Japanese automaker Toyota has filed its trademark application for the Rumion nameplate in India, suggesting its arrival in the country. The Rumion MPV is essentially a rebadged version of Maruti Suzuki’s Ertiga, which went on sale in South Africa. The MPV features an identical design found on the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, including the same body panels and alloy wheels. The cosmetic changes that set the two MPVs apart are the redesigned front grille and black interiors with wood trim and some badging.
Powering the Toyota Rumion will be a 1.5-litre, mild-hybrid-petrol engine producing 103 PS of power and 138 Nm of torque. This engine also does duty in the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, having identical stats and paired to a 5-speed manual gearbox. The top-spec variant of the Ertiga features a 4-speed torque converter automatic transmission shared with the South African Rumion.
The Rumion sports identical wheelbase and dimensions figures to the Ertiga MPV upon which it’s based. It measures 4395mm in length, 1735mm in width, 1690mm in height with a ground clearance of 180mm, and a wheelbase of 2740mm. The interior cabin design and layout are also identical to the Ertiga with flat-bottom steering and wooden dashboard inserts. Sporting 7 seats, the Rumion features 60:40 split second-row seats, fully-foldable third-row seats, and 550 litres of storage space.
Toyota offers the Rumion MPV with similar features found on the Ertiga. This includes the 7-inch Smart Play touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, USB, and Bluetooth connectivity. Other noteworthy features include an AUX port, steering-mounted controls, roof-mounted air vents, and cooled cup holders. Exterior features found on the Rumion include electrically foldable ORVMs and a rear-windshield washer with a wiper.
Since Toyota has trademarked the Rumion nameplate in India, it provides a hint for the MPV to arrive in India. Despite no confirmation of an imminent launch, it’s interesting to note that the manufacturing of the Rumion occurs in India. It’s done due to the agreement made by Toyota to supply made-in-India Suzuki models to South Africa.
Before the arrival of the Rumion, Toyota is likely to launch the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz-based Belta for the Indian market. The Belta sedan is essentially a rebadged Ciaz which will likely replace Toyota’s discontinued Yaris sedan. Currently, the production of the Belta sedan is also underway since the export of left-hand-drive models has already begun. Toyota is likely to launch the new Belta sedan for the Indian market sometime in 2022.
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