Daihatsu K-car platform
Debut: see below |
Mira (Cuore)
Debut: 2007 |
 Mira is also known as
Cuore in overseas market. It used to be the core member of Daihatsu's
K-cars lineup, but in recent years its leading position has been taken
over by Move. Mira is a highly practical city car. Like its siblings, it rides on the company's latest K-car platform with an unusually long, 2490 mm wheelbase. As you can see from the pictures, its wheels are pushed to the extremes, so close that it leaves nearly no space for the bumpers ! Needless to say, its overall length and width are strictly governed by K-car regulations, which means 3400mm and 1480mm respectively. At 1530mm tall, it provides plenty of headroom for passengers yet can slip into the double-decker parking facilities in Japanese cities. The interior is surprisingly spacious for a car so compact. Thanks to the long wheelbase, its cabin length is a remarkable 2050 mm. The high roof enables the seats to be mounted higher than normal cars, improving visibility as well as legroom. Rear passengers sit even higher than the front's, so they won't find the ambience confined. Besides, a nearly flat rear floor frees up passenger foot room. Overall, the Mira is truly accommodative for four adults, something the similarly-sized European hatchbacks cannot achieve. What it doesn't do as well as European cars is the presentation. The dashboard has little style to speak about. The blocky center console looks as if an aftermarket add-on. While the high-mounted gear level is convenient, it blocks the air-conditioning control next to it. Finally, the materials leave something to be desired, as shiny hard plastics are still default. Nevertheless, when it comes to interior flexibility, the Mira is hard to fault. Basically, everything you can find in other versatile city cars is available here: the front passenger seat folds to place long cargo, the rear seats slide, split and fold to alter luggage space. By reclining all seat backs, a double bed is formed. Besides, there are countless of storage cubbies, pockets, cup holders and coat hooks throughout the cabin. Car-sleepers will be comfortable with Mira.  The mechanical side is quite straightforward. Basically,
all Daihatsu K-cars share the same engine codenamed KF-VE. It is a
660cc 3-cylinder engine with DOHC 12 valves and dual-variable valve
timing. In naturally aspirated form it produces a remarkable 58
horsepower, although this takes some 7200 rpm to realize. Despite of
the lack of torque, it is a willing small engine. Turbocharged version
produces only 6 more horsepower, as limited by K-car regulations, but
it offers way more mid-range torque to relieve your frustration in
overtaking. The overseas Cuore does not employ the 660cc class engine,
of course. Instead, it is powered by a 1.0-liter version of the DVVT
three-pot good for 68 hp and 69 lb-ft. It is actually better mannered
and more cost effective than the smaller turbocharged engine. The Cuore
also differs from the domestic version in gearbox – the former employs
a 4-speed automatic while the latter uses a CVT. However, both offer a
5-speed manual as elementary choice.All Daihatsu's K-cars share the same platform with MacPherson struts and torsion-beam suspensions. 4-wheel drive is optional in Japan. The compact size means it is an easy drive in urban area, but it is definitely not designed to shine on back roads or highway. Standard safety features include ABS, electronic brake force distribution and twin air bags. The Mira is a spacious, versatile, easy-going and affordable small car. It deserves consideration from every K-car buyers. However, while it does everything well, it fails to distinguish itself from other K-cars, no matter in styling or interior. As young people dominates the customer portfolio of K-car market, Mira is difficult to match the youthful-minded Move or Suzuki Wagon R in domestic sales chart. |
| The above report was last updated on 25 Jan 2010. All Rights Reserved. |
MoveDebut: 2006Predecessor: Move (2002) |
 In
2009, Daihatsu sold some 182,000 units of Move in Japan, trailing only
Suzuki Wagon R (202,000 units) in the domestic Kei car sales chart. It
