV. There are glances of the Innova Crysta in it. This new generation Rush is made to appeal to a different set of audiences. It has muscular looks and is a front-wheel-drive one. The Toyota brand has been focusing on getting more products into India. The Innova Crysta and the Fortuner have currently been driving sales in the country. The Yaris sedan has recently been launched. The Toyota Rush kind of SUV in India will be useful and a strong product to introduce, looking at Toyota’s dominance in the UV segment.
Toyota Rush 2018 India Price Expected | |
| Model | Price (on-road, Delhi) |
| Base | ₹ 10 lakhs |
| Top | ₹ 16 lakhs |
The pricing of the Rush 2018 for India was expected to be somewhere in the range of ₹ 10 lakhs to ₹ 16 lakhs with taxes. The Honda BR-V and the Mahindra Scorpio were expected competition. Now, it seems that another SUV based on the Rush may come in a little later in the market.
Currently, Toyota is concentrating on the post launch activities of the Yaris in India. There has been quite some excitement around this car. This is a big ticket product for the Japanese company. Toyota is competing with the market leader Honda City head-on. The new Yaris promises a lot and Toyota is taking one step at a time in launching new products. This is one of the reasons why the Toyota Rush will not be be making it into India, anytime soon. The company may look at getting another SUV, for which plans have not yet been confirmed.
The company is doing very well with the Innova Crysta and the Fortuner. They would want to put all efforts currently behind the Yaris sedan and make it successful. Toyota is looking at higher numbers in this segment.
The Toyota Rush in India is unlikely to come. The Yaris has just been launched. These will be offered against the Honda City and the Maruti Baleno respectively. This is a mass segment and Toyota will not want to miss out its influence on this segment. Hence, the brand will be first getting the mass products and then focus on new SUVs. There has been no confirmation from Toyota on its India plans for the Rush, as Toyota is closely working with Suzuki on small car projects for India. Now, it has been conformed that the Toyota Rush will not make it to India for some time at least.
On the inside, the Rush 2018 is offering all new interiors. These are simple and subtle. All black interiors makes the cabin stand out. A three spoke steering wheel along with audio controls and a twin dial instrument cluster. The centre console will have goodies like touchscreen system, climate control and even other frills in the infotainment system.
The steering wheel is small and sporty. The three dial that form the instrument panel look stylish, the gear knob is short. These all characterise trendy and stylish interiors. This isn’t the case with the other SUVs. So, for many this will be a change. The youth will prefer something of this sort. Toyota will even ensure that the quality of materials used on this SUV are similar is not higher. They cannot do repeat the Etios story once again.
The 2018 Rush is more of a 5+2 seater. An SUV based on this, will be a direct competition to the Renault Duster and the Hyundai Creta, however the third row seats still can be used.
| Engine | 1.4-litre diesel |
| Power | 90bhp |
| Torque | 200Nm |
| Transmission | 6-Speed |
The Toyota Rush 2018 was rumored to come with a 1.4-litre diesel engine that would churn about 90 horses of power. A six-speed manual transmission was to be mated to it.Toyota will want to continue with the same engine for its new SUV that may come in place of the Rush.The Rush is sold with this engine in many parts of the world. In petrol, it will be the 1.5-litre petrol that will also churn 105 bhp. This will come with a five-speed manual transmission.
The new Toyota Rush doesn’t any more retain the butchy looks. It has more of a crossover design like the Honda BR-V. The front grille is large and it occupies most of your attention. The headlamps are pulled back and rectangular. There are round front fog lamps and even a large front skid plate too.
The side profile of the new Toyota Rush 2018 is very MUV-ish. There is less glass area and blacked out door pillars. The alloy wheels are diamond cut and the Toyota Rush does look tall. The rear is where there is a striking resemblance to the Honda BR-V, except for Honda’s joint tail lamp design. The rear bumper is black and there is a large size rear spoiler too.
The Toyota Rush 2018 based SUV that may likely come to India will be upgraded and will match the features of the new compact SUVs in India. It will have three rows of seating with a seating capacity for seven. It will come with touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth and six speakers, leather wrapped steering wheel and leather bolstered seats too. The second row will have a 50:50 split and reclining as well, while the third row gets 50:50 split. The Rush offers ABS with EBD and dual airbags too, which will be standard in the new SUV.
The Toyota Rush 2018 was likely tobe pitted against the, Honda BR-V, Renault Duster, Hyundai Creta and even the Mahindra Scorpio, Tata Safari to a certain extent. At the moment, Toyota only has the 1.4-litre diesel engine in its Indian porfolio, which may be upgraded for for a future SUV. This new SUB may not have a 4WD version and will be made as per Indian suitability.