##CSR46 Reviews - Volume 1
The first reviews will be brief impressions based on ads and brochures and anything with glaring issues will be cut. The cars making it through this round will get dealership visits and test drives to find the winner.
Hereâs the first batch of preliminary reviews.
Saturday October 23rd, 1999.
Makoto and Kiko Takahashi are heading out for lunch and an afternoon around the city. With her advancing pregnancy and the impending sale of his beloved Honda Beat, Makoto figured it would be a nice day to go out for some good food and a drive to take a look at some of the current kei car offerings.
So off they go for a nice coupleâs lunch in Shibuya and then for a drive around Minato, where so many dealerships seem to be concentrated. Theyâve already seen some ads for kei cars in the newspaper and on tv, and some have caught their eye, but they figure the best first impression will come from brochures.
As the afternoon turns into evening, theyâve gone to 32 dealership. They head out for another restaurant meal and make their way back to their apartment to look over the brochuresâŠ
@Mr.Computah Contendiente Pulga Mk3
The first brochure in the pile is from Spanish brand Contendiente. Makoto, ever the car enthusiast, was quite surprised to find a kei car from a Spanish company, but he got quite a few such surprises that afternoon. With Contendiente being such an obscure brand in Japan, he made sure to find the small dealership tucked away behind a parking garage after seeing an ad for the Pulga in a magazine.
The first impression for both of them is how classically European it is.
Kiko: I think itâs cute. Itâs like a retro car youâd see in Italy, so different from all those boxy kei cars.
Makoto: Yeah, it reminds me of old Fiats and Saabs. Apparently this brand is known for sporty but economical cars.
It truly looks the part of âA slice of Europeâ but how does it perform? Itâs the standard 660cc turbocharged I4 sending 54 hp to the front wheels through a 5 speed manual transmission. While Makoto likes the sporty feel of a manual, Kiko is a little hesitant about the lowered drivability. After all, with a baby in the back seat they shouldnât have to focus as much on their driving. With the cute looks, fuel economy of 4.27L/100 km and very low price of „917,065 ($8100), the couple places the brochure in the pile of cars theyâll revisit.
@conan Mitsushita Kronos
The next brochure is for the Mitsushita Kronos and it makes the Pulga look like a space age design. It appears that no expense was spared in making the car as authentically retro as possible. The first impressions of the Kronos are not quite as positive.
Makoto: Wow, now this is something different. Imagine driving up in this?
Kiko: Retro style is very popular and all, but I donât find this one as cute. It looks old instead of retro, but I do like that itâs a limited edition design.
Makoto: Letâs see what the rest of it is like, retro can still be forward-thinkingâŠ
This oneâs got a 660cc naturally aspirated I3 sending 41 hp to the front wheels. The floor-mounted 6 speed manual transmission is one of many âauthenticâ retro touches featured inside the car, and the brochure mentions some retro mechanical pieces like the throttle cable. Despite this it is still a technology modern kei car. The fuel economy of 5.43L/100 km and the price of „997,176 ($8800) are both quite average, but thatâs not what has the Takahashis concerned. The styling is much more classical than modern retro, going against their expectations for the new millenium, making the Mitsushita Kronos a car they wonât revisit. And so the brochure gets placed in the pile for the recycling bin.
The Vietnamese Mekon TĂŽt is the next brochure in the pile. Neither of them had heard of the company before, but they came across the dealership surrounded by some strange localised fog and they figured it was worth a visit. Unlike the two retro designs before it, the TĂŽt has a very slick and modern design.
Kiko: This one looks really happy! So cute!
Makoto: Iâve never heard of them before, and that fog was very strange⊠almost like we stepped into a parallel universe.
Kiko: Stop worrying, this looks like a nice car.
As is the norm so far, the TÎt has a 660cc engine under the hood, this one a naturally aspirated I4 producing a measly 38 hp sent to the front wheels through a 5 speed manual. Like both cars before, Kiko is slightly hesitant about the manual while Makoto argues about the soul of the car. This one costs a measly „787762 ($7000), but at the cost of features. The interior is very⊠basic. Even with the low power and missing components the fuel economy is the lowest so far, at 5.51L/100 km. If initial cost was a big concern to the Takahashis the TÎt would be an attractive choice, but as their budget is significantly higher it is too much of a compromise for the low asking price. Into the recycling bin it goes.
