Tag Archives: Kei-Car

NEWS

Honda N-BOX still remains the best-selling car in Japan

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Despite Honda’s overall sales figures being difficult to surpass those of the Japanese giant Toyota, at the very least, Honda has managed to prove that it can be the best-selling model there.

The model in question is the Honda N-BOX kei car.

Yes, this boxy car is not only popular among kei car enthusiasts here, but it also holds a significant name and can outshine its competitors.

According to a report from Response JP, the Honda N-BOX recorded sales of 102,226 units during the first half of the fiscal year 2024 (April-September), marking an increase of 1.8 percent compared to the same period last year.

This makes the Honda N-BOX the best-selling car for the third consecutive year!

The second place is held by the kei car Suzuki Spacia (80,179 units), followed by the Toyota Corolla (77,030 units), and the Toyota Yaris (73,052 units).

Impacted by the safety scandal issue, the popular car Daihatsu Tanto dropped three ranks to sixth place, with sales of 53,177 units, marking a decrease of 26.3 percent.

An interesting point coming from the Land of the Rising Sun is the rather slow transition rate to EVs, where EVs only make up 1.3 percent of new vehicle sales, marking a decrease of 0.6 percent.

NEWS

Subaru Chiffon Try is a cute yet rugged kei-car for outdoor enthusiasts

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The Subaru Chiffon is a kei car based on the Daihatsu Tanto that has been available in the Japanese market since 2016.

Thanks to a growing interest in outdoor lifestyles, Subaru has now introduced a more rugged version of the Chiffon known as the Chiffon Try.

While the basic shape of the Chiffon remains unchanged, the Try version sports a more robust appearance brought about by a skid plate and black plastic accents on the front bumper, rear bumper, and sides.

Additionally, the car also comes equipped with roof rails. For colour options, there are 11 choices available, including five new colours: Black Mica Metallic/Lake Blue Metallic, Black Mica Metallic/Sand Beige Metallic, Black Mica Metallic/Forest Khaki Metallic, Lake Blue Metallic, and Forest Khaki Metallic.

Measuring approximately 3,395 mm in length, 1,475 mm in width, 1,755 mm in height, and with a wheelbase of 2,460 mm, the Chiffon Try is unmistakably compact.

However, egress and ingress is an easy affair due to the lack of B-pillars. Subaru coins this particular design as the “Miracle Open Door,” which also incorporates electric sliding doors for added convenience.

The interior design is not significantly different from the base version; however, as a variant tailored for outdoor activities, the Chiffon Try features water-resistant upholstery on all seats.

Additionally, the Chiffon Try offers a flexible seating configuration, allowing the front seats to slide back up to 540 mm. The front seats can also be fully reclined, enabling passengers to rest or to accommodate longer items like surfboards.

To maximise rear legroom or cargo space, the rear seats can also slide up to 240 mm.

Powering the Chiffon Try is a 660 cc three-cylinder engine that generates 52 PS and 60 Nm of torque. A CVT is responsible for delivering power to the front wheels, with an all-wheel-drive (AWD) version available for customers as an alternative.

Pricing in Japan starts at 1,665,000 yen (approximately RM48,171) for the 2WD version and 1,765,000 yen (approximately RM51,064) for the AWD version.