Before you buy an SUV like the Honda BR-V or Mitsubishi Xpander, here’s a quick review of why you should consider the Toyota Rush among its two rivals.

First off, the Toyota Rush is a Multi Utility Vehicle (MUV) that offers practicality in features, design, and performance for only 983,000.00 PhP for its base variant 1.5E M/T, up for grabs for as little as 51,100.00 PhP downpayment and 20,782.00 PhP monthly amortization.

Affordable price aside, the Toyota Rush doesn’t shy away when it comes to its features such as Multi-Reflector LED headlights with line guide, bright halogen fog lamps, power fold side mirrors with repeaters, and 17-inch two-tone alloy wheels. A lot of people on the internet deemed the Rush as family and budget friendly, especially if you’re looking to take out the fam for some out of town touring.

Now, let’s take a sneak peek at the Toyota Rush’s engine design. 

Equipped with a 1.5L four-cylinder 2NR-VE Dual VVT-i Gasoline-Powered Engine that produces up to 134 Newton-meters of Torque or 102 Horsepower at 3,500 to 4,200 rpm, this compact MUV can go far and long with maximum fuel efficiency.

And since the Rush is known for its practical benefits, saving as much money on fuel economy is a big green flag in today’s skyhigh oil prices. However, since its engine was originally designed for the Avanza, the heavier Rush had some minor issues in the power-to-weight ratio.

Meanwhile, its streamline design doesn’t just make it look more aesthetic and eye-catching, it also allows for air to flow smoothly by the sides, lessening drag force from behind that pulls this vehicle to be slower.

It has smoke-chrome radiator grilles, multi-reflector LED headlights, halogen fog lamps, and a facelift bumper that overall makes the Rush a “mini Fortuner” due to its front design.

Here’s a table for the Toyota Rush’s Dimensions:

Which if we may say, it’s not too shabby.

Next is the trunk capacity. Once you fold and pull the back seats upwards, it leaves a total of 514 L in space which is equivalent to 2 balik bayan boxes snug together… not bad.

When you look at the rear design of this goodie, we’ll see an integrated 3rd brake light just above the rear window under the spoiler.

Apart from the upper features of the rear, the exhaust and spare tire are cleverly hidden below utilizing its 600 mm wading depth. That’s a good selling point for people who like a clean and unobstructed view of their auto. 

Meanwhile, in contrast to its rivals, the Toyota Rush has a tight turning radius of 5m. Making it suitable for tight and narrow streets of the cities. In addition, the 220 mm ground clearance is a good call from Toyota since the Philippines is always hit by more than 20 typhoons in a year. Which means the Toyota Rush will have no issue driving through knee-level floods.

Due to this, however, the Rush feels a lot stiffer and bouncy when it’s not at full passenger capacity. The MacPherson Strut suspensions installed in the Rush cost less than other suspension brands. Although it is stiffer, we can’t deny the fact that MacPherson Strut combines strength, spring, and stability at a low manufacturing cost… which means there is an abundance of it in the market, in case you need some replacements.

Once you get in the Rush, the first thing you’ll notice is that it is spacious. There is a generous clearance for the head and leg room. Depending on the variant you choose to buy, you can have fabric or leather upholstery. 

What you’ll definitely like in the driver’s seat is its elevation which favors a lot of drivers’ preferences because they can see the surroundings much better. Aside from that, the driver’s seat offers lumbar support which takes some getting used to. 

The steering wheel can also be adjusted to match your height, so you can find a comfortable driving position. What you might dislike, however, is the limitation on the design for adjustment since it’s not telescopic and can only be adjusted vertically.

Moving on to the dashboard panel, you can enjoy the combination meter display which shows the speedometer, tachometer, fuel capacity, and indicators. Mounted at the center is a 7-inch infotainment system that controls the 8 surround sound speakers in the vehicle. 

If you like jamming to your favorite band’s music while driving then the Toyota Rush is for you.

In terms of safety, the Toyota Rush doesn’t fall short. It has 6… yes, SIX! Srs airbags installed all around the vehicle’s interior assuring the passengers’ safety. Moreover, Toyota added its Pre-Collision System (PCS) to the Rush. It can now stop all by itself thanks to the Pre-Collision Warning and Pre-Collision Brake features.

The alloy wheels are equipped with an Anti-lock Brake System plus Electronic Brake Distribution to ensure that the vehicle can handle sudden application of brakes to prevent any accidents.

Whenever you switch the gear lever to reverse, there will be an automatic display of the rear view from the rear camera to your monitor on the dashboard. You’ll also hear intervals of buzz that go from slow to fast depending if the vehicle gets too close into colliding with another vehicle.

Once you start driving the Rush, you’ll hear the noise from the engine to the cabin. Happens whenever you race the car to high speed. It doesn’t happen when driven slower.

Conclusion

Toyota Rush is a steal for its reasonably affordable price. With its satisfactory features, slick interior and exterior design, and performance, you should definitely go for this MUV, especially if you want to bring your family to off-road trips to the provinces or if you just want to hang around in the cityscape.