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Toyota Qualis – The People Mover Behind Aavesham & Manjummel Boys
Aavesham & Manjummel Boys became one of the highest-grossing Malayalam movies ever. These movies not only did well in Kerala, but also rocked other states as well. However, motorheads noticed an interesting detail in both these movies - Toyota Qualis.
While the Toyota Qualis in Manjummel Boys played the role of a taxi, the Qualis in Aavesham is Ranganaa's (Fahad Faasil) favourite vehicle despite having a new Mercedes-Benz at his home.
Speaking about the Toyota Qualis, the MPV laid the foundation for what Toyota stands for in India today. Even after more than 2 decades since its launch, the Toyota Qualis still holds decent resale value, thanks to its bullet-proof reliability.
However, it is not an all-bright story for Toyota in India. When Toyota first showcased the Qualis in India, it was bombarded with negative comments regarding its dated and boxy looks. In fact, the Qualis was based on the Toyota Kijang, which made its debut back in 1986.
However, once the Toyota Qualis was launched in the Indian market, it quickly became a favourite for a wide range of audiences in the country. In fact, many were blown away by the ride quality, refinement, and build quality offered by Toyota.
In fact, one of the reasons for the exceptionally good ride quality of the Qualis could be attributed to its rather tiny-looking 14-inch tyres. This not only made the ride quality better but also made it handle better.
Initially, the Toyota Qualis was offered in 3 trims - FS (Family Saloon), GS (Grand Saloon), and GST (Grand Saloon Touring). However, the launch of the facelift model added a 4th trim - RS (Royal Saloon). Furthermore, the Toyota Qualis is offered in 8,9, and 10-seater options.
With the launch of the facelifted Qualis in September 2002, Toyota moved further upmarket with features such as windup-type windows on the second row (the pre-facelift model came with sliding windows). However, the engine options continued to be the same.
The 2.4-litre, naturally-aspirated diesel engine produced 74bhp at 4,200rpm and 151Nm of torque at 2,400rpm. Later, a 2.0-litre, naturally-aspirated petrol engine with 94bhp was offered. Both engine options came with a 5-speed gearbox.
The facelifted Toyota Qualis SUV also came with a stiffer suspension setup, which made the model more stable over undulations compared to its predecessor. Moreover, the stiffer suspension made sitting in the 3rd-row a lot more bearable.
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With the launch of Toyota Qualis MPV in India, Toyota laid the foundation for its reputation in the country. Also, despite its age, the Qualis continues to remain a very practical and desirable choice for many enthusiasts in the country.
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