Toyota introduces Rumion; Which rivals will the new car take on?

The Toyota Rumion unveiled by Toyota Kirloskar Motor on Thursday was launched with the aim of further strengthening the company's position in the growing domestic multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) segment. Toyota Kirloskar Motor said that the prices and booking date of the Rumion will be announced in due course, and the vehicle will be available in dealerships for deliveries in the early holiday season.

It has a 1.5-litre petrol engine generating 103 PS and 136.8 Nm, available with five-speed manual and six-speed automatic transmissions. Additionally, a CNG variant offers 88 PS and 121.5 Nm, with fuel efficiency figures of 20.51 km/l for Petrol-MT, 20.11 km/l for Petrol-AT, and 26.11km/kg for CNG.

Key features encompass a seven-inch touchscreen, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, automatic AC, cruise control, and automatic headlamps. Safety is prioritised with up to four airbags, ABS with EBD, hill hold assist, electronic stability control, a rear parking camera, and ISOFIX child seat anchors.

Toyota Rumion | Image Credit: Toyota

Here are Rumion's competitors in the automobile market. 

Maruti Suzuki Ertiga

Maruti Ertiga | Image Credit: Maruti Suzuki 

The Maruti Suzuki Ertiga is priced from Rs 8.64 lakh to Rs 13.08 lakh (ex-showroom). It offers four trims, LXi, VXi, ZXi, and ZXi+, with the top two allowing for a CNG kit. Available in six colours, it seats up to seven individuals and provides a 209-litre boot space, expandable to 550 litres by folding the third row.

Equipped with a 1.5-litre petrol engine featuring mild hybrid technology (103 PS/137 Nm), it offers a choice of a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. Additionally, a CNG variant delivers 88 PS and 121.5 Nm. Claimed fuel efficiencies are 20.51 km/l for petrol, 20.3 km/l for a different variant, and 26.11km/kg for CNG.

Maruti Ertiga interiors | Image Credit: Maruti Suzuki 

Notable features include a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, turn-by-turn navigation on the MID, paddle shifters, cruise control, auto headlights, and auto AC.

Safety measures include dual airbags, ABS with EBD and brake assist, rear parking sensors, and ISOFIX child seat anchorages. Higher trims encompass four airbags, an electronic stability programme (ESP), and hill-hold assist.

Kia Carens

Kia Carens | Image Credit: Kia 

The Kia Carens is priced in the range of Rs 10.45 lakh to Rs 18.90 lakh (ex-showroom). It offers six variants: Premium, Prestige, Prestige Plus, Luxury, Luxury (O), and Luxury Plus.

Configurable as a six- or seven-seater, the Kia Carens is available in eight monotone colours, including Imperial Blue, Moss Brown, Sparkling Silver, Intense Red, Glacier White Pearl, Clear White, Gravity Grey, and Aurora Black Pearl.

With up to 216 litres of boot capacity, the Carens comes with three engine options: a 1.5-litre petrol (115 PS/144 Nm) paired with a six-speed manual, a new 1.5-litre turbo-petrol (160 PS/253 Nm) matched with a six-speed iMT or seven-speed DCT (dual-clutch automatic), and a 1.5-litre diesel (115 PS/250 Nm) offering either an iMT gearbox or a six-speed automatic transmission.

Kia Carens interiors | Image Credit: Kia 

Features include a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a digitised instrument cluster, cruise control, and electric one-touch folding second-row seats. It also offers ambient lighting in 64 colours, ventilated front seats, and a single-pane sunroof.

In terms of safety, the Carens is equipped with six airbags, all-wheel disc brakes, ABS with EBD, electronic stability control (ESC), and a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS).