The Bajaj Qute is first ever quadricycle. The overall design and utility lies somewhere between that of a three-wheeler rickshaw and a proper four-wheeler. Bajaj Auto has been manufacturing the Qute in India for a while now for export markets but now, the company will finally and officially launch it in India and Nepal on April 18, 2019. The Bajaj Qute first debuted at the 2012 Auto Expo, with the production version showcased at the 2016 edition of the Auto Expo. It was only in 2018 that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways approved the creation of a new class of vehicles called the quadricycles which now means that the Qute is finally road legal and can be used for both commercial and personal use.

The Bajaj Qute is powered by a 216 cc, single-cylinder, twin-spark engine which is available as a mono-fuel version. That means you can either get it in petrol form, or CNG, not both. The petrol version puts out around 13 bhp at 5500 rpm and 18.9 Nm at 4,000 rpm. Bajaj reckons the CNG variant will be the bigger seller. The CNG variant puts out just over 10 bhp of power and around 16 Nm of peak torque, and the engine is paired to a five-speed gearbox. The Bajaj Qute offers better weather protection, it's frugal to run, and most importantly, convenient to drive and use in crowded areas. 

In a word - cute! Ok, it's not conventionally good looking; it's not flashy, not exactly stylish, and may not have the design which will make it win accolades, but a head-turner it certainly is. The Qute's overall construction over the monocoque chassis is more functional than something with aesthetic appeal. Quirky is how it can be best described, but it's not necessarily a bad-looking vehicle and is available in bright colours giving it a somewhat 'toy car' appeal. The high roof, narrow body, and small 12-inch alloy wheels make the Qute look like it's straight out of an animated movie, rather than a full-fledged, production four-wheeler. The body is made of sheet metal and plastic, with the roof and pillars made of steel, while the doors and the bonnet are made of plastic, ostensibly to meet the weight limitations of a quadricycle.

Inside, it's basic and rudimentary. On the features list, it doesn't have a long list - two lockable storage boxes on the dashboard, not unlike an autorickshaw's, and a large windshield with a single wiper, which gives a good view of the road ahead. The single-pod instrument console sits at the centre of the dashboard, with a large analogue speedometer, and a small digital screen which gives readouts for the fuel gauge selected gear, odometer and time. There are no vents on the dash, so no air-conditioning, and no blower as well. For ventilation, you can open the sliding windows, and there's a row of small vertical vents on the a-pillars, which let in air from vents above the black plastic front bumper. The seats aren't reclinable, or adjustable, except for the driver's seat which can be slid from front to rear for drivers of different height. Autorickshaw drivers considering to upgrade to the Qute will find the interiors slightly better, but these are certainly not comparable to any car.

And as Bajaj officials have pointed out and reiterated, again and again, the Qute is not a car, and neither does it try to be. It's positioned as a quadricycle for commuting within the city or small towns, and is built for the consumer who will be looking for functionality rather than a luxury. The inside of the doors do offer generous storage space, and there is space to store up to 20 kg under the bonnet (it's a rear engine vehicle after all), and the rear seats can be folded down to make 400 litres of storage. But where it scores is in knee room and headroom; despite its tiny dimensions, the Qute is surprisingly spacious for four adults.

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