GO
GoAutoLogo
MENU

Make / Model Search

Daihatsu - Charade

Daihatsu Charade (L251S Charade)

L251S Charade

Make: Daihatsu

Model: Charade

Released: Jan 1970

Discontinued: Dec 2005

Daihatsu logo1 Jul 2003

By BYRON MATHIOUDAKIS

This front-wheel drive Charade is like no other Charade before it – in fact it’s a Kei-car that’s made to compete in Japan’s huge sub-800cc narrow city car segment.

Previous Charades were rivals for the bigger Holden Barina class. So performance, handling, ride comfort and refinement levels just aren’t this diminutive car’s priorities.

And nor is design, as the tippy-toed, slab-sided styling shows.

Yet it’s swift, zippy, extremely frugal and fun to throw around – although it’s by no means a keen driver’s car.

Plus it sounds tinny and thrummy – a corollary of its (larger, for Australia) 40kW/88Nm 1.0-litre three-cylinder powerplant and featherweight 720kg – and seats only four.

A four-speed auto and five-speed manual gearbox are available.

Reviews

When it was new

Latest reviews

Motor industry news

GoAutoNews is Australia’s number one automotive industry journal covering the latest news, future and new model releases, market trends, industry personnel movements, and international events.

Catch up on all of the latest industry news with this week's edition of GoAutoNews
Click here