Looking for a practical and stylish vehicle with some overland flair? The Daihatsu Tanto might be just the vehicle for you
A green colored Daihatsu Tanto Fun Cross Kei car
The Daihatsu Tanto is the latest funky Kei car to hit the market, and it's already causing an uproar with its unique style. The Tanto draws inspiration from the Nissan Cube but adds its own spin to the classic form. As a result, you get a lively and stylish vehicle with an overland flair. In fact, some people even compare it to the Nissan Cube, and it's easy to see why. At first glance, the Daihatsu Tanto may look like a knock-off of the Nissan Cube. But upon closer inspection, it's clear that the Tanto is an entirely different animal, far from being a copycat. It has a distinctive style compared to other Kei cars on the market. It's no wonder its latest fourth-generation model has been one of Daihatsu's best-selling models for years! Let's take a closer look at the Daihatsu Tanto and the Nissan Cube to see what all the fuss is about!
The Daihatsu Tanto and Nissan Cube may both be compact cars, but the Tanto is the clear winner when it comes to practicality. The Tanto's boxy shape and tall height create a much more spacious interior than the Cube, making it perfect for more oversized items or groups of people. Plus, with its stylish flair and sassy attitude, the Tanto will turn heads wherever you go. It can also haul a lot of stuff if you fold down the back seats, something that's impossible in the Cube. For convenience, you can fold the seat next to the driver into a table. The Tanto goes one step further by adding more storage spaces and advanced safety features like keyless entry, air conditioning, airbags, and power windows. Overall, the Daihatsu Tanto is the perfect car for those who want something a little funkier than the Nissan Cube. It has stylish, hinged doors that set it apart from the competition, and it comes with some great features like storage compartments for mobile phones.
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Since its debut, the Tanto has been a formidable rival to Nissan's Cube. It resembles a chic, stylish box on wheels, and it's a classic example of how to poke fun at your competition. While the Tanto borrows heavily from the Nissan Cube in design and styling, it takes it up a notch with more interesting interior decorations and color hues. Its dashboard has been enhanced with orange accents and upgraded upholstery options. More colors, like green, red, and beige, have been added to the outside of newer models. Also, Daihatsu's van has a unique front fascia and upper grille that looks more like an SUV bumper. The grille also has an aluminum protective bar and a more rugged design, making it more durable. On the other hand, the plastic feel of the Nissan Cube's interior is decidedly nonstandard. Also, its front grille is very aggressive and borrows its window design inspiration from a bulldog wearing sunglasses—very cool if you love your bull in shades!
The Tanto is powered by a 658cc three-cylinder engine, which produces 64 horsepower and 52 pound-feet of torque. It's available with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive, and it comes standard with a CVT. Although the Tanto's performance isn't earth-shattering, it's more than enough for everyday driving and road trips. Plus, with the bonus of a CVT transmission and optional two- or four-wheel drive, the Tanto is a versatile car that can handle various driving situations. The Tanto's main competition, the Nissan Cube, might have a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 122 horsepower—but its performance is on par with the Tanto. In other words, the Cube's engine is more powerful but doesn't make much difference in real-world driving. The Daihatsu Tanto has unbeatable fuel economy, clocking in at 24 km/liter (56.5 mpg). In comparison, the Nissan Cube only manages 17 km/liter (40 mpg). The Tanto can go from 0 to 62 mph in just 16 seconds; over five seconds faster than the Cube. So, if you want a fun and good trip on gas, the Tanto is your best bet.
At the current exchange rate, the price of a Daihatsu Tanto is about 1,386,000 Japanese yen, which is about $9,555 as per the current exchange rates. This is significantly cheaper than Nissan's base Cube S with a manual transmission, which starts at $17,500. The CVT adds $1,000 to the cost.
The Nissan Cube, a boxy and angular car, is practically a work of art. And, yet, due to weak sales, poor exchange rates between the Yen and the USD, and impending government regulations, this quirky little car will never see the light of day in the United States. Unfortunately, the same goes for the Daihatsu Tanto. It's a Kei car, so you can't import it into America until a reasonable import law takes effect. But, even if you could import it, the expenses would be too much to keep up with, especially with the American safety standards. So, unless you're lucky enough to live in Japan, you may never experience the joy of driving a Fun Cross Diatsu Tanto.
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The Tanto is a clear choice if you're looking for speed and agility. And though the Nissan Cube may be suitable for small errands and getting around town, the Tanto will leave the Cube in the dust in an actual performance challenge. Plus, its punchy, turbocharged engine gives it more style and pizzazz than the Nissan Cube.
Risper is a Topspeed contributor and loves anything with "Vroom" to it. She's a total car girl at heart and has been since she was old enough to dream about her first set of wheels. She's all about what kind of engine is under the hood, whether you're driving off into the sunset or cruising down Main Street in your new posh car! She's also an outdoorsy lover; hiking is at the top of her list!