(First posted 7/14/2018) CC has covered several of Japan’s small “minicars”; referred to in Japanese as the “kei jidosha” class of automobiles. One of my favorites is Paul’s “bucket list” drive of an original Subaru 360. It brought back memories of a Suzuki Cervo that belonged to a buddy during my first visit to Japan in 1981. Like Paul, I’m long of torso, and my first time climbing in was memorable. He asked if I wanted to drive, so I tried to cram myself into the driver’s seat – but there wasn’t enough room. My legs were bent about as far as they would go and I still couldn’t safely manipulate the pedals. Switching, I was able to fold myself into the passenger seat, but just barely and in significant discomfort. Fast-forward, and Japan’s minicars, though still relatively small, have made immense progress over the intervening thirty-five some years. Here are three that if I was in the market, I’d cruise on down for a test drive…
Honda S660 – the Junior NSX. Well, maybe not in terms of performance, but the S660 definitely has the look. I’m reminded of something I heard Tom Gale of Chrysler say regarding large versus small cars – “it’s always easier to style a larger car as you have more real estate to work with.” Given its size, the S660 looks great. Like a mid-engined exotic, the 658 cc turbocharged three cylinder is located behind the driver’s seat – and while it only makes 63 hp, it comes with a proper six speed manual. And if you are looking for more hp, the folks at Mugen Motorsport, the official Honda Tuner Co., would be glad to assist.
Daihatsu Copen – When a Miata is Too Big. Here’s another car that I think looks pretty good given its small size. The Copen is more of a Boulevardier than the S660 and with typical front wheel drive, it’s not quite as exotic as the mid-engined Honda. It does allow though for a folding hardtop roof option – nice to have for inclement weather – and just like your rich neighbor’s $60K Mercedes SLC at one-fourth the price.
Daihatsu Canbus – Small But Stylish Van. Most of the small kei-class vans in Japan are used as commercial vehicles, so function takes precedent over style. The “tall vans” – the Suzuki Wagon R and Daihatsu Tanto add a little spice, but I think the Canbus manages to look the best. I’m not typically a fan of two-toning, but think it’s quite attractive here. Lots of space inside too – I’ve sat in a Canbus – though it’s still narrow, I was comfortable both in front and in back.
Kei cars aren’t at the top of my list – they’re still too small for my aging, stiff body, but they’re no longer the tiny penalty boxes they used to be. Given the right set of circumstances, I could see parking one in my driveway.
Jul 2024 Update. I’m now six years older and a kei-class vehicle is looking much more desirable as I get farther into the senior citizen demographic. Just like with most of Japan’s older folks, my next vehicle will likely be a kei, probably not a 660 or Copen, but a Canbus or Honda N-Box would fit the bill quite nicely.
That Canbus is so cute and smiling you almost want to hug it!
Just what I was going to say. That’s about the happiest-looking car ever.
And much better than all the angry cars we see now. None of them are attractive to me.
+1.
60 years & still smiling —
Austin-Healey Sprite. Even the name is smiley…
I find these Japanese kei cars very interesting, an intelligent solution to their problems executed with typical Japanese thoroughness.
Have no experience of a Kei car but can see the attraction of a city car like these, the narrow width would be very welcome on UK city and town streets as would the ease of parking, most cars are now almost bigger than the parking spaces in car parks, I hate parking my Coupe with its long doors in multi story car parks for instance and try to avoid it
The only real drawback I can see is being in a collision with the blasted Chelsea tractors (4 x 4 , SUVs mostly Range Rover) that are everywhere but never see offroad use.
My mom drives a Scion IQ, the closest thing to a Kei car I’ve ever been in. It’s amazingly capable. Tiny four cylinder with a CVT, very roomy for two people. The perfect city car. It only has an 8 gallon tank and takes maybe $10 to fill up. It’s just so darn cute!
A friend just recently sold his Toyota iQ (Europe) with a 1.0 liter, for nearly as much as he paid for it 3 years prior. Great resale value, and a pretty good interior.
My mother has one too, called the Toyota iQ here, as Swedishbrick says. It’s a keeper, with a much nicer interior than say a new Toyota Aygo.
1.0 liter 3-cylinder engine and a 5-speed manual. It’s got the same turning circle as a man walking with a wheelbarrow.
