Daihatsu Move Fifth-Generation Minor Change

A couple of months ago, Suzuki Motor Corporation just launched their most fuel efficient Wagon R ever complete with new fuel-efficient features that propelled its fuel economy to 28.8kmpl. Some people say that this fuel economy is sure enough to outwit the Daihatsu Move's 27kmpl fuel economy based on JC08 Mode standards. In such response, Suzuki vs. Daihatsu, the battle for fuel economy supremacy, rages on because in response to the new Suzuki Wagon R's antics, Daihatsu waged everything they've got to make something even more fuel efficient than the new Wagon R.

2013 Daihatsu Move

2013 Daihatsu Move Custom

I mean yes, this is the Daihatsu Move. It's still the fifth-generation Daihatsu Move, the kei car that set a benchmark for fuel economy figures and the car that staged a fight against Suzuki in a war of fuel economy. However, this is no ordinary Move because this is the minor change model for the fifth-generation Move. Even though it's a facelifted model, Daihatsu added some new features, something that no other kei car in Japan comes close. What I heard is that this facelifted version of the Move now comes with SMART ASSIST. My thoughts exactly, folks. This is the first time a kei car has applied this; a braking system similar to Volvo's City Safety and Subaru's Eyesight Ver. 2. Meaning that the facelifted version of the Move can now brake by itself in a near-collision scenario. Don't ask how...

Forgive me, ladies and gentlemen, because this is a very serious first look to this new version of the Move and you know me, I'm wasn't quite serious enough getting to know new cars but for this new Move, things are going to be wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey for now.

Where was I? Oh yeah! You know that in the previous fifth-generation Move, it bears the TNP27 slogan because of its 27kmpl fuel economy thanks to its idling stop feature and CVT. For this updated version can you guess what is the fuel consumption of the 2013 Daihatsu Move? Who says 27? Wrong. 28? Nope. 28.8 like the Suzuki Wagon R? Wrong again, you're getting warmer. It's now 29kmpl! The 2013 Daihatsu Move now returns up to 29kmpl based on JC08 Mode standards! How's that possible?

To tell you why, that's because Daihatsu implemented an updated version of e:S Technology first applied on the Mira e:S. I said it "updated" because they've added CVT Thermo Controller for the first time in a kei car. I have no idea how does the new CVT Thermo Controller works in the 2013 Move but what I heard that this new feature maintains the engine temperature. That's it. Don't tell me how it works...again. That's not my responsibility.

However, with their newly improved idling stop system and newly improved e:S Technology implemented so successful, they've even placed it on the turbocharged Move Custom RS version. In a turbocharged version available only on the Move Custom, this gives about 25.2kmpl of fuel economy.

2013 Daihatsu Move interior

2013 Daihatsu Move Custom interior

So far, so good but we're not out in the woods yet. In terms of pricing, the 2013 Move starts at 1,070,000 Japanese Yen for the X model up to 1,591,000 Japanese Yen for the Move Custom X "Limited SA" model with 4WD powertrain on it. Better take note, idiot boys; IT'S AVAILABLE ONLY IN JAPAN. That's it.

Photo: Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd.