Toyota Qualis has certainly been an integral part of the Indian automotive industry.
If you’re someone born in the 90s, you probably have a fond memory of this car. You must have had one of those big family road-trips in the Qualis. Remember CID? Well, you know where we are going with it now. The Qualis turned out to become the official vehicle of the show. What else? Even the Police in many states around India used the car as PCR vehicles. Such was the legen ‘wait for it’ dary status of this vehicle.
The car has a cultural and emotional connect with the Indian people. In its 4 year stint, Toyota Qualis made a big impact. So, what’s all the fuss about the car? Was it worth it? Did it deserve to be treated better? Should it make a comeback? And why did Toyota shelved the Qualis while it had the highest market share?
Let’s find the answers to all of that.
Suggested For You: The TATA Sumo | India’s Legendary People Mover
Engine | Toyota Qualis
The engine of the Qualis was rather humble. It did the job perfectly. The 2446 cc, 2.4 Litres, in-line, 4 cylinder engine needs no introduction. The engine generated 75 bhp power while churning out a torque of 151 Nm.
The engine cannot be called as something out of ordinary. But it did the job very well indeed. Yes, the peppiness was evident but so was the sluggishness. The engine used to pick up good but did require some efforts to pick up so speed after the initial takeoff.
Driving in the city was a tad of a task. Power steering was only available in the top end top-end GS-T model. The car delivered a mileage of 8 to 9 kmpl in city driving conditions. The things on the highway used to get a bit better with 10 to 12 kmpl.
Exterior | Toyota Qualis
Old. That’s what comes up when you observe the car. The car didn’t look like something which one would drive. It was the year 2000, the new millennium. People’s aspirations started taking off and each and everything around the world was only getting newer and better.
But here was Toyota, launching an outdated model as it’s first car in the country. The car’s mundane looks gave a rather monotonous feel all around. The 14 inch small tyres just added to the woes of the Toyota Qualis in the looks department.
The front did have a rather dominating look. It was the front end of the vehicle which compensated for all the humdrum of looks all around. Things looked rather better at the front, with the correctly positioned headlamps and decent-sized grille.
Interior | Toyota Qualis
The interiors of the Qualis felt Japanese, as soon as you got in. The quality of the car’s plastic and other equipment was far better than it’s competitors. Yes, the outdated element does seem visible all around.
The front row of the vehicle used to feel cramped up. The driver seat was an uncomfortable place to be in. To make things worse, the seat didn’t slide back or recline in some models. However, the sitting position was quite relevant and to the point. You got a wide view of the road when driving. The airy cabin and the bigger windows ensured a good amount of all-around visibility.
When it came to the middle row, things were very well indeed. The middle row was a comfortable place to be in. Three people could easily be accommodated. Moreover, due to the floor being flat, even the middle passenger was happy here. The last row of the car could’ve been better. The upright stance of the seats made it a dreadful experience.
All in all, the interior can quite easily be termed as – basic. The interiors were something which made you wanting for more features but then made you settle for what’s available.
What Went Wrong?
Nothing.
In fact, everything worked perfectly well. Toyota played quite a brave gamble by bringing in an outdated model. It was the first car of the company in India, and everyone was expecting something new, sleek and modern from them. But what Toyota came up with was an outdated model in a new and developing market. The car was sold as Toyota Kijang in Indonesia. Seeing this, Mahindra and Tata were quite bullish for the Bolero and the Sumo respectively. No one had expected an outdated model to capture a market.
But things did take an unexpected turn. The Qualis hit the market and the Indian consumers flocked to buy it. It was perfect. Large Indian families travel business, official vehicle, you name the reason and the car was made for it. The car checked all the boxes quite well.
What Toyota did right was the market research. While Bolero and the Sumo were enjoying the large market share, they were never the first choice for a family car. Both these cars had the image of a workhorse attached to it. So, Toyota identified that gap and marketed the Toyota Qualis as a family mover first. Things started looking positive soon.
Suggested For You: Tata Nano | The ill-fated Budget Car of India
Conclusion
Truth be told, the Toyota Qualis was never ‘the perfect car’. It had its own set of imperfections. But imperfections are what makes thing perfect.
Yes, the car couldn’t sustain for long. It was outdated and had to be revamped or even shelved. But it did leave behind its legacy. The way in which us Indians embraced this old car was extraordinary. There are a few cars which have an emotional and almost human-like feelings attached to it. The Toyota Qualis was one of them.
You Might Also Like: Ford Endeavour | The True-Blue American SUV of India
