Worldwide, the SUV and compact SUV markets continue to grow at the expense of the traditional saloon car. In fact, I believe the compact SUV, whether it be diesel, gas, hybrid or electric powered, will become the dominant sector. And so just about every manufacturer in the world from BMW to Bentley now offers an SUV in its lineup.

Toyota rushed out (sorry, I just had to write that) the third generation Rush in early 2018 in Indonesia and the Philippines. It’s built exclusively for the Asian and Caribbean market, is nearly identical to the Daihatsu Terios and shares the same platform and engine as the Toyota Avanza. There are some minor upgrades to the 2019 model.

You get a lot of metal, plastic, rubber, cloth and leather for your money. At 4,435mm long and 1,695mm wide, this compact SUV just fits in the maximum allow able length and width for private cars in Bermuda. Additionally, low overhangs at the front and rear mean cabin space is maximised.

Thus, the Toyota Rush can accommodate three rows of seating. And it looks big. It has a commanding appearance that is reminiscent of the larger SUVs that are not available in Bermuda. Strong character lines and bulges around the rear wheels and front of the bonnet/hood lend it a sporty look with a rugged appeal.

Inside, the cabin feels spacious, with plenty of legroom and headroom for the front passenger and driver; likewise for the middle row passengers. Unless you are very tall and or large, you

can even sit comfortably in the third row, with some headroom, and room for your feet under the seats in front. For cargo hauling, the second and third row seat backrests fold down providing a flat load space. The third row can also be folded forward to create even more rear load space.

And if you like your coffee on the go, you’re well accommodated with three cup/bottle holders between the front seats, two in each front door, two in each rear door and one on either side of the third row of seats. Thirteen in total! The view of the instrument panel is uncluttered by the steering wheel and, in this digital age, there is plenty of info on display including the usual speedometer and tachometer plus a fuel efficiency gauge.

The 1.5-litre engine is naturally aspirated (i.e. not turbocharged) producing a maximum 77kW (103hp) delivered through a 4-speed automatic gearbox, which is okay, but with a driver and six passengers, the Rush is not going to be the swiftest in the stable. Even with just the driver, it didn’t exactly rush (sorry) up Barker’s Hill when pushed. I highly recommend that Toyota consider turbocharging the engine. It’s the way many vehicles of its size and class have gone in order to produce more power, improved fuel consumption and lower emissions from smaller engines.

Nevertheless, the drive was smooth, the ride firm, verging on stiff, with minimal roll on bends, even with this big empty box. The firm ride is no doubt a factor of driving with no passengers. Seven up, the stiffness will give way to a softer ride.

In Bermuda, we have two models to choose from. Both are licence Class H, with the XF starting at $44,900 and the slightly more up-market RG from $48,700. Both models have all the usual bells and whistles plus 16in alloy wheels, hill-start assist control, vehicle stability control, rear-view camera and sensors, LED headlamps, automatic a/c with rear a/c in the roof, radio/USB/Apple Car Play and Android and 12V/60W accessory sockets everywhere. The RG model also comes with electric fold-in mirrors, leather steering wheel, 17in alloy wheels, smart entry and auto headlight setting.

To check out the Toyota Rush and maybe schedule a test drive, contact Bermuda Motors on Church Street.

This article was originally featured in the TOP TEN 2019 edition of the RG Business Magazine.

The post Toyota Rush appeared first on RG Magazines.

The term ‘SUV’ was first used in the late 1980s to describe sports utility vehicles that were based on light truck chassis and were categorised by an upright stance, raised ground clearance, robust looking design and high towing capacity. Very utilitarian. Typical examples then were the Land Rover, Toyota Land Cruiser and the Jeep Cherokee. Launched in 1970, the Range Rover, the granddaddy of SUVs, in production to this day, remains the best of them all. 

To gain a piece of this growing market segment, other manufacturers began to produce SUVs, albeit smaller, and cheaper, and so the Suzuki Vitara was born in 1988. The Vitara’s 2019 model is the fourth generation. The second and third generation were known as the Suzuki Grand Vitara, but now we are back to the simpler, more concise Vitara. 

Strictly speaking, the 2019 Suzuki Vitara is categorised as a compact SUV. In line with its competitors, gone is the boxy shape of the original model which has been replaced with the curved roofline and raised haunch above the rear wheels that now epitomises modern compact SUVs. It is also about 5inches shorter, 3inches lower and 1-1/2inches narrower than the previous model, thus more suited to our narrow roads and making it easier to handle for those of you who are somewhat challenged in parking skills.

Not that the Vitara is indistinguishable from its competitors, with the traditional Suzuki front grille, redesigned for 2019. The all-white model that I drove is an attractive car, well designed both outside and in. Build quality is good, with even, narrow shut lines, smooth welded seams, no body rattles and doors that close with a satisfying clunk.

Powered by a 1.6l naturally aspirated gas engine, through a 6-speed automatic transmission, the Vitara is no slouch as it quietly nipped along, taking tight bends with no fuss. I know I was miles away from pushing it to its limits; nevertheless, I stayed within the speed limits and it handled well.

Comfort levels in the cabin are high. Well sculpted suede and leather seats with firm lumbar support meant I felt not a jot from my chronic sciatica. The view through the 3-spoke leather steering wheel to the instrument panel is completely uninterrupted. The 2019 model now has an armrest so that there is some arm support for long journeys, even with your hands on the wheel at the 10 to 2 position. At 164.5inches long, this ‘F’ Class car is a good size, and that is apparent in the cabin, especially when you sit in the rear. Even with the front driver seat pushed back halfway, I was comfortably seated with adequate leg room. The boot/trunk has a capacity of about 375l expanding to 1160l with the rear seats folded down. They also do the usual 60:40 split.

The 2019 Vitara comes with a bucket load of features. You can even spec the 4-wheel drive option, though why you would, beats me, unless you need to tow a boat trailer off a beach or wet slipway. Maybe. Other interesting features available include shift paddles, LED daytime running lights, automatic dim rear view mirror, smartphone linkage, a rearview camera (I am now of the opinion that these should be mandatory), roof rails, auto headlamp levelling, hill hold and hill descent control, and a panoramic sunroof. There are ten colours to choose from including the bi-tone, which has a different roof colour from the body. In the showroom, I spotted the Ice Grayish Blue body colour with Cosmic Black roof and thought that was really cool.

The full list can be had from the dealer. Prices start at $43,995 for the 2-wheel drive mono-tone. For a test drive and a chat contact, Auto Solutions, St John’s Road. 

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