@Ornate Accursio Bruco 660
Next in the pile is the Accursio Bruco 660, a retro Italian job based on the 1960 Accursio 600. This was one of the European brands Makoto knew and wanted to check out, especially after seeing mention of a kei car celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 600.
Makoto: Now this oneâs a real Italian car, and of course very retro for the 50th anniversary.
Kiko: Itâs cute, looks like a Pikachu. Also looks to be really small⊠they said theyâd have some at the dealership next week, right?
Makoto: Yes, weâll see it then if the brochureâs good. Letâs just hope they didnât give the new one that Italian reliability.
The 660 is of course powered by a 660cc engine, a naturally aspirated I3, and it sends its 44 hp to all four wheels through a 4 speed manual transmission. The advertised âall-aluminium bodyâ is certainly Italian and better than their famous quality of steel. This oneâs got all the features and still only comes in at „877,793 ($7800). What is astonishing to both of them is the 3.36L/100 km it gets, certainly due to weighing under 700 kg. It all seems too good to be true, so it makes it into the pile worth revisiting.
@Rk38 GBF Reficio 450 S
The Genua-Beneventi Fabbrica Reficio 450 S is the next car to be reviewed. It is yet another Italian kei car, which is quite an unusual trend to see. Of course Makoto was already familiar with the company due to their racing pedigree and he was hoping that would somehow find its way into a family kei car.
Kiko: The Reficio looks very aggressive compared to the others.
Makoto: I think itâs supposed to be sporty. I like how modern it looks.
Breaking the current trend, the Reficio 450 S is powered by a rear-mounted 450cc naturally aspirated I3 powering the rear wheels with a 5 speed manual transmission. Much to Kikoâs chagrin the manual transmission seems to be a trend. The price of the Reficio is „922,808 ($8200) but itâs got quite a basic interior compromising comfort as well as things like power steering not included. Even with the âweight reductionâ it achieves 5.63L/100 km, which is the highest figure so far. Makoto reluctantly places the brochure in the discard pile. Heâd have liked to take it for a spin.
The next brochure to be picked up is the first kei SUV so far. Diode is also only the second Japanese company so far and as theyâre quire renowned for kei cars a visit to their dealership was expected. The A2 has been a common sight on the roads for the Takahashis, so theyâre both interested in seeing what the second generation has to offer.
Makoto: This oneâs quite differnet. Such a clean and modern design.
Kiko: Iâd say itâs more boring than cute but I still like it. I do wonder if we even need AWD.
In terms of performance, the A2-b matches its appearance. Itâs powered by a 660cc naturally aspirated I4 producing 52 hp. Power is sent to all four wheels and uses a 5 speed manual transmission. While the AWD isnât a specific necessity for the city, Makoto figures that it could be useful should they ever decide to drive out into the countryside. The downside of AWD is apparent in the A2-bâs fuel consumption: 7.52L/100 km. The price of „1,080,360 ($9600) seems quite low for an SUV, so along with the practicality of it, and the inoffensive looks. After a bit of convincing from Makoto, Kiko is willing to see if AWD is worth the compromised fuel economy, so the Diode A2-b will test driven.
Next down the list is another Japanese car, the Kagama Daichi XS, but neither Makoto or Kiko knew much about the brand As with many of the cars so far, itâs quite a sleek design.
Makoto: Uhhh⊠itâs certainly different than what weâve seen so far.
Kiko: Even I canât say this is cute. The car looks huge from everything on it being so small.
The setup in this one is quite different, with a 659cc naturally aspirated V6 producing 62 hp sent to the front wheels with a 6 speed manual transmission. Fuel economy seems quite average for the choices so far at 4.74 L/100 km. Beyond the âunconventionalâ looks, the brochure mentions a lot of strange decisions, such as 3 piston front disc brakes and triple overdrive gearing. These needless excesses explains the high cost of „1,192,898 ($10600). All these issues add up to Makoto placing this brochure in the growing recycling pile.
