Seventh-Gen Daihatsu Move Debuts With DNGA Base & Sliding Doors

New seventh-gen Daihatsu Move launches in Japan as a Kei car still, but it now rides on a new DNGA base.

Despite a two-year delay caused by a certain scandal its makers want you to forget about, the new seventh-generation Daihatsu Move mini-MPV finally debuted in Japan this week. You may remember this nameplate’s second-gen model as the Perodua Kenari prior.

One of the Toyota-owned Daihatsu brand’s staple and popular Kei class nameplate returns, this time underpinning the Daihatsu New Global Architecture (DNGA) platform base. Borne out of the new base too is an all-new and fresh exterior design.

A key new feature in the new Move are its dual sliding doors.

The latter sees the new Move finally make a clean break from its past by adopting new dual sliding doors for the first time – something this mini-MPV lacked prior. This also brings a higher degree of practicality to the Move and keeps it on par with the rivalling Honda N-Box.

Except for the entry-level L grade, these sliding doors are both powered and boasts a ‘touch-and-go’ lock system in the higher-end X,G, ands RS grades instead.

The Move continues to be classified as a Kei class vehicle, hence its unchanged 3,395 MM total length.

What remains is its 3,395 MM total length, thus allowing it to retain its Kei class model status. What’s changed within this though is the 2,460 MM wheelbase figure, marking a slight increase from its predecessor here in fact.

The Kei class status is again confirmed by the model's continued adoption of 658cc in-line 3-cyl petrol mills. Whilst the mill’s naturally aspirated version in lower-end grades offer 51 HP, a turbocharged version with 64 HP is also available for higher grades.

Both mills are mated with a CVT automatic transmission only, and Daihatsu offers both front- (FWD) and all-wheel-drive (AWD) driveline options too.

With the range-topping RS, this also doubles up as the sporty-flavoured offering in the range. In turn, this also sees it gain sport-tuned suspension plus variant-specific 15-inch wheels.

Visually, the new seventh-gen Daihatsu Move dons a sleeker new face featuring slim headlights, a ‘friendlier’ front grille design, as well as a sportier front bumper with decorative intake-like elements.

Though the sliding doors dictating a tall-roof design, the side profile is now sharper and more sculpted, and there are both clearly defined lines and a wraparound greenhouse.

On board, the cabin seats four occupants, and the seats can be folded and reclined to form a double sofa bed.

Lastly, at the rear, this new Move also rocks new L-shaped taillights design, a lightly curved rear windscreen, and a rear bumper brimmed with distinct faux triangular vents.

Whilst on style still, Daihatsu offers 13 colour-and-trim combinations with slight variations, as well as additional personalisation options. Included are exterior and interior add-ons bundled together in the optional Dandysport and Noble Chic styles.

Moving into the cabin, the Move continues to rock a utility-focused design with a slew of storage solutions primed. There are four seats brimmed, and these can be folded and reclined to create a double sofa bed for long-trips or light camping trips.

In Japan, Daihatsu plans to shift up to 6,000 units of the Move monthly, and all will be produced at the marque's plant in Oita prefecture.

In Japan, the new Daihatsu Move is now open for orders with a starting base price of ¥1,358,500 (approx. RM39,945) in base-spec FWD form before topping out at ¥2,044,000 (approx. RM60,123) in range-topping AWD flavour.

Set to roll out of the marque’s plant located in the Oita prefecture, Daihatsu is aiming to shift up to 6,000 units of the new Move monthly across Japan.