Road Test: Toyota Quest
| by Howard Keeg
Pragmatic Motoring
It would be a stretch to describe the average South African motorist as pragmatic. Most South Africans tend to
fork out more than they can actually afford when it comes to purchasing a set of wheels. But economic reality is
starting to catch up with these consumers, and they are being forced to cut their suit according to their cloth.
T
he good news is that motor
manufacturers are also facing up
to this reality, and are coming to
the party with innovative solutions, with
varying success rates. One such solution
is the Toyota Quest, based on the tenth
generation Corolla, but with an eleventh
generation engine. Designed for people who
have a B segment budget, but who want a
C segment vehicle, the Quest ticks all the
boxes. The manual comes in at R174 900,
and even though it is a little short on the
extra specs, it still has the basics that one
now expects from a modern vehicle, such
as immobiliser and alarm, remote central
locking, dual front airbags, Isofix anchor
points, air-conditioning and rake/reach
adjustment for the steering wheel.
The guys at Toyota have also made
sure that the Corolla Quest is not just a
regurgitated previous generation Corolla. I
went to the gym and by chance parked next
to the pre vious Corolla, which gave me a
chance to compare.
And the differences were there, even
though you had to look for them.
At first glance they look the same, but on
observation the headlights were different,
the rear lights were different, the indicators
have moved to the fenders, and the
radiator grilles are darker.
Regarding the interior, the Quest is pure
Corolla, leaving one in no doubt that you
are driving the best seller Toyota has ever
produced. This car is also not designed for
street racing, so from a driving perspective,
you’re not going to shoot the lights out.
However, with the correct gear selection
you can keep up with your fellow travellers
on the road. It even has a sixth gear, even
if not totally necessary, but it does tell you
that you are driving a modern car. On the
road, the car is quiet and the dynamics of
the suspension give a solid and safe feel,
and this feeling is enhanced by knowing
that you have disc brakes all round, with
ABS, stability control and emergency brake
assist.
| words in action
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And then of course you get Toyota’s
renowned quality, reliability and
durability, which means that the threeyear/100 000 km warranty will most
probably not be necessary. The threeyear/45 000 km service plan is a little
parsimonious, but I’m not surprised –
the accountants must have already been
in a state of apoplexy at the R174 900
price tag (and remember that a big slice
of this is going to the taxman).
Another big plus is that a Toyota
dealership is not far away, no matter
where you stay in South Africa, because
there are close to 200 franchises
strategically placed across the country.
october 2014
In conclusion, the Quest helps
you keep up with the Joneses,
but would feel a bit out of place in
Nkandla.