I’d forgotten they introduced a second-generation Copen. We got the first one here in Australia and I still see a few around. The styling on those is much more cutesy, almost reminiscent of Noddy’s car. I’ll have to write up the first-gen eventually…
As for the S660, Honda keeps ruling it out for the Aussie market. A shame as it sounds like a real hoot!
We get a lot of used vans imported here but they’re always big ‘uns, never Kei cars. Daihatsu did sell a generation of Move here but I remember magazines mocking it for being needlessly small in a market like Australia and it never sold well. Aussies are happy to drive a Kia Picanto but anything smaller or less powerful is just automobilia non grata.
Mighty Car Mods has a ball with Diahatsus. They built a show car, raced them, made one into a sorta drift car, and even crushed one.
“…automobilia non grata.”
CC phrase of the day. Love it!
I think we found the replacement for Paul’s xB
There’s a few Daihatsus he might like, like the Thor and the Luxio. There’s also the Materia which is the third generation of Toyota bB, the first generation of which was the first Scion xB.
Absolutely! I’ve been adoring this and some of the other kei vans for years. And realistically, they are the only thing that would be a proper replacement. Seriously, this would make the perfect around-town scooter for me . And I could tow it as a dinghy behind the Promaster: Vans, big and little.
The 1 million dollar question is:
Does the Canbus have CANBus?
JK
Well it Can Bus people around.
It would be interesting seeing other Kei Cars follow the trend of becoming lighter like the new Suzuki Alto.
Think is it about time the Kei Car segment received an update with the capacity limit increased from 64 hp 660cc to around 76 hp 750-770cc.
The Copen is one sharp looking car, but there are actually three versions with unique styling. The photos above are the Copen Robe, but there is also the Cero and XPLAY. Cero looks similar to the previous generation, and XPLAY is similar to Robe, but with an almost transformer-like look with thick black trim. Why three? The Copen was designed on what Daihatsu calls a D-frame, and all panels are bolted on and meant to be easily swapped, so owners can literally change from one model to the next. Certain Daihatsu dealers actually rent the different panels so owners can do exactly this without having to buy and store the pieces themselves. Want to see how? Check out this video below:
After my initial post today, I decided to dig around into the current Kei’s for sale from all the brands on the web, and lo and behold; Suzuki has a new generation Jimny after 20 years (the Samurai is a direct descendant). Still ladder frame with a dual transfer case, it is easily one of the better off-road vechicles one could find, if a bit crude. I love the retro styling, and the interior is both familiar yet current with all one would expect in 2018. Best of all, Suzuki has the basic Jimny in the Kei class, and kept the Sierra version with it’s fender flares and larger 1.5 engine for those who want as I say, extra.
I don’t even particularly like these types of vehicles , but I had to add a rear shot because I feel this is one crisp and clean cut design:
Proof that stlyists really can be clever people. This thing is really no more than a box and a box, but boy it works. Mini-modern Mercedes gelanderwagen. And we’re getting it Aus, yay!
The new Jimny seems popular in NZ I see them Aframe towed behind motor homes quite often, and the kept the off road ability intact.Highway capability is better than the originals the new one can maintain 100kmh on the open road
I read about that a whole back. Very nice update. Too bad it’s not sold here.
That Honda is an absolute cracker of a thing. If Honda wants to at least relieve the dowdy image it’s developed, getting this beyond the shores of Nippon would surely help. Even if it didn’t make money for them.
The original Copen was sold here, and it did play with the old brainbox. It was an Audi TT copy nearly as flagrant as those that the Chinese are wont to produce, but it was not until seen in the altogether that you realised an average 6-footer would really need one for each shoe.
The Copen was offered here too. For the average Dutchman, your head was also the rollbar.
Hehehe!
I love that little Honda, especially in that “Grabber Blue” color.
Great choices! Plenty of character, in each.
Canbus…the Japanese ability to come up with hilarious names is alive and well.
Just back from my first Japan trip. I noticed this type of Kei van is a very popular vehicle in Tokyo. In general van and station wagon are the most popular form of vehicle. But most of them are powered by internal combustion engine. I believe it makes more to run them on electric power, or even fuel cells. I don’t see that much electric vehicles running around.
If you thiink the new Jimmy is popular, you will be shock to see so many Mercedes G Wagon are available. My rough estimate is about one third of Mercedes I saw in Tokyo were G Wagon