Toyota Rumion 1.5 TX (2022) Review: Toyota's tough and tenacious people-mover

Styling

 

The Toyota Rumion, which replaces the Toyota Avanza, is the third car to be produced via a joint effort between Toyota and Maruti Suzuki in India.

The Rumion, just like the Ertiga, has an unfussy exterior. Let's face it, nobody buys seven-seat MPVs for the way they look, it's just not all that important, yet the Rumion is hardly unattractive. The trapezoidal radiator grille with its triple-horizontal slats adds a bit of bling, while the tapered headlamps create some visual sleekness. Stylised air vents and C-shaped fog-lamp surrounds create an optical illusion of width.

 

 

At the back, you'll notice large vertical LED taillamps with L-shaped lens extensions while the flanks have been shaped and sculpted by well-placed character lines that slim down the side profile. In TX trim, the Rumion features 15-inch alloys, but all models have a full-sized spare wheel.

 

 

Interior, space, and convenience features

The Rumion puts practicality first and even though the cabin is solidly built, it's obvious that there was a budget the designers had to stick to. Compared to the Avanza, however, the Rumion is much more sophisticated. I am not a fan of the garish fake wooden inlays, though, which look a bit cheap. It would look more upmarket if those inserts were faux brushed aluminium or glossy black plastic instead. Fortunately, the TX model has a leather steering wheel.

 

 

On the plus side, the central infotainment system features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which is ideal when you're already quite distracted by many passengers on board, but the sound system's quality is tinny, despite fiddling with the settings at length. My daughter, the music connoisseur, was not impressed but I had to remind her that the Rumion is a budget offering. The Rumion scored brownie points when I told her that it had onboard Wifi, which can be topped up once the initial data runs out.

 

 

There is one USB port in front as well as a 12V socket, with two more 12V sockets on board for rear occupants. These can be easily be turned into additional USB ports if you plug in a few portable USB hubs which are readily available online or in the shops.

 

 

In the TX model, entry is keyless, and as long as you have the key on your person, you can press a button on the door handle to gain entry into the car. The Rumion also features a keyless start. It also has electric windows in the front and rear, a rear windscreen wiper, and electrically adjustable/folding mirrors.

 

 

As a whole, the cabin is solidly built and all occupants will be cool and comfortable thanks to multiple onboard air vents, and the TX model features climate control. There are enough cupholders for everyone (the two in front are ventilated to keep drinks warm or cool), and space is ample in the second row, while the smaller kids will have to sit right at the back where it's a little more cramped, but not terribly. The second and third-row seatbacks can recline for added comfort, while the second row can slide to make access easier to the rearmost seats. The occupants on the two seats right at the back will also be able to exit the vehicle without help from those in row two, as there is a handle to pull to fold the seats forward (they split 60:40).

 

 

Not transporting six passengers? The two seats at the back can be folded completely flat.

 

 

With all seats upright, boot space is a bit tight but should be okay for four to five school bags, but bags can be stacked on top of each other if you remove the boot floor covers. If there's plenty of sports equipment coming along, some scholars might have to stow their backpacks at their feet, but thankfully the footwells are quite deep.

 

 

The drive, performance, and fuel consumption

 

Thanks to a core platform shared with cars such as the Suzuki Swift, Ignis and Baleno, the front-wheel-driven Rumion is surefooted and composed with very little body roll, considering its people-mover dimensions, and driving it around town is comfortable and effortless. It took me a while to get used to the clutch but give it a week or so and you'll have mastered it. 

The five-speed manual gearbox stirs smoothly and the 1.5-litre, free-revving engine (naturally aspirated, of course) is eager to get on the move but is light on fuel. While I never had six fully-grown passengers and their luggage on board, most of my driving was done in town, where my consumption hovered around the 6-7 litres per 100km-mark. 

 

 

It was out on the worst-ever dirt road just outside Hermanus, however, where the Rumion displayed almost SUV-like off-road ability. My husband remarked that the Rumion handled the washed-out gravel road almost as adeptly as his Isuzu D-Max 250, and I even scaled a sidewalk (easily), just to be sure. The Rumion's relatively generous (for an MPV) 180 mm of ground clearance and pliant suspension also help, of course. Given the number of potholes and the general condition of our roads, the Rumion is the right car for the job.

 

Safety

 

Just like the Ertiga, the Rumion gets a 4-star safety rating from Global/ASEAN NCAP which is quite impressive, since there is no traction control. It has nothing to do with items like the standard rearview camera or rear park distance control in the TX either, but everything with the structural integrity of all Rumion (and Ertiga) models. The Rumion also has Isofix mountings on the outer rear seats in the second row, as well as child locks on the rear doors.

 

Pricing

 

The Toyota Rumion, in manual guise, will cost you R307 600, but if you just need a simple transport solution, the Rumion range starts off at R250 000 for the Rumion 1.5 S. We recommend that you view and compare the specs on the Toyota Rumion microsite here to see what it offers.

While both the Rumion and Ertiga are cars that should give you many years of reliable service, I suggest giving the Mitsubishi Xpander 1.5 (R309 995) a test drive as well. It may not have Toyota's large dealer footprint, but it's a solid vehicle that looks and feels a little more sophisticated inside, and it's slightly more SUV-like than its counterparts.

If you're just after an Avanza replacement that's light years ahead of its predecessor, you'll be pleased as punch with the 'new' Toyota Rumion.

 

Pricing

Rumion 1.5 S                               - R 250 500

Rumion 1.5 SX MT                      - R 279 000

Rumion 1.5 SX AT                       - R 295 000

Rumion 1.5 TX MT                      - R 307 600

Rumion 1.5 TX AT                       - R 323 500

 

The numbers

Toyota Rumion 1.5 TX MT

Engine capacity: 1462 cc

Transmission: 5-speed manual

Power: 77 kW

Torque: 138 Nm

Fuel tank capacity: 45 litres

Fuel consumption average: 6.2 litres per 100 km (claimed by Toyota)

Fuel range average: 726 km (claimed by Toyota)

Top speed: 170 km/h

Boot size: 153 litres to 550 to 803 

Ground clearance: 180 mm

The Rumion has a 3-year/100 000 km warranty as well as a four-services/60 000 km service plan - service every 12-months/15 000 km. Additional service and warranty plan extensions are available too.