All-New Toyota Rush To Be Launched In Malaysia Soon

It seems that the all-new Toyota Rush is heading for launch in Malaysia within a month or two. We have seen postings (by Toyota dealers) of sales booking materials in the social media space for the all-new Toyota Rush, only to be removed the following day or two.

A quick glance at the specifications and features reveal the all-new Toyota Rush bound for Malaysia will share many of the features seen in the Indonesian, the Philippine, and South African markets.

However, a few items caught our eyes. On top of the six airbags, ISOFIX anchor points, and Electronic Stability Control (ESC), additional safety features listed by local dealers include:

• Forward Collision Warning (FCW) with Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) (Similar to new Myvi?)
• Panoramic view camera (360-degree)
• Blind spot monitor (BSM) and rear cross traffic alert (RCTA)

ASEAN NCAP has also awarded the all-new Toyota Rush with a 5-star rating, thanks to the fitment of ESC and rear seatbelt reminders (second and third rows), on top of a good performance in the usual crash testing.

Other key features listed by the dealers include:

• LED head lamps and tail lamps
• 17-inch wheels and tyres (215/60 R17)
• Automatic air-conditioning with rear air-conditioning
• 7-inch infotainment with MirrorLink
• Smart Entry with Push start button

To recap, the all-new Toyota Rush is powered by a 1.5-litre 2NR-VE Dual VVT-i four-cylinder petrol engine (105 PS, 136 Nm) that is paired to either a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual. The all-new Toyota Rush continues to drive the rear wheels, suspended by a 5-link design and now fitted with a stabilizer bar.  

In Indonesia, the largest market for the Toyota Rush, the vehicle is made by Astra Daihatsu Motor Co. Ltd (ADM), which also makes Daihatsu Terios. A similar arrangement with Perodua can be expected, as back in 2005, Perodua did assemble the Toyota Avanza (Daihatsu Xenia) for UMW Toyota.

Note the only different items on the Daihatsu Terios is the grille and alloy wheel design

Does this mean Perodua will get to locally assemble a Daihatsu-based SUV for themselves, while at the same time providing UMW Toyota with a fully built-up Toyota Rush? The Malaysian automotive space in this last quarter of 2018 is certainly going to be filled with plenty of news on SUV models (Proton X70, Toyota Rush, Perodua SUV).