Toyota Rukus Reviews

WE turn the spotlight on automotive's newest and brightest stars, as we ask the questions to which you want the answers. Ultimately, however, there is only one question that really needs answering ... would you buy one?WHAT IS IT?Hmmm? Toyota's idea of funky and it ain't half bad, believe it or not. Below the skin beats the 2.4-litre heart of a Camry, but in a slightly different state of tune.HOW MUCH?Rukus prices start at $27,490, with buyers able to choose from three equipment grades known as Build 1, Build 2 and Build 3 _ our top of the line Build 3 is $31,790.WHAT ARE THE COMPETITORS?In terms of design probably the Kia Soul, but the Soul is slightly smaller and doesn't offer the same sought of power. After that, it will probably appeal to SUV buyers and those just looking for something different.WHAT'S UNDER THE BONNET?2.4-litre four cylinder petrol engine with 123kW of power and 224Nm of torque. Puts out slightly more power and torque than the Camry equivalent. Only gets a 4-speed auto compared with Camry's 5-speed.HOW DOES IT GO?Like a rocket. Punch the accelerator at the lights and it takes off like a scalded cat with a brief spin of the front wheels.IS IT ECONOMICAL?It's rated at 8.8 litres/100km but we wee getting 9.3 mainly travelling up and down the motorway. Guess that's the price you pay for the performance.IS IT `GREEN?'Gets 3.5 stars out of 5 from the Governnment's Green Guide, with a greenhouse rating of 6/10, air pollution rating 6.5/10 and CO2 emissions of 208g/km. The hybrid Prius sets the pace with 5 stars.IS IT SAFE?Gets 4 out of 5 stars. Comes with six airbags, anti-lock brakes with brake assist and electronic brake force distribution as well as electronic traction and stability control.IS IT COMFORTABLE?Not armchair comfortable but not bad all the same. The digital speedo has been moved to the middle of the dash and takes some getting used to. To the left of it is the tacho, followed by the fuel and temperature gauges in order of priority.WHAT'S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?Easy to drive and short front and rear overhangs make it easy to park. Higher driving position is not unlike an SUV. Computer lacks a touchscreen which makes the controls fiddly. Steering wheel audio controls need to be illuminated.IS IT VALUE FOR MONEY?Build 3 gets leather and climate air plus a sunroof, Bluetooth, keyless start and a 9-speaker audio including a subwoofer.WOULD WE BUY ONE?Certainly appealing. Punchy performance. Easy to park and drive. Smallish luggage area and space saver spare are turnoffs as is the 4-speed auto. A 5-speed would do wonders for the economy.

But I reckon it's one of the best buys around.  It's based on a lengthened Corolla chassis, yet has more passenger room and cargo space than the bigger Camry.It's powered by a Camry 2.4-litre engine, yet it punches out more kilowatts than the Camry Sportivo.  It's shaped like a brick, yet it is quieter on the road than an aerodynamic Lexus.If Camrys are known for their practical approach to motoring, then why aren't Camry owners swarming over this model which is cheaper, roomier, more powerful, more economical, more versatile and more practical?VALUEThe Rukus comes in three models, Build 1, 2 and 3 from $27,490 to $31,790, slotting in between Corolla and Camry prices.  Even the base model comes with a host of creature features such as six-speaker sound system, Bluetooth capability for your mobile with audio streaming to play your music, USB and 3.5mm audio input, CD player and keyless start.The next level gains leather seats, steering wheel and gearshift knob, an even better near-arctic airconditioning system and upgraded sound system.  The only extra for the top-of-the-range car is a moonroof, which makes the airy interior even more open.TECHNOLOGYThe Camry Sportivo engine pumps out 117kW, but the same engine is wicked up to a lively 123kW in the Rukus.  It costs less than a Sportivo ($33,990), but the Rukus only comes with a four-speed automatic transmission, while the Camry Sportivo has a choice of five-speed manual or auto.Despite the extra power, its fuel consumption is rated at a respectably frugal 8.8 litres per 100km.  However, on test it actually beat that in town driving with a very healthy 8.3L/100km. On the highway, it sipped at a miserly 7.5L/100km - well, miserly for a 2.4-litre engine with 123kW of oomph.SAFETYApart from the standard safety features of six airbags, stability and traction control and anti-skid disc brakes, it also addresses an often overlooked aspect of safety - especially in hotter climes - and that's UV exposure.  