Toyota Rush Axed From UMWT’s Line Up – Aruz Next? Yaris Cross Incoming?

UMWT has discontinued the Rush. The model was removed from its website earlier today, signalling perhaps the last remaining stock for which has sold out.

Earlier today, UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) appears to have removed the Toyota Rush 7-seat crossover MPV from its line-up. This perhaps signals that the last remaining stock for the model has been sold, and effectively marks the model’s discontinuation from our market.

The writing was perhaps on the wall already for the Rush as MAA production data shows that UMWT had ceased producing said model since Nov last year. UMWT hasn’t shed light on a potential replacement yet, but slow sales in this space suggests otherwise.

Rivals Honda Malaysia replaced its Rush-rivalling BR-V with the smaller new WR-V (left). UMWT could do the same with the DNGA-based Yaris Cross (right)

Given that rivals Honda Malaysia opted not to succeed its Rush-rivalling BR-V model in favour of the smaller new WR-V compact crossover, UMWT might do the same by adding the DNGA-based Yaris Cross instead to rival against said new Honda that launched last year.

A similar fate is also expected of the Rush's Perodua-badged Aruz twin. We were reliably informed production for the Aruz has also ended to make way for Perodua's new D66B model.

Imaginative render of Perodua's D66B, which is expected to be another version of DNGA-based Yaris Cross model. Rumours indicate it will also be Perodua's first home-grown hybrid offering.

'The Rush’s Perodua-badged Aruz twin made by said national carmaker at its  Rawang plant is also due to see the same fate. Back in Nov last year, CariCarz.com was informed by a reliable source that production of the Aruz has ended to make way for Perodua’s version of the Yaris Cross.

For both Perodua and Toyota, it appears the shared DNGA-based Alza and Veloz models will now pick up where the Aruz and Rush left off. Both will now cater towards consumers demanding for 7-seaters as such. Read our reviews on both by clicking here and here.

Expect the Yaris Cross for Malaysia offered through UMWT to hold significant differences over its supposed upcoming Perodua D66B twin.

Surely, both Perodua and Toyota looks set to give the Honda WR-V some competition with their respective versions of the also DNGA-based Yaris Cross. Perodua’s take on which, codenamed D66B, is even rumoured to become its first locally produced hybrid petrol-electric model.

Whether its Toyota twin will feature the same hybrid setup remains uncertain. Given how both the Alza and Veloz duo are co-existing well presently in our market, we can expect significant differences between both the D66B and UMWT’s version of the Yaris Cross for Malaysia.