1. It's a seven-seater in overseas markets
...but was introduced in South Africa as a five-seater, making it an excellent vehicle for smaller families who need additional space for their dogs or sports/camping equipment. Toyota marketed it as "an entry into the SUV lifestyle". The Rush's styling reminds one of a mini-Fortuner, but it's not built for going too far off the beaten track. It's almost better to drive on dirt than smooth tar, however. The Rush is rear-wheel-driven.
2. The 1.5-litre engine is one of Toyota's most widely used power plants and is known for being mechanically sound
The four-speed automatic gearbox also has an excellent reputation, even if it's not the quietest, but fuel consumption can be higher than expected due to the engine rotating at a higher speed, and things get quite noisy inside the cabin once you hit the national speed limit. The five-speed manual is a better choice, but one also feels that a 6th gear ratio would have been better for all intents and purposes. Fuel economy hovers around the 8 litres per 100 km-mark. This is okay, but not great for a 77 kW engine.
3. The Rush is extensively specified
In terms of safety and features, the Rush looks impressive. Standard spec includes power-folding mirrors, daytime running lamps, front fog lamps, roof rails, 17-inch alloys, a 7-inch infotainment system with 6 speakers, USB port & Bluetooth, Android Auto & Apple CarPlay, HDMI port, reversing camera & satnav; steering wheel switches, dual auto air-conditioning, and power windows.
On the safety front, the Rush gets ABS and EBD, stability control, hill-assist control, park distance control, alarm & immobilizers, auto-locking doors, smart entry with push-button start, and 6 airbags.
