The original Tanto skipped manuals entirely — every first-generation kei car, naturally aspirated or turbo, left the factory with an automatic only.
Median 138 hp across 82 similar cars
Lead trim: 658 cc EF-VE (58 hp) · up to 63 hp
Daihatsu Tanto first generation L3502003–2007
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Nobody in Burbles has spotted a Daihatsu Tanto first generation L350 yet. See one on the street, point the app at it, and the first card is yours — with your @handle permanently credited on this page.
FactThe original Tanto skipped manuals entirely — every first-generation kei car, naturally aspirated or turbo, left the factory with an automatic only.
The first-generation Daihatsu Tanto, a tall kei car, went on sale on 27 November 2003. The grade levels consisted of L, X and X Limited for the naturally aspirated engine option, and R and RS for the turbocharged option. It was only available with conventional automatic transmissions, with four speeds in most models, while naturally aspirated four-wheel drive Tantos received a three-speed automatic. The Tanto Custom, aimed at younger buyers with a more assertive look, was added in July 2005, with redesigned headlights linked by a translucent grille garnish and clear taillights that extended all the way across the car; the Custom RS also came standard with 15-inch alloy wheels and a leather-wrapped Momo steering wheel. The Tanto FCHV (Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle), based on the Tanto Custom with a hydrogen tank and electric motors, was introduced at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show.
Collectors Spotted in the Daihatsu Tanto Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the Daihatsu Tanto yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
2 published trims in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 658 cc EF-DET turbo (63 hp) | 2003–2007 | 0.7 L Inline-3 | 63 hp | 76 lb-ft | — | — | — | — |
| 658 cc EF-VE (58 hp) | 2003–2007 | 0.7 L Inline-3 | 58 hp | 47 lb-ft | — | — | — | — |
Owning one
We don’t estimate running costs for a car like this. What it costs depends on its condition, its specialist and how it is driven, and an average would mislead.
Owners’ builds
Nobody has claimed one yet.
Photographs
Dealers had orders for 37,000 Tantos within a month, nearly three times Daihatsu's monthly sales target.
The third-gen Tanto's party trick is a pillar that rides along with the door itself — Daihatsu's "Miracle Open Door" system gives the tiny kei car huge, pillarless openings on both sides.
This Tanto has two completely different rear doors: a normal hinged one on the right, and on the left a sliding door that swallows its own B-pillar — Daihatsu called it the "Miracle Open Door."
The original Tanto skipped manuals entirely — every first-generation kei car, naturally aspirated or turbo, left the factory with an automatic only.
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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