The Toyota Innova has been quite the success story for the Japanese carmaker and when launched, proved that there is a strong demand for MPVs. However, its high pricing has kept it out of reach of the common man who may also have a large family he’d like to ferry together from time to time. The common man now has an option from Toyota — the Rumion.
Don’t be surprised if the Rumion looks familiar. Leveraging its successful partnership with Maruti Suzuki, Toyota has been rebadging vehicles with the same engines and bodywork. This badge engineering strategy has been quite successful, resulting in significant sales from these badge-engineered models. To answer your question about familiarity, the Toyota Rumion is identical to the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga. The MPV boasts impressive features, looks good, and comes with a peppy motor with an automatic transmission option.
While the Toyota Rumion might look similar to the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, it does stand out in terms of design. The Rumion looks like a mini Innova thanks to the honeycomb grille with a chrome surround styled similar to its larger sibling. It also gets a new bumper with a separate air dam placed lower, giving it a more subtle and appealing appearance. The front design elevates the look and creates a more refined aesthetic. Additionally, the new 15-inch alloy wheels with a darkened treatment enhance the Rumion’s modern and enthusiastic appeal. From the side and rear, the Rumion looks identical to the Ertiga. While the Ertiga was already eye-catching, the Rumion, with its Toyota badge, takes it a step further and becomes a true head-turner. However, the Rumion is not offered in Pearl Midnight Black and Pearl Metallic Auburn Red, colours available for the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga. Despite this, the Rumion still looks stylish and sophisticated.
On the inside, the Toyota Rumion’s dashboard features a mix of hard plastics and a faux wooden finish, which is included only in the top model. The dashboard is placed low, which helps improve forward visibility. It is equipped with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system that supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While the touch response is good, the system’s interface is not very intuitive, making navigating through options somewhat cumbersome. The AC controls are user-friendly while the AC itself is efficient, cooling the car quickly, thanks to the rear roof-mounted AC vents with a dedicated blower knob. The small TFT display between the speedometer and tachometer provides a range of information, including power and torque figures, as well as turn-by-turn navigation.
Large windows enhance the feeling of airiness, preventing any sense of claustrophobia. The highlight of the roomy cabin is the seats that are spacious and comfortable. The middle row seat offers excellent under-thigh support and ample legroom besides having reclining backrests. The third-row space is comfortable for short trips due to limited under-thigh support. Interestingly, despite the three-row configuration, the Rumion features decent boot space which can easily be expanded by folding the rear row flat.
The Toyota Rumion features a 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine paired with either a 5-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter gearbox. The motor delivers a healthy 103PS and 137Nm. There’s also a CNG variant, but it’s only available with a 5-speed manual gearbox. We tested the petrol automatic variant. The combination of the 1.5-litre petrol engine and 6-speed automatic gearbox results in a smooth and relaxed driving experience. It performs its duties effortlessly and is well-suited for daily commutes from point A to point B. Featuring mild-hybrid technology, the petrol engine is particularly responsive at city speeds besides being refined as well. However, aggressive driving brings forth the torque deficit, and the engine becomes noticeably louder at higher speeds. The Rumion naturally encourages a calm driving style, rewarding gentle driving with excellent fuel efficiency. During our driving, it delivered a mileage of 15kmpl in the city which is quite good for a seven-seater MPV. The gearbox impresses with its smooth and eager shifts. The paddle shifters provide full manual control, adding a spirited touch to the drive.
Another impressive aspect of the Toyota Rumion is its ride quality. The MPV simply glides over bumps and potholes with ease. The suspension provides a surprising amount of cushioning over rough roads, making it quite comfortable on the worst of roads. The flip side is the relaxed handling manners. The steering feels vague while the handling is less than enthusiastic. However, this is a willful tradeoff given the comfort on offer. The brakes offer firm stopping power, ensuring confidence and stability at higher speeds or on uneven roads.
The Toyota Rumion is priced at approximately ₹16.26 lakh (on-road, Pune), carrying a ₹60,000 premium over the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga. Despite the higher cost, it is a well-packaged and spacious vehicle with a comfortable suspension and an eager powertrain. Additionally, the famed Toyota service experience makes the Rumion a compelling choice as a family MPV.
