Toyota’s version of the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga-based MPV has been revealed– after much speculation –in South Africa. Christened the Toyota Rumion, the new MPV looks almost identical to the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga sold in India and other markets like Indonesia.
- Ertiga-based Rumion goes on sale in South Africa
- Gets a 1.5-litre petrol engine, same as the Ertiga
- Becomes the third rebadged Suzuki model to be sold as a Toyota
Toyota Rumion: what is it?
The name Rumion is not new for Toyota and the brand has resurrected it for its line-up of Suzuki-based cars. The Toyota Glanza and Starlet –both based on the Suzuki Baleno – and the upcoming Toyota Belta, based on the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz, are other models that use resurrected Toyota model names.
Coming back to the new Rumion, the MPV is nothing but a rebadged Ertiga, which is already quite popular in many regions. The current-gen Ertiga was unveiled in April 2018 in Indonesia and went on sale in India later the same year. The model is due for a mid-cycle update sometime next year.
The Rumion, except for the Toyota badging, shares almost everything with the Ertiga.This would meanthat there would be no mechanical changes and it would come with the same 1.5-litre petrol engine that does duty in the Ertiga globally. This engine churns out 105hp and 138Nm of torque and is mated to either a five-speed manual or a four-speed torque convertor automatic transmission. Just like the Ertiga, it comes with an eight-seater three-row cabin.
The Maruti Suzuki Ertiga is made in India as well as in the MPV-loving Indonesian market. The model seen in South Africa seems to be a made-in-India version as it goes in-line with our report from back in 2019, of Toyota supplying made-in-India Suzuki models to South Africa – that includes the rebadged Ertiga MPV.
Toyota Rumion: will it come to India?
According to reports, Toyota will probably introduce the Ciaz-based Belta sedan in India first – as a replacement to the now discontinued Yaris. There are chances of the Ertiga-based Rumion MPV making it to Toyota’s Indian showrooms in the future.
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Viraaj Bhatnagar
Uday Singh
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