Published
on 12
Oct 2021
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All rights reserved.
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Canbus
tries to deliver the selling points of Tanto without its drawback.
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In recent years, sales of
conventional tall-body K-cars like Move and Wagon R fall behind
super-tall K-cars like Tanto and N-Box, and the margin is so
wide that the very existence of Daihatsu Move is at risk. Daihatsu knew
it needed to do something to save its former best seller. To that end,
it introduced Move Canbus.
The Canbus is an experiment for new direction. At 1655mm tall, it is
25mm taller than Move but 100mm lower than Tanto. An upright windscreen
and larger windows give its interior greater sense of roominess than
the conventional Move. Its twin-power sliding doors should be more
appealing to young mothers than the hinged doors of Move, too. However,
the door aperture here is not quite as massive as Tanto, because it
keeps a conventional structure with B-pillars, which should benefit
weight
and rigidity. Also, as center of gravity is not as high as Tanto, its
suspension can be set relatively soft, delivering a smoother ride and
driving dynamics closer to conventional K-cars. In short, this
experiment tries to deliver the selling points of Tanto without its
drawback.
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It
is easy to attrack women, something Move fails to.
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One of the biggest advantages of Canbus is a cute look, which was
inspired by Volkswagen
Microbus but by no means a copycat, unlike a Chinese manufacturer
which unashamedly modelled the Beetle recently.
Daihatsu copied mainly its 2-tone colors, glasshouse design and lower
lamps, but everything else is original. In addition to a warm-feeling
interior, it is easy
to attract women buyers, something cannot be said to Move. Like an MPV,
it puts the instrument pod at the top of center console to deliver a
stress-free ambience. Flexible seating
arrangement is not forgotten either. Its rear seat can slide, recline
to
form a bed, split or fold flat. Moreover, drawers have been added under
the rear
seats, so the lady driver can put supermarket bags and food straight to
the drawer from the driver seat. It is far more convenient than go to
the back of the car and open the tailgate. Obviously, Daihatsu had
listened to the feedback of women drivers.
Despite a name attached to Move, the Canbus was actually derived from
the last generation Tanto, although all Daihatsu K-cars share the same
essential components. Perhaps not aimed at men, it is offered with only
naturally aspirated motor, whose 52 horsepower output struggles to pull
the quite heavy, 920kg car. It is therefore strictly designed for urban
driving.
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Verdict:  |
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