Daihatsu D-Compact 4X4: First Look

Motoring Channel Staff - 15/9/2005

SUVs are popular for their strong, macho image and commanding driving position, and at this years Frankfurt Motor Show there were more SUVs than ever before.

And Daihatsu had one of the smallest.

The idea behind the D-Compact 4X4 is to appeal to people who would rather drive a passenger car on a regular basis due to its ease of handling, but who want the safety of driving an SUV when they are on a snowy or unsealed road.

The D-Compact 4X4 is Daihatsu’s proposal for a new compact SUV, and one of its best features is the way it looks, featuring dynamic and advanced styling.

Wrapped in a stylish body, the D-Compact 4X4 offers pure sport utility capability plus ease of use in town. Reconciling these seemingly contradictory criteria, the D-Compact 4X4 proposes a brand new SUV concept that combines typical SUV strengths with the agility to cope with any road condition and enough manoeuvrability to enable stress-free driving in congested city streets.

The D-Compact 4X4 is not only ideal for off-road driving but also great for negotiating city streets. Thanks to the large diameter tyres arranged at the four corners of the body, the D-Compact 4X4 drives with agility and stability in all kinds of road conditions.

A long wheelbase and super-short overhangs give this car a uniquely proportioned form (and impressive approach and departure angles) that simply oozes presence in any offroad or on-road situations. Powerful bumpers and muscular wheel-arch flares contribute to the D-Compact 4X4’s strong SUV character.

The roomy and comfortable interior features sharp and clear-cut design controls that make operating the vehicle a pure joy. Sit yourself in the driver’s seat and grab the steering wheel, and you will be filled with the anticipation of an exciting drive in the D-Compact 4X4.

Daihatsu's D-Compact 4X4 is powered by a newly developed 1.5-litre engine that’s compact and offers an excellent overall balance. Rich torque in the low to medium rev range ensures powerful thrust for overtaking and in all kinds of driving situations the new engine provides the vehicle with a powerful SUV performance.

The full time 4WD with a centre differential lock is a reliable feature when driving in tricky situations such as over rough terrain and on slippery roads. When cornering, the centre differential lock is activated to prevent the tight-corner braking phenomenon. And when a wheel on one side of the vehicle gets stuck in the mud, the driver can simply turn on the centre differential lock switch and escape easily.

Many people associate a positive safety image with SUVs because of their ruggedness, good visibility and offroad capability, and Daihatsu has attempted to adhere to this image of safety.

For enhanced occupant safety, the D-Compact 4X4 is wrapped in a safety body that provides increased cabin strength and is equipped with safety features including curtain-shield airbags, a soft upper interior and an airbag-cut-off switch.

In addition, VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) is employed to control the movement of the vehicle in all directions for even greater safety. VSC increases safety on slippery road surfaces such as on snow-covered roads or when making sharp turns at high speed. The D-Compact 4X4 also includes state-of-the-art technologies to protect pedestrians, including bonnet hinges, wings and a bonnet that are crushable as well as a shock-absorbing structure.

The D-Compact 4X4’s pedestrian-protection performance proved to be on a par with Euro NCAP’s three-star rating in the tests conducted by Daihatsu.