Modern aerodynamic cars often leave passengers bathing in direct UV rays.One of the benefits of the boxy Rukus shape is that it provides more cabin shade.  This is not only good for skin cancer protection but it also means the cabin is cooler after being left locked in the sun while parked.DRIVINGOk, it wobbles around a bit.  It's not exactly a sports car, but it's not bad either.  However, it's surprising that Toyota gave it so much power.It's not more than it can cope with and when the engine gets a little too excited for the wheels there is no heavy handed intervention from the stability control.  It all seems to run quite well with little fuss.  Even the seemingly underdone four-speed automatic transmission copes quite well.Clearly it doesn't need an extra top gear because economy is good and with 224Nm of torque it doesn't need to swap cogs all that frequently, anyway.I exected the boxy shape to relate to wind noise, but the engineers have done some clever things with the aerodynamics and it is actually quieter than even the hushed tones of a Lexus. Not even any buffeting from the big wing mirrors.Build quality is typically high and the doors close with a sturdy thud.  The truly best part of the Rukus, though, is its roomy and flexible cabin.The boxy shape provides plenty of room, especially around the head and shoulders, plus a convenient flat-floored cargo area.  Toyota has provided plenty of convenient and capacious storage cubbyholes around the cabin for iPods, phones, purses, drinks, etc and there is also a nice little receptacle for the key fob.However, the unconventional dashboard has the instruments placed in the centre with a blank spot in front of the driver. At night when there are no display lights there it is particularly unnerving.  Also, the rear passengers might be sheltered from the sun and have plenty of room, but there are no air vents.VERDICTIf you are in the market for a sensible car like a Camry and you like the funky look or can tolerate jibes from friends about the boxy shape, this is definitely worth considering.

There are lots of surprises in the Toyota Rukus. For a start, the box is bigger than it looks in pictures. It's a full-sized family wagon, not just a Gen-Y play thing like a Kia Soul or the not-for-Australia Nissan Cube, so you have to adjust your thinking on what it is and what it does.The Rukus also drives surprisingly well. It's not a sports car, but it matches and betters the dynamics of a Corolla and is quiet at highway cruising speeds despite the Kenworth-style frontal design. The showroom stickers reflect surprising value, too, with a bottom line from $27,490 that should get it onto shopping lists in Australia's trendier suburbs and attract the early adopters who already have an iPad.Rukis is also a great building block for Gen-Y customisers who want something new and different to tweak and tizzy, not to go faster but to have something with plenty of Facebook and Twitter impact. It has more than enough space for the biggest sound system...The Rukus is a very big deal for Australia because it's the first non-Toyota car from Toyota in a very long time. Love it or hate it, it's impossible to ignore it.That's a stretch that Toyota has to make, as companies like Hyundai and Kia are running it down in the business of building transport modules and adding more style - think i45 and Koup - than anything in the T-badge mainstream.The Rukus is going fairly well for Toyota Australia but the project will take mind management and commitment on both sides, sellers and buyers, to become more than just a short-term oddity.It has plenty of strengths but it sooooo different that it stands out like nothing on the road today. Yet the basics are surprisingly boring, from a 2.4-litre Camry-style engine and outdated four-speed automatic gearbox to a Corolla-cloned chassis and suspension package.Toyota is going hard on the value front and every Rukus - there are three equipment grades - comes with six airbags, ESP stability control and anti-skid brakes, alloy wheels, aircon and keyless entry and ignition.Moving up the range brings a thumping nine-speaker sound system, auto aircon and leather-trimmed seats at the Build 2 level, and Build 3 adds a moonroof.Fuel economy is a claimed 8.8 litres/100km and Toyota Australia is bundling its fixed-price servicing, at $130-a-visit through the first six visits, to build a fuss-free purchase plan.DRIVINGIt's hard to know what to expect from the Rukus, even though I've seen it lots