Before we begin the review, let’s just get one thing straight, there has never been, nor would there ever be a perfect car. It is just impossible to pull that off, there has to be a compromise at some point. Budgets are limited, if not for the manufacturer then for the customers, and people should really get rid of the notion. Accept the flaws of a model and it will be better for you. That being said, of course the best cars out there try to minimize their faults, and ever improve the classical formula.
That being said let us take a look at one of the hottest new releases in 2014, the Toyota Zelas. Before we were introduced to the Toyota 86, the Toyota Zelas was the company’s main sub AED 100k coupe for sport. It strangely never caught caught on, for a variety of reasons. Maybe it was because of its steep price or because of its strange front wheel drive platform. Some even say that they were bothered by the quirky design choice. But having licked their wound, Toyota has rethought the model and are hoping to reintroduce it in 2014, claiming that some of the gripes have been fixed. So good news in 2014, for those wishing to buy this model new or just wait a little and get it from a used car market dealer.
Cons
Probably this model’s biggest downfall is its interior.
Pros
The model’s reasonable new price tag and the fact that is has quite impressive safety features.
Aesthetic
This time, they really tried to give it a more dynamic and sporting look. It features revised taillights and headlights, a slimmed down upper grille, artificial plastic insertions in the bumpers and of course, the giant hexagonal lower part of the grille. With this model, they really did everything right, but still it’s nothing that catches the eye.
The feeling
As previously mentioned as an auto designer, you really have to learn how to compromise. You really can’t have the cheapest coupe that Toyota can offer, without sacrificing something, and at the end of the day, it’s hard plastic dashboards and its cheap interior leaves you feeling like you are really driving an economy model.
The tech
As is the case with all other aspects of the Zelas, it doesn’t do something wrong per say, it is just… standard and mediocre. It has features like indicators put into the side mirrors, paddle shifters, cruise control, and push start. Toyota is known for its emphasis on safety and the Zelas is no exception, the car is literally padded with air bags. It has them in the sides, curtain area and in the areas where your knees stand.
Perfomance wise it has a 2.5 litre engine with 233 Nm of torque and 178 horsepower. It reaches 100 km/h from a standstill in about 7.6 seconds.
In conclusion this is by no means a bad car, in fact if your budget is somewhat limited, it is ideal. A mediocre car for a cheap price is not that bad. However if you want a coupe that’s more impressive, this isn’t the model for you.
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