is once again the best selling model of Daihatsu. Move is mechanically identical to Mira as well as other Daihatsu K-cars. A 2490mm wheelbase chassis is driven through the front wheels (4WD is optional) by either a continuously variable transmission, 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. The 658cc three-cylinder DVVT engine produces 58hp or, in turbocharged form, 64hp. Suspension is provided by struts up front and torsion-beam at the rear. If you have read my report on Mira, you won't be unfamiliar with these specifications. What makes it more successful than others is the packaging. Compare with Mira, its roof is set 100mm higher, and its hip point (seating level) is set higher as well. This improves its interior space further, liberating more head and leg room. The cabin length is stretched further to 2110mm, up 60mm from Mira, and the maximum interior height is a remarkable 1310mm. Few K-cars can match its spaciousness. On the downside, its excessive height prevents it from using double-story car parks.  Apart from space, the cabin of Move is
also more attractive to eyes than that of Mira. A curvy dashboard runs
smoothly from one door to another door. Its two-tone color scheme and
centrally mounted instruments look more fashionable, stylish enough to
compensate for the low rent plastics. The seats are plusher and more
comfortable, too. As in Mira, the seating arrangement is highly
flexible. The front passenger seats can fold to hold long luggages. The
rear seat can split, recline, fold or slide for a range of 255mm. It
may also form a bed together with the front seats. Thanks to the
upright tail, it carries more luggages than Mira. Moreover, the large
tailgate is side-hinged, so it is easier for ladies to access.The Move drives somewhat like a minivan due to its tallest. As you sit high, you have a great view on the road and, unfortunately, greater sense of its body roll. Thanks to its small turning circle, it is easy to drive and to park in congested urban area. Out on motorway, the small engine is a little breathless due to its extra weight and aerodynamic drag. This is also why its sales is bounded in Japan. |
| The above report was last updated on 25 Jan 2010. All Rights Reserved. |
Esse
is the oldest and cheapest one in Daihatsu's K-car lineup. It rides on
the last generation, 2390mm-wheelbase platform and is powered by only
the naturally aspirated 660cc three-cylinder DVVT engine. CVT is not
available to it yet, so you must choose between 5-speed manual and, as
most buyers do, 4-speed automatic gearbox. The bodyshell is also the
smallest among its siblings - although overall length and width are
stretched to the legally allowed maximum, it is neither as tall nor as
boxy as others. 
Cocoa succeeds Mira Gino
as the niche model of Daihatsu's K-car family. It's nice to see the
Japanese company finally abandoned the copycat of British Mini and
comes up with its original design. Like Esse, Cocoa is a retro-looking
small car targeting at female drivers. However, it is more upmarket,
more spacious and even more stylish. The attention to details and
surface treatment are more elegant than Esse as well as other Daihatsu
K-cars. Circular headlights and round windows appeals to women, as are
the piano-white dashboard, circular air vents and plush fabric on seats
and door grab handles. Its design philosophy is very much like Suzuki
Lapin, another lovely K-car.
Conte is a derivative of
Move. Its bold, rectangular design is a response to Toyota bB and
Nissan Cube, though in a much smaller package and lower price point. It
seems to be more substantial than Move, thus could be more appealing to
male drivers. 
A-segment
minivans are unique to Japan. No where else is able to create minivans
so small yet so accommodative, so versatile and so decent to look and
to own. Among these cars, Daihatsu Tanto is clearly the current leader.
In 2009, it sold 145,000 units in Japan, easily surged to the 3rd
position of domestic K-car sales chart, trailing only Move in
Daihatsu's lineup. 
You may question the need
of creating Exe, which is acutally a repackaged Tanto. The emphasis
here is not space or flexibility, but a more upmarket 2-tone interior.
The upper half of the dashboard is made of higher quality textured
plastic. Blue glow ambient lighting is available at various places.
Besides, 4 comfortable, well-bolstered chairs replace the flat ones in
Tanto. Predictably, the thicker rear seats cannot fold flat onto the
floor - their cushions remain in place, only the seat backs fold down -
therefore cargo volume is smaller than Tanto. The sliding left rear
door is also reverted to hinged door.| Specifications | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Performance tested by: - |
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by Mark Wan @ AutoZine