2018 Toyota Rush 5-Seater Interior and Cargo Space

When I reviewed both the 7-seater and 5-seater 2018 Toyota Rush variants, there’s quite a major difference between the two that could easily affect the decision of car buyers. It’s actually a question of usage: am I going to load more things in the trunk rather than ferrying people?

If you’re in this same dilemma right now, that’s the question you have to answer, and but one that can easily be answered, especially that there are only a few things you should sacrifice when going for the more affordable 5-seater variant.

We’ve seen the 5-seater Rush E in full view in our in-depth review. Now let’s take a closer look at its interior amenities and cargo space that I’ve been raving about.

In all the Rush offerings, you’ll be greeted with the same cabin material. That means shower of hard plastics populates the interior, along with piano black accents and satin chrome. The white faux-leather with fake stitches is also kind of a downer, too. We can’t blame Toyota for that; the company has to compensate to bring you a good-looking exterior for its entry-level SUV.

With these similarities, even the lot of cubby holders, cupholders, and bottle holders in the entire cabin is present. That’s seven in the front, four in the second row, and two at the back – yes, for some reason there are cupholders on the supposedly third row even with the absence of seats. A bit absurd, but it is what it is.

Now, the seats are clad with fabric – a soft textured one, for that matter. It’s similar to what the Vios and the Yaris have which means it feels good to the touch but it’s kind of dirt- and dust-magnet, so there’s that.

My only problem with the Rush’s interior is its non-telescopic steering wheel. It’s challenging to find a comfortable driving position for me, which is quite essential if you’re driving it for a long haul. The polyurethane steering wheel material is also a bit firm; it kind of spoils the pleasure you wanted to feel when driving.

The main advantage of the 5-seater over the 7-seater is the tremendous amount of cargo space that’s made available with the absence of the last row. While the seven-seater can house 214L of cargo, the 5-seater has double. Actually, more than double, totaling to 514L. Even with all the seats erect, it could fit a standard child stroller and two-month worth of groceries, and actually more when you fold and stumble the second row. The whole cargo area is flat, as well as the lip, so cargo loading and unloading are painless.

I also noticed that you can slide the second-row seats forward, which adds to the overall flexibility of the car. With the Rush’s P988,000 price tag, it can easily go head-to-head with the subcompact crossovers out there, but with more interior space that’s built on top of a body-on-frame chassis and rear-wheel drivetrain. It’s a good value proposition, especially if it’s practicality that you’re looking for.