Looking back a decade or so, I remember looking around for my first car right after landing a job here. Although quite different in nature to the car in review, I still remember the criteria that led to my purchase decision. I was looking for a car that handled well, was not too expensive, was powerful enough yet not a fuel guzzler and had all the necessities in terms of luxury. And of course, it had to look good too.
Most youngsters on a budget look for these aspects in their cars with varying degrees of value given to each of the factors.
Some prefer a great audio system over power and handling while others look for a good fuel average.
What's important is that a model that targets this audience needs to cater to what they're primarily after.
Today an iPod is something most college kids don't leave their homes without, and hence, providing an interface for this is a no-brainer. An above average sound system with good speakers wouldn't hurt as well given the fact that most young car buyers are excellent judges when it comes to quality.
The 2011 Toyota Zelas is a car that comes close to fitting the youngster's description of an economical fun car.
Although the Zelas comes with a body kit that's meant to look aggressive and sporty, the overall styling looks like a fusion between a Corolla and the previous generation Lexus GS models, except that it has two doors less.
The interiors are quite spacious for a coupé and can easily seat four adults comfortably.
The dashboard and the layout of the controls and switches are laid out with the intention of making the car look a lot more appealing to a younger audience.
The sound system is standard and lacks an iPod interface which I would have loved personally.
The seats are comfy and sturdy at the same time which makes it ideal for long distance drives as well.
A sunroof is not an available option with the 2011 Zelas which again is something I think would have made the car a lot more appealing.
The 17 inch alloys that come with the car adds a bit of seriousness to the coupé's looks rather than sportiness. The information display and the steering wheel controls for audio are both functional and basic at the same time.
Toyota manages to provide a lot of the basic gadgetry that is standard these days in a way that keeps the overall cost down.
The dark interiors sans the common wood trim adds to the sporty character of the car.
Zelas works and how...
The engine that powers the Zelas is a 2.5-litre Dual VVTi and produces a peak 176 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm and 235 Nm of Torque @ 4,100 rpm. This qualifies for an economical yet powerful enough choice for a college-going kid on a budget.
The paddle shift gears are standard on the Zelas and the transmission is smooth - as is usual with a Toyota.
The suspension is also comfort oriented and not stiff and hard as in most sports coupés.
In my opinion, the Zelas fits in well as a city car especially with its front wheel drive configuration which makes the drive feel quite similar to that of a Corolla only quicker owing to the larger engine and lighter body.
At higher speeds on curvy roads, the Zelas does a bit of understeer which is inherent with front wheel drive cars, but the stability control combined with the comfy suspension drowns the effect and somehow the car does feel precise in terms of handling.
On the highway, it rides and handles like a Camry and given the fact that the engines are comparable in size, its overtaking and lane changing skills are similar as well.
Since the Zelas is marketed as a ‘Youthful Sports Coupé', it would have been a lot more appealing if it had a larger engine and ‘rear wheel drive' which is what coupé owners look for in their cars.
To sum things up about the 2011 Toyota Zelas, I must say that for a price of around Dh95,000 for the full option car with leather interiors, it does seem reasonable. However, with the increasing competition in the market these days especially from Korean and American brands that compete in the same segment offering more for less, the Zelas' advantage could be Toyota's reputation for reliability and quality that has been acquired over the years.
In the motoring world, this is not something that one can take for granted given the fact that technology is lightning fast and so is the ability to change and adapt to customer requirements.
Gadgetry that seemed like ultra luxury statements yesterday is standard on average sedans these days. That's how fast the motoring industry is moving.
I think the Zelas does a decent job in offering the young Toyota buyer a bit of youthfulness and style in comparison to the otherwise not-so-impressive Toyota designs, but it needs to keep a consistent watch in the rear view mirror for the Korean and American coupés - especially those that offer an iPod interface!
Inside info
Engine: 2.5 litre Dual VVTi
Max output: 176 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm and 235 Nm of Torque @ 4,100 rpm
Price: Dh95,000 approximately