of times at motor shows and been looking forward to its arrival in Australia. The motor show machines have usually been tweaked beyond belief and, after some overseas seat time in the similarly-themed Nissan Cube I'm not expecting anything good on the driving side.But the Rukus is smooth and compliant, gets along well enough, is quiet in the cabin and has a body shape which gets me re-thinking everything from dashboard design to back-seat space and weekend flexibility.For me, the Rukus is definitely nicer to drive than the latest Corolla and there is plenty of punch from the 2.4-litre engine. The four-speed auto is a definite no-no, and shows the box was built for the USA and Japan, but that's about my only dynamic complaint.Toyota stacks the deck a little by supplying a Carsguide test car with all the fruit, including leather seats and a sunroof, but it's still an affordable package at around $32,000 before the on-road extras.I like the quality in the cabin, and the cushy seats, and I can see a lot of people wanting to buy into the Rukus experience. But Toyota needs to keep committed to the car, and no turn and run - as it did with when its impressive TRD Camry and HiLux ran into trouble because of high prices - if it's not an instant hit.SHE SAYS Alison WardSo the Rukus is... Designed for the young and young-at-heart, yet it is surprisingly practical. Its edgy appeal and chunky lines all add up to the funky urban look craved by new drivers and people who are plain bored with the existing hatchback and wagon shapes. The Rukus is funky, functional and fun.Its underground, gangster styling is a clever way to create wide open spaces for the interior and allows better vision for the road. Leather trim is a nice luxury touch and useful protection for the Little Man in the back seat, while the dash design and the rest of the cabin stuff keeps the cool image hip-hopping away. There are great hidey holes to scurry away your junk and the back end is easy to load with a flexible layout.As a drive, it does the job. Nothing nasty to report on that front. But I have one word of warning - don't buy it in the dark red paintwork of the test car. It definitely bursts the kool bubble. THE BOTTOM LINE: One box that doesn't need unwrapping to spring a surprise.

Put a Toyota badge on a cardboard box and it'll sell like hotcakes, so the saying goes. Well, now Toyota's done just that.  From the car company that brought you cardigans comes a wheeled box that carries with it a new direction for Toyota - niche.Toyota plans that the square-edged Rukus that goes on sale from June 1 priced from $27,490 will in April next year be joined by the macho FJ Cruiser.  Both create the niche sector of its revised, four-sided business plan that surrounds its existing 13-model range.Later comes Toyota’s new focus on sports cars - including the collaboration coupe with Subaru presented in concept form as the FT-86 - then ‘innovation’ models including city cars with electric power, and a swelling of the hybrid ranks.  The Rukus' box-like shape follows the similarly-styled Kia Soul and, for Australia, is a styling direction previously only explored by architects and bricklayers.But after honing its marketing skills with the Rukus' predecessor, the Scion, in the US, Toyota has delivered a Corolla-sized family/single/youth-oriented vehicle with surprising appeal.Price and equipmentIt arrives in three models - Build 1,2 or 3 - with pricing at $27,490, $29,990 and $31,790 respectively but all with a high safety and feature list including standard automatic transmission, stability control, auto up/down for all electric windows, alloy wheels and cruise control.Space and fit-outLooks aside, the Rukus has a spacious and flexible interior. What makes it special is its user-friendliness.  The lift-up hatch reveals space for prams and mountain bikes, with a generous storage zone beneath the cargo floor for wet items. The spare tyre is a skinny space-saver which is the only negative.That tall height gives room inside for occupants to wear hats. That's not a request, merely recognition that the headroom is expansive and one that - together with the fishbowl windscreen and long side darkened glass - creates an airy cabin.  Seating is for four adults - five if you're friendly - with excellent legroom all around.Where the bodywork is angular, that edge is softened by the array of round instrument gauges, air vents and - not surprisingly - the steering wheel.  