The Daihatsu Tanto Fun Cross Is the Kei Overlander We Need

Right here in America, we like our automobiles massive and quick, and god assist anybody that will get of their means. However over in Japan, issues aren’t fairly so menacing — their vehicles are smaller, happier, extra enjoyable. On the market, the keijidosha reigns supreme, with boxy vans placing every cubic centimeter allotted by regulations to full, sensible use.

However what if kei vehicles may very well be even higher? How are you going to enhance on such meticulous engineering, such practical-cute styling? It appears Daihatsu has discovered a means: add some overland aesthetic aptitude, and name your automobile the Tanto Enjoyable Cross.

Motor1 introduced me to the Fun Cross earlier right this moment, and it’s been caught in my thoughts ever since. Let’s run down the phrases in its title, simply to point out that it’s in actual fact good. First, there’s “Tanto,” which as everyone knows is a small sword as soon as carried by samurai alongside their longer tachi (I’m sorry, did you not have a samurai sword part as a youth?). Then we get “Enjoyable,” a refreshing time period in a world stuffed with automobiles all the time aiming to out-anger one another. Lastly, there’s “Cross” — and this little automobile really does cross boundaries, with its concentrate on off-road excursions.

Certain, the usual Tanto will get you a lot of the identical gear — both a naturally aspirated three-cylinder making 51 horsepower or a turbo three placing out 63, every paired with a CVT and two- or four-wheel-drive — however the extra road-biased fashions miss out on the Enjoyable Cross’s chunky bumpers and plastic facet cladding. Yeah, the cladding is sweet. If the Citroen Cactus could be praised for it, why not Daihatsu too?

Sadly, because the Enjoyable Cross is a kei automobile, we’ll by no means see it in america. Except, that’s, somebody imports one in 2047, once they change into authorized beneath the 25-year import regulation. If you happen to see me setting a timer, simply thoughts your personal enterprise.