2020 Daihatsu Rocky Small SUV Is The Toyota Raize’s More Serious Twin

Yesterday we brought you photos and information of the 2020 Toyota Raize, a new small SUV for Asian markets.

Today it’s time to take a look at the model on which the Raize is based, the Daihatsu Rocky. Reviving one of the brand’s most recognizable nameplates, the all-new Rocky was on display at the Tokyo Motor Show but Daihatsu was really secretive about it.

The vehicle didn’t even have Rocky badges on it but we now know that the small SUV shown at the event is indeed the second-generation Rocky. Its cover was blown by a set of photos posted on Instagram showing several Rocky-badged SUVs on a transporter.

Also read: Daihatsu Reveals Four Quirky Concepts For Tokyo, Including A Possible Jimny Rival

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4HAfNFFpFI/

Previewed to some extent by the 2017 DN TREC Concept, the 2020 Daihatsu Rocky looks slightly less aggressive than its Toyota-badged twin, adopting a more conventional face with a much smaller grille.

The proportions are less sporty than those of the aforementioned concept but overall the Daihatsu Rocky looks decent, if a bit generic. Based on the DNGA platform, the SUV is 3,995-mm (157.3-in) long, 1,695-mm (66.7-in) wide, and 1,620-mm (63.8-in) high, with a wheelbase of 2,525 mm (99.4 in). To put these dimensions into perspective, the Rocky is shorter and narrower than the outgoing Nissan Juke, while a bit taller.

The interior is identical with the Toyota Raize minus the badging, obviously. There’s a sizable central display atop the dashboard, a digital instrument panel, and a relatively low number of physical buttons.

Power comes from a 1.0-liter turbocharged three-cylinder gasoline engine rated at 98 PS (97 HP) at 6,000 rpm and 140 Nm (103 lb-ft) of torque between 2,400 and 4,000 rpm. The engine is mated to a CVT that sends power to the front wheels. There’s no mention of AWD and that’s a shame given that the original Daihatsu Rocky offered it.