The fourth-generation Daihatsu Tanto has been on sale in Japan since 2019 and is one of the brand’s best-selling models. The automaker is now expanding its lineup of kei cars with the addition of a new special version with an adventurous style. It joins the standard Tanto, Tanto Custom X, and Tanto Custom RS with the same mechanics but different options and designs.
Compared to the other Tanto siblings, the new Fun Cross features a modified front fascia with a bumper that looks more like an SUV. Gone is the large Lexus-inspired grille from the Tanto, which has been replaced by a sturdier bumper equipped with aluminum guard bars. The top grille in the fascia is also different and the headlights now have slightly different internal graphics.
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Inside the cabin, the changes are not too significant. There are new orange accents on the dashboard and new seat options. The new interior décor was combined with additional exterior colours, including the green and cream colors pictured in the gallery above.
The current Tanto debuted in July 2019 as the most advanced kei car Daihatsu has ever produced. It is based on Daihatsu’s New Global Architecture and generated great interest from customers shortly after its debut. Powering the model is a 0.65-liter three-cylinder engine available in either naturally aspirated or turbocharged form. The more powerful of the two has 64 horsepower (47 kilowatts), while the base engine has 52 hp (38 kW).
The same two mills are now also offered for the Tanto Fun Cross, both sold with a continuously variable transmission as standard. Interestingly, the Tanto, like many other kei cars in Japan, has optional all-wheel drive. We have no information on whether this new, more powerful variant of the small city car has AWD as an option, although that makes sense given the nature and image of the vehicle.
The updated Tanto range is now on sale with an entry-level version starting at 1,386,000 Japanese yen or the equivalent of about $9,555 at current exchange rates. The peak-range costs at least 2,150,000 Japanese yen or nearly $14,900.
