The Daihatsu Move model has been produced since 1995, and over thirty years, more than 3.4 million cars of six generations have seen the light of day. The new seventh-generation Move was supposed to appear in 2023, but there was a hitch due to a scandal around certification tests, which affected many models of various Japanese manufacturers. The debut had to be postponed, and only now the completely new Daihatsu Move kei car has been presented in Japan.
For the first time in thirty years, the company decided to change the form factor of the model. But, contrary to world fashion, Move did not become a crossover. If previous generations were hatchbacks with a raised roof and conventional hinged doors, the new model is a microvan with sliding rear doors and split front roof pillars. Although the overall height has increased by only 25 mm, to 1655 mm. The length (3395 mm) and width (1475 mm) have not changed, because they are limited by Japanese legislation for kei cars. But the wheelbase has been increased from 2455 to 2460 mm. Move can have wheels with a diameter of 14 or 15 inches, and all versions, except the basic one, are equipped with an electric drive for sliding doors.
The new model is available in thirteen body color options, including two-tone with a black or white roof. In addition, different versions of the minivan have their own design of lighting, radiator grille, small decor and wheels. At the top of the range is the Move RS with a “sporty” design, and there are also Dandy Sport and Noble Chic packages. The first offers dark aesthetics of decor, and the second – light shades, copper accents and graphics on the body.
The four-seater interior is as practical and functional as possible. For example, the backrests of the rear row can not only be folded for carrying luggage, but also folded back, turning the interior of the minivan into a two-seater “bedroom”. There is no central tunnel, and a media system screen with a diagonal of 7.0 or 9.0 inches, depending on the configuration, rises above the front panel. There are also two options for the instrument cluster, but both have analog scales. The central console has a shelf for wireless charging, and under it is a push-button climate control unit.
The Daihatsu Move kei car is built on the universal DNGA (Daihatsu New Global Architecture) platform, which means front-wheel drive, McPherson struts at the front and semi-independent suspension at the rear. However, for any version, you can order all-wheel drive with a clutch on the rear axle, and in this case, the De Dion scheme is used at the rear. In accordance with the kei car regulations, the three-cylinder engine under the hood has a volume of 660 cc. In the naturally aspirated version, it produces 52 hp and 60 Nm, and for the Move RS modification, a turbo engine with 64 hp and 100 Nm is provided. All cars are equipped with a variator. And no hybrid add-ons!
