Toyota Rumion is just an Ertiga

Toyota has added to its MPV selection in South Africa with the launch of yet another model. Their latest 7-seater MPV, on the other hand, bears no resemblance to a Toyota. This is the all-new Toyota Rumion, which is simply a Suzuki Ertiga rebadged. The Ruminon will not differ significantly from its Suzuki cousin in terms of styling. The Ertiga's insignia on the grille, tailgate, and wheels were simply replaced by Toyota. It does get a new front grille, but that's about it in terms of changes to the outward look.

The Rumion is driven by a 1.5-liter K15B four-cylinder engine that produces 103 horsepower and 138 Nm of torque. It can be mated to a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission. So, why did Toyota choose to rebrand the Ertiga as the Rumion in South Africa? This is the product of a cross-supply agreement reached between Toyota and Suzuki in 2018.

Both firms will supply each other with hybrid and standard gasoline vehicles under the terms of the agreement. The Baleno hatchback has been rebadged as the Glanza, and the Vitara Brezza has been rebadged as the Urban Cruiser thus far. Meanwhile, for the European market, Suzuki has rebadged the Corolla Wagon as the Swace.

Despite the prevalence of SUVs and crossovers, brands like Toyota still believe MPVs play a significant role in the market. Aside from the Vios, Fortuner, Hilux, and Hiace, Toyota also dominates the MPV market with the Innova and the Avanza.