Like Kia's Soul, there's a lot of hard plastic inside but the effect is diluted by different textures, segmented panels and varying trim colours.The overt use of storage space impresses. There are small storage bins at either end of the dashboard for items such as mobile phones.  The impressive audio has iPod connection so there's room for the handset; the model-specific large centre console is lidded and acts as an armrest; there is a hidden tray beneath the rear seats; and the glovebox has a secondary storage area above. And there's lots of places I have yet to discover.The rear seat splits 60/40 and folds almost flat for a decent 1331 litres of space. It's not just the space but the wide accessibility to the cargo area and the high cargo floor height that will make it appeal to people - predominantly women shoppers, mothers or older owners wanting a car that's easy to load and unload.In fact, while Toyota sees the Rukus as being a youth-oriented accessory, it has broad appeal over all ages.  That cargo bed height and the tall seat height make it easy for older people to get in and out.  Families will like its space and versatility and wrinkled gear heads like me are impressed by the performance.MechanicalOn that note, the Rukus comes with a more vibrant version of the RAV4 2.4-litre engine that drives through a four-speed automatic gearbox to the front wheels.  At 123kW/224Nm it's a healthy addition that gives the wagon plenty of `go' to compete with the `show'.  The gearbox has sequential shift - the first time used in Australia for the four-speed auto - to pep up performance.Handling is pretty good for what is ostensibly a tall Corolla, though it's not a sports car.  More impressive is the quietness of the car and its fuss-free attitude to freeways. Despite its boxy shape, it has a very low aerodynamic factor of 0.32 which is better than most modern hatchbacks.The Rukus appears to be geared quite high to improve economy and, at a claimed 8.8 litres/100km is more frugal than the RAV4.  However, while the gearbox may be well suited to loping along freeways, it doesn't impinge on its sparkling acceleration and strong mid-range overtaking ability.Its performance credentials will become more necessary if owners pick up on the range of custom features laid out on the options list. Flame body stickers for the slab sides and spoilers are among the items on the Australian list but those pursuing a more individual look may find joy in the US aftermarket catalogues for the Scion.It has a wide audience, though its looks will polarise your neighbour. It is as ideal for someone who misses the Corolla wagon and doesnt want to be seen in an SUV, as it is for a single buyer bored with vanilla cars and an elderly couple who want transport that is kind on their hips and their wallets.The trick for Toyota dealers is getting you into one for a test drive.TOYOTA RUKUSOrigin: JapanPrice: $27,490 (Build 1); $29,990 (Build 2); $31,790 (Build 3)Engine: 2.4-litre, 4-cylPower: 123kW @ 6000rpmTorque: 224Nm @ 4000rpmTop speed: 190km/hFuel: Standard unleadedFuel tank: 55 litresEconomy (official): 8.8 litres/100kmEconomy (tested): 9.1 litres/100kmGreenhouse: 208g/km (Corolla: 175g/km)Transmission: 4-speed automatic, sequential; front-driveBrakes: 4-wheel discs, ESC, ABS, EBD, brake assistTurning circle: 10.6mSuspension: Front _ MacPherson struts; Rear _ torsion beam, coilsWheels: 16-inch alloy, 205/55R16 tyres; space-saver spareLength: 4260mmWidth: 1760mmHeight: 1645mmWheelbase: 2600mmWeight: 1390-1400kgTow (max): 500kgWarranty: 3yr/100,000kmService: 15,000kmRating86/100Rivals Hyundai ix35 2WD ($28,990) 86/100;Kia Soul ($27,390) 86/100;Suzuki SX4 S ($25,490) 80/100

Even Toyota admits its newest car is designed to create a ruckus. And it is more than just its name, which also happens to be Rukus.Toyota Australia's senior executive director sales and marketing, David Buttner, admits the boxy wagon is "the most un-Toyota car we have ever sold". "I understand the looks will polarise people," Buttner says.Buttner also says Toyota needs to attract a new style of buyer, one who is youth oriented or at least younger than the global demographic for Toyota cars, which is aged 54. "If it provides us with a chance to attract a younger buyer we believe the investment is worthwhile," he says.The Rukus is expected to attract two types of buyer, urban trendies and those whose car is an extension of their personalities. Buttner says the Gen Y car is designed to be different. "Rukus is set to invade our automotive culture, just as it has done in Japan and the United States."The car has reached cult status in its home Japanese market and