Daihatsu Taft Kei Car Cars
The Daihatsu Taft Kei Car Turbo is a compact, lightweight vehicle designed with urban mobility and efficiency in mind, making it an intriguing option for New Zealand drivers navigating both city streets and rural roads. As a kei car, it conforms to Japan’s strict size and engine displacement regulations, featuring a small turbocharged engine typically around 660cc. This small yet efficient powertrain provides adequate performance while maintaining impressive fuel economy — a crucial factor given New Zealand's variable fuel prices.
Measuring approximately 3.4 metres in length and under 1.5 metres wide, the Taft is highly manoeuvrable on tight urban streets and ideal for narrow lanes commonly found in older New Zealand towns. Its compact dimensions also facilitate easy parking in busy areas like Auckland or Wellington. Despite its modest exterior size, the Taft offers practical interior space due to smart packaging, accommodating up to four passengers comfortably along with reasonable cargo capacity.
Turbocharging enhances the car’s responsiveness, enabling quick acceleration suitable for urban stop-start traffic as well as faster rural highway travel on New Zealand’s open roads where speed limits often range between 80–100 km/h. The suspension is tuned to balance comfort and control over uneven road surfaces such as rural gravel roads or urban potholes prevalent throughout the country.
Safety features generally include basic modern standards such as airbags and anti-lock brakes, though more advanced safety technology might be limited due to its kei car status and focus on affordability. Given New Zealand’s diverse weather conditions, including frequent rain, the Taft's small but sturdy frame coupled with responsive handling contributes positively to driver confidence.
Overall, the Daihatsu Taft Kei Car Turbo presents an economical and practical solution for drivers seeking efficient daily transport with ease of use suited for New Zealand’s mix of urban environments and scenic country routes.

