Is the Toyota Rush worth importing as a small SUV?

Usually, no — the Toyota Rush is only worth importing if you specifically need a simple, narrow, 7-seat small SUV and your country’s import rules make it cheap and legal. For most buyers, a locally sold small SUV or MPV will be easier, safer financially, and better supported.

The Rush’s appeal is practical: Toyota reliability reputation, compact exterior size, high ground clearance, available 3-row seating in some markets, and basic mechanicals. The drawbacks are the import side: compliance, taxes/duties, parts availability, insurance, resale uncertainty, and whether it meets your country’s safety and emissions rules.

If you are in the U.S., it is generally not a practical import as a normal road car unless the specific vehicle qualifies under the 25-year import exemption — and most Toyota Rush examples do not yet qualify because the model is much newer than that. In Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and other markets, rules vary, so you need to verify eligibility, emissions, inspection, duty/VAT/GST, registration, and whether right-hand-drive or left-hand-drive versions are allowed.

Best rule of thumb: import it only if the total landed-and-registered cost is clearly below a comparable local Toyota/Honda/Kia/Hyundai/Mazda small SUV, and you have confirmed parts and insurance before buying.