2012 & 2013 Daihatsu Van Reviews & Ratings

Japanese automaker Daihatsu is known for its small vehicles and off-road vehicles, but it creates bigger vehicles as well. Many of Daihatsu's small vehicles are known as kei cars (or kei jidosha) in Japan. Daihatsu is famous for its commercial utility vehicles in addition to its kei cars. One such vehicle is the 2012 Gran Max Mini Bus (van)- the only van currently in the brand's lineup. Though Daihatsu has announced it will pull out of Europe by 2013 (due to an extremely strong yen value's im... (full review continues below)

Japanese automaker Daihatsu is known for its small vehicles and off-road vehicles, but it creates bigger vehicles as well. Many of Daihatsu's small vehicles are known as kei cars (or kei jidosha) in Japan. Daihatsu is famous for its commercial utility vehicles in addition to its kei cars. One such vehicle is the 2012 Gran Max Mini Bus (van)- the only van currently in the brand's lineup. Though Daihatsu has announced it will pull out of Europe by 2013 (due to an extremely strong yen value's impact on exports), the company will continue to produce vehicles in Japan. Daihatsu previously pulled out of the Australian market in 2005.

The 2012 Daihatsu Gran Max compact, 5-door minivan was first introduced in 2007 by Daihatsu Indonesia. The Gran Max is based on the Daihatsu Hijet "semicab" and is wider and longer than this kei-car based model. The Gran Max is also available in a truck variant and is sold as the Toyota LiteAce in Japan. The Gran max van comes in four different variants: the Gran Max Mini Bus 1.3D, the 2012 Gran Max Mini Bus 1.3F, the Gran Max 1.3 F, and the 2012 Daihatsu Gran Max MiniBus 1.5D. The Gran Max comes with front-wheel-drive (FWD), a naturally aspirated charge system, an indirect injection fuel system, multipoint fuel-injection, and Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i).

The Gran Max is available in Panel and Glass Van variants, the latter of which has several more windows. It comes in several color choices, including White, Black, Silver Mica Metallic, Champagne Metallic, and Dark Blue Mica Metallic. There are also three interior color choices. The Gran Max van is roomy enough for any job or adventure. It includes an extended cargo space with a short overhang and a long wheelbase design- with very little wheelhouse intrusion. And, despite its large cargo space, the Gran Max has a 9.4 kerb-to- kerb and 10.m wall-to-wall turning circle.

The 2012 Daihatsu van holds a 1.5-liter petrol engine featuring DVVT technology and a five-link Coil Spring Suspension. A four-speed full-automatic or forward five-speed manual transmission are offered for the Mini Bus. Drivers can feel comfortable and safe in a comfortable driver's seat position that creates a car-like driving experience. The Gran Max van is available in several countries in Asia (Brunei, Malaysia), the Middle East (Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, Yemen), and Africa (Algeria, Egpy, South Africa, Sudan). It is not, unfortunately, available in North or South America, or in Europe. The Gran Max is available for around RM 60,000. The Gran Max has a top speed around 94 mph and reaches zero-to-sixty in 13.4 seconds. Daihatsu vans (and vehicles in general) are known for their eco-friendly, superior craftsmanship. Some of the most famous Daihatsu models ever include the 1957 SKC truck ,the 1962 MPS Midget, the 1980 Mira compact car, the 1968 Daihatsu P-5 racing car, and the sleek 1963 Daihastsu Sport. For those drivers looking for lot of cargo space and reliability, however, the 2012 Daihatsu Gran Max is a superb choice.