Head to Head

In this week's Head-to-Head, we have two cars that are both new in the market but have histories and legacies that go way back. I'm talking about the Toyota Rush and Suzuki Vitara. Let's find out what they could offer in the battle ground. Watch this.

In today's Head-to-Head, we have the Toyota Rush G Grade and the Suzuki Vitara GLX variants.

Let's start with the technical aspects of the two cars.

The Rush runs on a 1.5-liter Dual-VVTi gasoline engine that's capable of producing 104 horsepower and 136 Nm of torque. On the other hand, the Vitara is powered by a 1.6-liter gasoline engine that produces 115 horsepower and 156 Nm of torque. Looking at these numbers, both give out generous power and torque figures, although there's a bit of a difference. For the two cars' transmissions, both engines are mated to an automatic transmission. The only difference is that the Rush comes with a 4-speed while the Vitara comes with a 6-speed.

Let's check the suspension setups of our featured vehicles. The Rush uses MacPherson Strut at the front and Coil Spring at the rear, while the Vitara uses McPherson Strut Coil Spring at the front and Torsion Beam with Coil Spring at the rear. Like their engines, the suspension layout comes close.

After taking a look under the cars' hoods, let's take a tour on the exteriors.

One of Rush's exterior features that easily catch attention is its front fascia which comes with LED headlights with integrated LED daytime running lights that blend with the grill. Another noticeable detail is that the spare tie is no longer attached to the back door like how it was with the previous Rush. Instead, it's now placed at the undercarriage. Moreover, its sides are highlighted by 17-inch alloy wheels.

For the Vitara, its design is also one of its characteristics that make it stand out. With its chrome grill that has that big Suzuki 'U' in front, the headlights with daytime running lights, and that fascia down low, there's no wonder that the exterior of the Vitara is one of its best-selling points. Like the Rush, the Vitara powers through on the road with 17-inch alloy wheels.

It's time to hop onto the interiors of the car.

Inside, the Rush gives out that modern and high-end vibes even though the materials used are mostly plastic. The interior's most prominent color is black, which comes with silver accents and some cream-colored trim.

For the Rush's infotainment system, it comes with a 7-inch touchscreen that can connect to any smartphone via Bluetooth or a USB port. The audio control of the car is optimized by 8 speakers, and is attached on the steering wheel so the driver could easily operate it with just one tap.

Meanwhile, it's also airy and cozy inside the Vitara, thanks to the retractable fabric ceiling that allows the light in. The seats, steering wheel, and shifter are wrapped up in leather.

Moreover, the 10-inch touchscreen of the Vitara's infotainment system is truly the car's crowning glory. Compared to the Rush's touchscreen, it's much bigger. It allows USB, AUX, and Bluetooth connectivity. Sound is enjoyable courtesy of 6 speakers.

When it comes to safety and security, both the Rush and the Vitara are equipped with reliable features. Both of them come with their brands' standard features, such as the Anti-Lock Braking System with Emergency Brake Signal, Solid Vehicle Stability Control, and 6 SRS airbags.

The Toyota Rush and the Suzuki Vitara both have rich histories and bright futures, considering the things they could offer. Whichever you decide on choosing, know that you're ending up with a good one. That's it for our Head-to-Head this week.