Daihatsu Cast Style and Cast Activa

It's a casting call for Japan's kei car maker Daihatsu as they've unveiled the new Cast range consisting of the Style, which is more of a successor to the Mira Gino and targets the Honda N-ONE, the Activa, which replaces the Terios Kid and targets the Suzuki Hustler, and a third one coming next one, which I believe to be the target of Suzuki's Alto Turbo RS.

But in the meantime, let's focus more on the two Cast models available for launch, starting with the Cast Style.

2016 Daihatsu Cast Style

2016 Daihatsu Cast Style interior

The Cast Style mimics the look of the old Mira Gino, which is known to be a poor man's Mini Cooper since the Nissan V_r_t_ (sorry, some letters blocked due to search query reasons), and it's a prime target for the female demographics in their adulthood because what they want for a kei car that something more of an accessory rather than a tool. For the Style model, it truly caters the very occasion with its Mira Gino-inspired looks, basic interior design, a choice of three interior accents, and an optional Diatone Sound System Plan with lots of extras too much to mention.

Powering the Cast Style is a choice of a KF-VE4 660cc engine that promises 30.0km/L of fuel economy and a KF-VET 660cc turbo engine with a fuel economy of up to 27.0km/L, all mated with a CVT gearbox and Daihatsu's fuel-efficient e:S technology derived from most kei-cars. Of course, you can opt in for a four-wheel drive variant when things get a little slippery but that 4WD system is best to be equipped to the next Cast lined up.

2016 Daihatsu Cast Activa

2016 Daihatsu Cast Activa interior

This is the Cast Activa, the crossover variant of the Cast and while it may not be as good as the Suzuki Hustler rival in terms of fuel efficiency, it's still the best looking of the kei crossovers. Since the Activa targets solely for the outdoorsy type of youth looking for some R&R, the exterior is well-themed to be more adventurous as well as the darker shade of its interior.

Like the Style model I've mentioned, the Activa is still powered by a choice of a KF-VE4 660cc engine that promises 30.0km/L of fuel economy and a KF-VET 660cc turbo engine with a fuel economy of up to 27.0km/L, all mated with a CVT gearbox and Daihatsu's fuel-efficient e:S technology. Whoa, did I just mentioned that from above? Well, you get the idea but that turbocharged variant of the Activa is incredibly 0.2km/L more than the turbocharged Suzuki Hustler, so it's a dead heat between the two Japanese kei crossovers.

For most models it comes with a very sophisticated front suspension setup, simple monocoque chassis, "D assist" power steering switch that can be turned off or on to take fate of the Cast's handling capabilities, and exclusive for the Activa; the Downhill Assist Control, which helps the Activa to be more efficient in the case of driving downhill.

With safety as its priority one; all Cast models come with Daihatsu's Smart Assist II consisting of Emergency Stop Signal system, Lane Departure Warning, Pedestrian Detection, and many other safety tech offered for these models.

The Cast Style starts from 1,220,400 to 1,641,600 Yen while the Cast Activa starts from 1,220,400 to 1,647,000 Yen respectively, so it is quite much when compared to Honda's N-ONE and the Suzuki Hustler but because these two are showing their ages, best to have one of these and see how the new Cast speaks to you as your starter car if you got yourself a driver's license for the first time.

Photo: Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd.