Despite not being sold outside of Japan, the appeal of the kei car to worldwide audiences has always been there. Sure, they’re primarily for the tight streets of Japan, but these tiny cars are more sensible than they appear, as well as being marvels in packaging.
You, dear readers, seem enamored by them too. It doesn’t matter if we share one from Honda, Suzuki, or Daihatsu, Japan’s big three when it comes to kei cars. So we might as well show you the latest one to roll out.
Meet the all-new Daihatsu Move, and it’s back after a two year hiatus. It rides on a very much shortened version of the Daihatsu DNGA platform. That means it shares some bones with the Toyota Raize, Yaris Cross, and Wigo. It’s tall and boxy, as one would expect from a vehicle in its segment, and it now comes with dual sliding doors.
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From what we’ve seen, Japanese automotive media are praising the new rear doors the most. Not only is it good for tight spots, it’s practically a godsend for parents who need to put a child seat at the back and put their children in. Believe us when we say sliding doors are great for those with young kids.
It’s a narrow vehicle, so the Move is a four-passenger vehicle at best. We’ve sat in kei cars before and while it’s possible to squeeze in a fifth person, we recommend against it as these cars don’t typically come with center seatbelts. As for the rest of the cabin, it looks spacious and there’s heaps of cubby spaces.
The analog gauges are also a welcome relief from all the digital screens we’ve been seeing lately. These cars are all about simplicity, so there’s no fancy touch panels here. Just tried and tested buttons.
While these are generally touted as basic cars in Japan, kei cars are well equipped in terms of safety. The redesigned Move comes with advanced driver assists, mainly because it’s mostly required in its home market these days. This little commuter hatchback comes out swinging with adaptive cruise, autonomous emergency braking, and lane departure warning.
The Move, er, moves along with a 658cc engine available in two guises. The first is a naturally aspirated version with 51hp and 60Nm, while the turbocharged engine puts out 63hp and 100Nm. You can have any transmission you want as long as it’s a CVT. All-wheel drive is also available.
More photos of the 2026 Daihatsu Move:
