Bajaj Qute Review
Quadricycle Tested: Bajaj Qute; Road Test No. 1073; Test Location: Pune
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 3.20-3.30 lakhs
The Bajaj Qute is a comfier and safer alternative to our very popular rickshaws
Our roads have abundant autorickshaws and these 3-wheelers are a very popular mode of transport for short trips within the city. Millions of people travel by autos daily and while we car guys think that these 3-wheelers have created a menace on our roads, the fact is that they’re super convenient and the staple mode of travel for a significant number of people. However, these 3-legged vehicles aren’t exactly safe, they offer no protection to the passengers, they don’t have seat belts, heck no doors even and are known to be pretty disastrous in the event of a crash. Making matters worse is the fact that they don’t offer any protection from the harsh heat and rains too. In comes the Bajaj Qute, which was first showcased 7 years back at the 2012 Auto Expo. This isn’t a car, but it’s a 4-wheeler. Yes, the Qute is the first quadricycle in India and after a lot of controversies, the vehicle is finally going to be available on sale.
Motor Quest: The Bajaj Qute was first showcased to the public 7 years back but the vehicle was mired in controversies. A lot of companies were opposing the Qute and quadricycles in general because of the lack of safety features and hence Bajaj Auto couldn’t sell the Qute in India even though it was exported to and sold in other countries. However, the company was of the belief that this quadricycle is at least safer than the 3-wheelers plying on our roads. The quadricycle segment has finally been approved in India and the Qute can now be sold.
The styling is very quirky but it doesn’t look ugly
Exteriors – The Bajaj Qute isn’t exactly a looker, it looks quite basic but it definitely turns a lot of heads on the roads. The vehicle looks pleasing to the eyes but expect kids to gawk at the vehicle as if it’s a big new toy car. The Qute is smaller than the Tata Nano in size, has black chunky bumpers and tiny 12-inch tyres. The good part is that the vehicle gets alloys! The Bajaj Qute comes with a 4-door setup and there’s a small storage space (77-litres) up front because the engine is placed at the rear. The tailgate cannot be opened but you can access the engine through a lid in the rear bumper. The vehicle uses a monocoque construction but gets plastic body panels to keep replacement costs low and the automaker has used high strength steel to improve the rigidity of the Qute.
The cabin is rather simple with no features on offer
Interiors – Just like the exterior, the interior also has a very basic appeal. The cabin gets plastics all around and there are enough storage spaces up front. On either side of the dashboard, you get lockable storage bins while the front doors also have decent storage space, taking total front storage capacity to 95-litres. The seating position is set high, this plus the large glass area provides the driver with ample outward visibility. The vehicle gets a standard 2-spoke steering wheel, with the speedometer and a digital gear indicator at the top of the centre console. Sadly, the Qute misses out on an AC, in fact, it doesn’t even come with a fan and there are no vents on the dashboard. The only source of ventilation would be the windows and we expect a lot of owners to replace the sliding windows with fabric rollers (like the ones we see on rickshaws during monsoons). You get air vents on the A-pillars which basically throw out the air which is sucked in through vents on the front bumper. However, this setup isn’t very effective.
Space is decent for 4 passengers, but cabin isn’t very roomy
The interior of the Qute is barebones with functionality being the main focus
The Qute comes with a basic audio system with remote, but misses out on central locking. Ingress and egress is pretty easy at the front, but things get a little tight at the rear due to the small size of the doors. The front seats are placed very close to each other due to the limited width of the Qute. The front seats are just about average in terms of comfort, don’t forget this is a budget vehicle. The front seats can only adjusted for rake, there’s no recline or height adjustment. The rear seat also has enough space for 2 passengers, fitting 3 is a strict no-no because the Qute has been certified as a 4-seater. The rear doors also offer good storage space and behind the rear seat you get space to keep your laptop bag. The total storage space at the rear section of the cabin is 44-litres. The spare wheel is located in the front passenger’s footwell while the 35-litre CNG tank is positioned under the front seats, while this area can be used for storage on the petrol models. The handbrake is placed on the right side of the driver’s seat.
The 216cc engine performs just fine at city speeds
Performance – The Bajaj Qute comes powered by a 216cc, single-cylinder, twin-spark, liquid-cooled engine which is matched to a 5-speed sequential gearbox. The engine delivers 13 HP and 18.9 Nm of torque on the petrol variant and 10.83 HP/16.1 Nm on the CNG variant. The Bajaj Qute isn’t quick off the line, but this vehicle isn’t made for acceleration and it’s more about economical running costs. Out on the road, it pulls fairly easily to speeds up to 40 km/hr though it does have a top speed of 70 km/hr. The engine doesn’t really feel strained at normal speeds and the Qute feels pretty easy to drive around in the usual city traffic. The engine is quite noisy and vibrations are also felt inside the cabin.
