Daihatsu Tanto FunCross Is An Adventurous Kei Car For The Urban Jungle

Kei cars may be a curiosity for the rest of the world but in Japan, they retain their popularity, with automakers offering a variety of different options in terms of design. In this context, Daihatsu unveiled a new version of Tanto kei car – the “FunCross” that looks ready for urban wilderness.

The fourth generation of the Daihatsu Tanto was unveiled in 2019, alongside the Subaru Chiffon twin. The basic model is retained for 2023, but Daihatsu facelifted the Tanto Custom giving it a massive Lexus-style grille alongside more chrome, new wheels, and fancier colors. More importantly, the lineup is expanded with the addition of the Tanto FunCross which is probably the coolest of the bunch.

See Also: All-New Daihatsu Hijet Cargo And Atrai Van Debut In Japan, Alongside Updated Hijet Truck

The Daihatsu Tanto (left/up) compared to the Tanto Custom (left/down) and the Tanto FunCross (right). Note that each trim is visually differentiated with a redesigned bumper, grille, and headlights.

The Daihatsu Tanto FunCross is not the first kei car that adopts crossover-style cues, as many automakers including Suzuki and Mitsubishi already offeri similar vehicles in the Japanese market. Compared to the standard Tanto, the FunCross sports new bumpers which are mostly covered by plastic cladding in a quest to make the vehicle look rugged.

A similar treatment was chosen for the grille and the side moldings – likely inspired by Citroen’s Airbumps. Other FunCross-specific elements include the aluminum-style skidplates, the LED headlights, the roof rails, and the dark-finished alloy wheels. Daihatsu has also released two accessory packages – the “Rugged” and the “Casual Active” which bring more personalization options when it comes to exterior design.

Inside the four-seater cabin, the FunCross gets vivid color accents on the dashboard and the door cards, a camouflage pattern for the seat upholstery, and a waterproof treatment for the cargo space and the rear seatbacks. The 9-inch infotainment touchscreen and the high-mounted digital instrument cluster are retained from the regular Tanto, as with the automatic sliding rear doors and the driver’s seat that can slide all the way back.

Practical features like the USB charging port at the back, the extra storage compartment under the boot, the interior lighting, and the optional roof rack make camping trips easier, despite the tiny footprint of the vehicle which measures 3,395 mm (133.7 inches) long, 1,475 mm (58.1 inches) wide, and up to 1,775 mm (69.9) inches tall.

The Tanto is based on the DNGA platform, just like an array of other kei cars from Daihatsu including the Taft, the Move Canbus, the Hijet, and the Atrai. Under the tiny bonnet lies a 658cc three-cylinder petrol engine producing 51 hp (38 kW / 52 PS) in naturally aspirated form, or 63 hp (47 kW / 64 PS) in turbocharged form. A CVT transmission sends power to either the front (2WD) or to both axles (4WD).

Daihatsu has yet to announce pricing for the new Tanto variants, but they are expected to be slightly more expensive than the regular Tanto which is priced between ¥1,243,000 ($9,072) and ¥1,787,500 ($13,045) depending on the configuration.