Since its launch on August 28, 2024, the sensible, no-nonsense people-mover, which is one of the four rebadged Maruti Suzuki models in Toyota Kirloskar Motor’s portfolio, has made its presence felt in the affordable MPV market.
28 Aug 2024 | 28549 Views | By Ajit Dalvi
The Toyota Rumion MPV, launched on August 28, 2023, has sold over 12,500 units in its first year in the Indian marketplace. As per industry data, the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga-based Toyota Rumion has clocked estimated sales of 12,579 units till end-July 2024. While 5,973 units were dispatched to Toyota ...
This is an Autocar Pro Plus article. Subscribe to continue reading.
The Toyota Rumion MPV, launched on August 28, 2023, has sold over 12,500 units in its first year in the Indian marketplace. As per industry data, the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga-based Toyota Rumion has clocked estimated sales of 12,579 units till end-July 2024. While 5,973 units were dispatched to Toyota Kirloskar Motor showrooms in FY2024, giving it seventh rank in the Top 10 MPVs listing, an estimated 6,606 units have been sold in the first four months of FY2025.
The Rumion is the fourth badge-engineered model shared between the two brands, after the Glanza hatchback (based on the Baleno), Urban Cruiser Hyryder (based on the Grand Vitara) and the Urban Cruiser Taisor compact SUV (based on the Fronx). The Toyota-Suzuki partnership has also resulted in Maruti Suzuki borrowing Toyota Kirloskar Motor’s Innova Hycross to develop the Maruti Invicto MPV.
Compared to the Ertiga, the Rumion sees very few styling changes to its plastic parts. It gets an all-new bumper with revised fog lamp surrounds, an Innova Crysta-like grille and dual-tone alloy wheels. On the inside, it gets a blacked-out dashboard with wood-like inserts, and the upholstery, similar to the Ertiga, is finished in beige.
The equipment list and 7-seat configuration, too, has been carried over from the Ertiga. Incidentally, the Rumion is also exported to markets like South Africa where it is sold in the exact same spec as in India.
Petrol and CNG power
Under the hood, the Toyota Rumion uses the same Maruti Suzuki 1.5-litre petrol engine that develops maximum power of 103hp and 137 Nm of torque, mated to a five-speed manual or a six-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. The Rumion is also offered with a factory-fitted CNG kit that produces 88hp and 121.5 Nm in CNG mode. Toyota claims the petrol version has a fuel efficiency of 20.51kpl, while the CNG version returns 26.11km/kg.
There are a total of seven variants on offer – six petrol and one CNG. The base S petrol variant is priced at Rs 12.86 lakh (on-road Mumbai) while the top-end petrol Rumion V AT has a sticker price of Rs 16.79 lakh (on-road Mumbai. The S CNG variant costs Rs 13.50 lakh.
Like its donor model, the Ertiga, the Toyota Rumion is a sensible, no-nonsense people-mover. What Toyota brings to the MPV table is the differentiated brand experience that the Japanese OEM offers, as seen in other rebadged models like the Glanza, Taisor, Hyryder and Rumion.
The Toyota badge commands significant value in the Indian market, which buys into the brand's core ethics of high quality and durability over long-term usage. That a Toyota seldom disappoints, is cheaper to maintain over its competitors and also offers robust resale value, are reasons enough for buyers to be drawn towards the company's latest offerings, despite many of them being badge-engineered Suzuki versions. In case of the MPV segment, durability and reliability are the key customer demands that the Rumion fulfills adequately, just like Toyota's other people-movers like the Qualis of yesteryear and the Innova, which have established the carmaker's high-on-quality image in the Indian market.
Toyota Kirloskar Motor headed for record sales in FY2025
Toyota Kirloskar Motor is on a roll. Sustained demand for Toyota-made MPVs and SUVs as also the clutch of rebadged models along with ramped-up production and customer-friendly initiatives is paying dividends in the competitive marketplace.
TKM’s rapid growth trajectory is reflected in its cumulative dispatches in the first four months of FY2025 – the 97,867 units are a 35% YoY increase.
In FY2024, of TKM’s record passenger vehicle sales of 245,676 units, up 42%, the share of three rebadged models (Glanza, Hyryder and Rumion) was 43% at 107,151 units. With the new Taisor now also introduced, FY2025 bids fair to be yet another fiscal of strong sales for the Japanese car and SUV manufacturer.
With eight months still to go in FY2025, Toyota Kirloskar Motor has already achieved 40% of the FY2024 total till end-July. With the festive season soon to kick in, and sustained strong demand for most of its products, it can be surmised that the 300,000 units mark could be scaled for the first time in FY2025.
(With inputs from Mayank Dhingra)
ALSO READ: Maruti-rebadged models account for 52% of Toyota India sales in April-July 2024