The Kimura Kubik 2XCâs brochure is next in the pile. As one of Japanâs larger manufacturers, a visit to the dealership was necessary. Makoto knew that their last kei car, the K-C660, was a sportscar like the Beat, so when he saw an ad for the new Kubik he knew he had to check it out. Despite being open minded to all kinds of kei cars, the Takahashis still had a soft spot for Japanese offerings. Of course, they made sure that wouldnât sway them when it came time for final decisions.
Kiko: This one is really⊠normal. I do like the green colour on the ad.
Makoto: I personally dislike that colour, but this is interesting. I like the clean and modern look.
The Kubic makes used of a 657cc turbocharged I4 producing 62 hp. Betraying its SUV looks, power is only sent to the front wheels with a 5 speed manual transmission. The fuel economy of 5.06 L/100 km is higher than a lot of the choices so far but still good enough for the Takahashis. Manual transmissions are very popular so far, much to Kikoâs chagrin. Much like Kimuraâs other cars, the Kubik is very average in all ways, including the „979,076 ($8700) asking price, and that makes it attractive to potential buyers. Theyâll be giving the dealership a second visit later.
Next brochure in the pile is for the Nickel Fantastic! Seeing an ad for a kei car by Nickel was strange as theyâre an upscale premium brand more known for building luxo-barges. Nevertheless, the Takahashis went to the dealership to get a brochure for the Fantastic! Maybe an upscale kei car wouldnât be a bad idea?
Makoto: So they didnât have any 2000 models available, only 1999. Maybe itâll still be good?
Kiko: It reminds me of a pug. I like it. Being so upscale should be nice.
Under the hood of the Fantastic! is a 60 hp 660cc I3 using a 5 speed automatic to drive the front wheels. A first of the kei cars the Takahashis looked at is the all premium interior. With the automatic transmission, it makes for quite a comfortable car. The brochure also mentions adaptive dampers for improved comfort, a compromise on the tyically expensive air suspension of American luxury cars. The price of „1,237,913 ($11000) and fuel economy of 5.23 L/100 km make it the most expensive proposition so far. For a car thatâs already a year old, the Takahashis feel that the price isnât worth it, and so Makoto places the brochure in the discard pile.
The Nohda Bop! is the next car to be scrutinised, and itâs another sleek Japanese design. The Bop! is advertised as being an affordable and well rounded car, and so the Takahashis took interest in it. For a Japanese car, itâs got a bit of a European look to it.
Kiko: Wow, this is modern and cute. And I like the fins!
Makoto: Iâd drive this based on looks. Itâs nice and modern. Strange that I havenât heard much about this brand.
The engine in the Bop! is the oldest so far, having been used since 1996, and itâs a 660cc I6 producing 48 hp. Like most other choices of the day, it uses a 5 speed manual transmission and sends power to the front wheels. Other than the choice of an I6, there isnât much to say about the Bop! as the rest is pretty average⊠except for the large alloy wheels. Makoto is a fan of those but Kiko has doubts about the comfort of low profile tires. With a fuel economy of 4.61L/100 km and price of „934,061 ($8300) the financial side checks out. Without any real faults, the Nohda Bop!'s brochure is placed in the pile to be revisited.
@strop MM Espresso F-RX
Matteo Miglia provided the next brochure in the pile. Itâs another of the enthusiast companies Makoto was adamant in visiting after seeing the ad for the MM Espresso F-RX. The ad certainly emphasises the family usage, so it could very well turn out to be a good car for the baby while possibly retaining the fun elements of the Beat. Italian passion and Japanese engineering could prove to be a good combination.
Makoto: Okay, so Iâm very interested in this. The design is nice and modern and the blue reminds me of a certain Moldovan company.
Kiko: The sliding doors certainly seem practical considering it has no back doors.
Makoto: Donât forget that itâs also got two trunks!
The Espresso is unique so far in having a mid mounted engine, which is a 660cc naturally aspirated I3 producing 63 hp. It uses a 6 speed manual transmission to send power to the rear wheels; itâs quite the sporty configuration. Some of the mechanical components, such as rear disc brakes and front drums, are strange but can be attributed to the midship layout. The Espresso is also the fastest car tested so far, with a 0-100 km/h time of 10.7 seconds, yet it still achieves a respectable 4.67L/100 km. The low price of „922,808 ($8200) is a good way to hide its drawbacks. While Kiko isnât entirely convinced that this is the right choice, Makoto insists on test driving it.