The Qute is being targeted as a cheap-to-run quadricycle
The Qute has decent driveability in the traffic but struggles on open roads
However, if you have an empty stretch of road ahead of you, the Bajaj Qute will immediately start feeling underpowered just how 3-wheelers do and people will just overtake you. It takes its own sweet time to reach its top speed. The gear ratios are short and you just need to push the lever up for upshifting and pull it down for downshifting. Gear shifts aren’t exactly smooth, but you get used to it. The clutch is also very light. Talking about fuel efficiency, well it returns about 35 km/l on petrol and a claimed 45 kms/kg on CNG which makes it extremely light on the pocket. Bajaj officials have said that for such vehicles, low running costs draw a lot of customers and this efficiency of the Qute is bound to be appreciated.
The Qute is considerably more composed and stable than 3-wheelers
Driving Dynamics – If you compare the Bajaj Qute to a 3-wheeler, the former is downright safer and more stable. 3-wheelers just don’t provide the stability that 4-wheelers have no matter what size they are. The Qute feels composed while taking turns at speeds of about 30-40 km/hr and it also feels surefooted over undulations and broken roads, a place where 3-wheelers easily lose composure. The ride quality is pliant, you can’t expect it to be very plush but again it is way better than what the conventional 3-wheeler offers. The suspension does its job just fine and it can also take a lot of abuse.
The vehicle is easy to drive around and the turning radius is fantastic
The Bajaj Qute is stable over poor roads and it’s not meant for pushing too hard
The steering is unassisted but it is very light throughout. It isn’t very precise though but it’ll point the Qute where you want it to. The Qute comes with an anti-roll bar at the front which comes in to be quite useful to improve stability. However, do not expect car-like dynamics otherwise you’d be really disappointed. I remember going over a broken patch of road slightly fast and the Qute started jumping around, losing its line. Passengers in this quadricycle are sure going to love the relatively better comfort than what 3-wheelers offer and this will become the better choice out of the two amongst passengers. The Qute doesn’t get disc brakes, it makes do with all 4 drums but stopping power is decent, even from speeds as high as 55 km/hr.
The Qute thankfully gets seat belts for all 4 passengers
Safety and After Sales Service – There are no safety features on offer on the Bajaj Qute per se, apart from the 4 seat belts. Since this isn’t classified as a car, it won’t have to clear the upcoming crash tests that’ll be mandatory for all other 4-wheelers. Company officials have stated that the Qute complies with all safety norms pertaining to quadricycles. The vehicle has been certified for full frontal impacts at speeds of up to 35 km/hr. In terms of service, not much needs to be said about Bajaj Auto’s network which is very widespread. Parts of the Qute are going to be inexpensive and servicing the vehicle won’t be much of a concern for owners. The Qute can be serviced at any Bajaj service centre that caters to 3-wheelers.
It remains to be seen how the audience responds to such vehicles
Verdict – The Bajaj Qute makes for a very strong case for itself when compared to 3-wheelers. While it won’t be able to replace the millions of 3-wheelers plying in our country, it definitely comes across as a worthy alternative. It is better to drive, much safer and offers better comfort too. On top of this, the Qute promises very low running and maintenance costs. Pricing wise, the Qute is pricier than 3-wheelers by about Rs. 1 lakh which is a fair deal for buyers who’re going to use it for commercial purposes but honestly we feel not a lot of private car buyers are going to consider this quadricycle because it doesn’t really have the feel of a proper car and one would rather opt for a used car or an entry-level hatchback by paying marginally more.
The Qute will safe guard its occupants from the harsh weather
What’s Cool
* Compact dimensions and practical interiors
* Easy to drive and very small turning radius
* Safer than 3-wheeled rickshaws and also fuel-efficient
* Cheap to maintain and vast service network
What’s Not So Cool
* No ventilation inside the cabin
* Rear seats lack space
* Price is a tad optimistic
Alternatives: – None
The Bajaj Qute doesn’t get a ventilation system in the cabin
Bajaj Qute Specifications
* Engine: 216.6cc, Single-Cyl, DTS-i, FI
* Power: 13 HP @ 5500 RPM | 10.83 HP @ 5500 RPM
* Torque: 18.9 Nm @ 4000 RPM | 16.1 Nm @ 4000 RPM
* Top Speed: 70 km/hr
* Transmission: 5-Speed MT
* Fuel Consumption: 35 km/l | 45 km/kgs
* Fuel Type: Petrol | CNG
* Tyre Size: 135/70/12 (Front & Rear)
* Suspension: Twin Leading Arm (Front), Coil Spring (Rear)
* Brakes: Drum (Front & Rear)
Bajaj Qute Dimensions
* Overall length x width x height: 2752 mm X 1312 mm X 1652 mm
* Wheelbase: 1925 mm
* Turning Radius: 3.5-metres
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 8-litres (Petrol), 6.5-8 kgs (CNG)
* Kerb Weight: 450 kgs
How many of you will prefer the Qute over a 3-wheeler rickshaw?
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