also has a strong following in the US. Toyota says the car defies automotive design conventions, particularly the modern trend towards curvy, streamlined shapes. "Suddenly, it's hip to be square," Buttner says.Based on the Corolla, the Rukus shares its architecture with the hatch but borrows its 123kW 2.4-litre four cylinder engine from the RAV4. Buttner describes the boxy wagon as a Tardis – spacious on the inside and compact on the outside. Its on-road footprint is similar to the Corolla hatch, while it gains an extra 40mm of rear overhang to provide plenty of luggage space.Buttner says the car straddles the market between a wagon and a compact off-roader. Despite the quirky design, Buttner is confident the newest wagon will appeal to urban trend-setters and young couples and families. "Rukus will appeal to many people who have never previously considered a Toyota. In that sense, it's the most un-Toyota vehicle we have ever introduced," he says. "It's not for everyone – and that's OK. It's an acquired taste."Prices start at $27,490 for the opener and three models will be available, known as Build 1, Build 2 and Build 3. The Rukus accent is on safety as much as in-your-face styling and strong performance with six airbags, stability and traction control and anti-skid disc brakes all standard.Other features in every Rukus include air-conditioning, 16-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, keyless entry and ignition, power mirrors and windows and an engine immobiliser. The quirky design details continue on the inside with centrally mounted gauges and high-mounted gearshift. Audio and cruise-control switches are also on the steering wheel. The boxy shape affords plenty of room for gear. There are plenty of handy storage spaces throughout the cabin, including underneath the luggage floor.The Build 1 sound system has six speaker CD stereo, Bluetooth hands-free telephone and audio streaming, USB and 3.5mm audio input. The $29,990 Build 2 adds leather-accented seats, steering wheel and gearshift, plus upgraded air conditioning. Nine speakers for the sound system include a sub-woofer, and there's a six CD-stacker plus a 4.3-inch colour screen for the audio. The aircon gains climate-control and push-button operation. Build 3 is effectively the range topper and adds a tilt-and-slide moonroof for a further $1800.Toyota is expecting to sell between 150 and 200 a month with buyers split 50/50 between private and fleets. Buttner admits it is a low volume car but it remains an important addition to the Toyota lineup. He expects most buyers to be conquests from rival niche vehicles, small hatches, small wagons and compact off-roaders. Buyers will also have the opportunity to dress up their cars with various decals which include stripes, flames and bricks, as well as alloys. An additional lure for buyers is a fixed price servicing deal of $130 for the first six scheduled services.DRIVINGPassion is more than just a box on wheels. Although Toyota is to be applauded for getting out of its design straightjacket, they are trying a little too hard with the Rukus. The company that brought us the evocative Celica and MR2 needs to revisit these cars to try and lure a younger buyer back to the brand.The Rukus is not that car. It's good but it's hardly exciting. It drives predictably and the Toyota badge will be enough for many. It has the same 2600mm wheelbase as the Corolla but gets a 40mm longer rear which translates into a very practical and roomy luggage area.The 123kW/224Nm 2.4-litre four-cylinder is a perky performer for the size of the car. The Rukus will hurtle away from the traffic lights with plenty of zip courtesy of the standard four-speed automatic.Our time with the Toyota Tardis was all too brief but if you're familiar with the Corolla's steering, brakes and handling you will feel right at home. What we really like about the Rukus is its commodious interior. The windscreen stretches out in front of the driver like a panoramic cinema screen. There is plenty of room for even the heftiest people up front as well as in the back seat.The standard equipment list is good and the safety kit runs to six airbags, stability control and a strong body. Given that the Corolla wagon is no longer available, the Rukus could fill that niche. But as Kia is finding out with the Soul, there's more to flogging a car to Gen Y than just looks.Perhaps the most important thing about the Rukus is that it heralds a change in culture at Toyota. It could be the first of many different and interesting Toyotas to head our way.