The next brochure is for the Smooth Rekii. Itâs another SUV design which seems to be quite popular. Not much is known about Smooth Motors, but an ad promising a smooth ride from a pale blue SUV led to a visit to the dealership for a brochure.
Kiko: This one doesnât look really modern. The front and rear donât match.
Makoto: Yeah, itâs rugged but the front looks 1995 and the rear closer to 2000.
This is the second 660cc naturally aspirated I6 powering the front wheels, though the Smooth uses a 6 speed manual while producing 43 hp. The choice of an I6 would certainly help to give a smooth ride. The rugged design, moreso than the other cars, certainly doesnât match its FWD nature. The economy of 4.91L/100 km is on the good side of average while the price of „1,023,836 ($9100) is on the wrong side of average. While the Takahashis donât feel strongly about the Smooth Rekii they also canât really fault it. Makoto places the brochure with the others worth revisiting.
The next brochure in the pile was immediately obvious as soon as the previous one was taken. Bogliqâs signature blue really stands out in any light and of course it was the default colour for their Nano Qb. The Takahashis were naturally already familiar with the popular Moldovan company as their eyes had already been seared many times before by the blue. The claimed reliability and affordability were attractive points, so they stopped by the local dealership⊠after putting on their sunglasses.
Makoto: I really hope they have some in others colours.
Kiko: Getting over the colour, it looks quite different than anything else. I think I like it.
Makoto: Yeah, itâs certainly modern in its own way.
The Bogliq uses a 660cc turbocharged I4 producing 52 hp with a 5 speed manual transmission sending power to the rear wheels. The availability of a less-than-basic interior on the Nano Qb is certainly appreciated by the Takahashis. After all, they can afford to get some amount of creature comforts in their new car. The brochure mentioned a solid rear axle, which Makoto finds extremely strange for a kei car. The 5.77L/100 km it returns is not all that good when compared to the competition, but the price of „1,124,450 ($10000) is still within their budget. Rather surprising that ever affordable Bogliq ends up being one of the most expensive choices, but it still appears to offer enough to be worth test driving.
The AutoMart AM-1âs brochure is next in the pile. The coupe remember this one from the relaxing and carefree music seen in the TV ad, with the car driving under the cherry blossoms. Other than that, not much is known about the company or the car, but it was still worth stopping by the AutoMart dealership.
Makoto: I really like the look of this one, itâs got the look of many ânew milleniumâ concepts.
Kiko: I donât think itâs the cutest car but I still like it.
The hood of the AM-1 hides a 658cc naturally aspirated I4 that produces 45 hp. Power is sent to the front wheels through a 5 speed single-clutch sequential transmission. Kiko has doubts about an clutchless manual while Makoto proposes it as a compromise between comfort and sportiness. The rest of the car is quite average, including the economy of 4.84L/100 km. The price of „1,092,569 ($9700) is toward the higher end of the spectrum. So much for âHigh Quality, Without the High Price Tag.â While itâs quite average in most regards, the modern styling and lack of glaring faults make it a possible good choice. The clutchless manual, strange as it may be, will get to a chance to prove itself during a test drive.
@abg7 SMG CK60 Eco
The next brochure is for the SMG CK60 Eco. Neither Makoto nor Kiko know anything about this brand; they just happened to notice a small ad for it. They just hope that the SMG isnât a sign that the company specialises in weaponry.
Makoto: Well, itâs a car. A brightly coloured car.
Kiko: The ad says itâs cheerful but it looks more like itâs evil. I donât like it.
The SMG CK60 Eco uses a 660cc naturally aspirated I4 producing 50 hp, which is sent to the front wheels with a 5 speed automatic transmission. This slightly changes Kikoâs mind about it, even if she still doesnât like the looks. The ad mentions all the expected features that are listed in more detail in the brochure, and there really isnât much to say about it. Itâs a car. A car that gets 5.29L/100 km and costs „964,989 ($8600). By simple virtue of being average with an automatic, Makoto places the CK60âs brochure with the others that will be revisited.
