Japanese Kei cars come in all shapes, and even if
their sizes are largely dictated by the regulations to which they're made to
conform, some are more spacious than others. Like this Daihatsu Move.
The tall wagon with the small footprint was first
introduced in 1995 with a design penned by the inimitable Giorgetto Giugiaro.
Every four years or so, though, Daihatsu comes out with a new version. And this
is the latest.
Updated for 2018, the new Move is based on the
sixth-generation model released late in 2014, but benefits from revised styling
– both inside and out – and enhanced equipment. LED headlights, a new grille,
and reprofiled bumper characterize the front end, new graphics update the
taillights, there are new wheel options, the interior ergonomics have been
optimized, there's a new low-speed emergency braking system with pedestrian
detection, and a wide-view camera system.
All the new features are packed into a shape that,
by classification, is just 11 feet long and 4.8 feet wide, but unlike most Kei
cars, stretches nearly five and a half feet upwards. That may not seem very
tall, but already higher than it is wide, it couldn't get much taller without
toppling over.
Motivation comes from a tiny 660 cc engine, available
in naturally aspirated or turbocharged forms, driving either the front wheels
or all four exclusively through a CVT (the manual option having long since been
discontinued). Buyers can choose between a variety of trim levels, with prices
in Japan ranging from 1,112,400 yen (US$ 10k) to
1,749,600 (US$ 16k).
