Look back at compact cars that were “a bit different” from the others that appeared around the year 2000
While the 1990s and 2000s saw an unprecedented minivan boom in Japan, compact cars were also a new phenomenon, with many different models introduced by various companies. We look back at the cars that unfortunately lasted only one generation, but whose individuality shone through.
Daihatsu Storia: It was a bit of a departure from Japanese cars
The first Daihatsu passenger car other than the kei-car was the first-generation Charade. The Storia was introduced in 1998 as the (at the time) new face of the 1-liter car class.
The Storia had a mask combining an oval front grille and headlamps shaped like some kind of seed or fruit, and was a bit of a departure from Japanese cars. Daihatsu’s design department seemed to have been in constant contact with Italy for a long time, and the coquettish looks may have been born from such circumstances. The author, who drove a first-generation Fiat Punto at the time, felt something of the atmosphere of the instrument panel.
Although the actual car had some hawkish points, such as the intrusion of road noise into the cabin, it was a neat and easy-to-use practical car with a clean and spacious interior. Incidentally, the Duet was the Toyota version of its sibling.
Mazda Verisa: a hidden long-seller with a taste for style
The Mazda Verisa was launched in June 2004. The news release at the time described it as “a new compact car that offers a sense of quality”. It was built on the same platform as the then second-generation Demio and shared the same 2490 mm wheelbase as the Demio.
So what was the difference between the Demio and this Verisa? The difference is that the Demio was a utility-oriented multi-purpose car that inherited the concept of the first generation, whereas the Verisa was a tailored car that was only for those who were particular about their taste, so to speak, and who were also conscious about their glasses.
When we spoke to the car’s designer, Mr K, at the time, he told us that it was “a car that valued the individuality and quality of a BMW Mini or something like that”, and while the exterior was simple, the interior was fitted with leather seats, a piano black centre panel (minor change cars) and a music HDD, The car was also well equipped with an advanced keyless system (card key). It was also a car for fashionable people, with straps for moving the backrests of the rear seats forward from the left and right sides to the centre for quick and smart operation.
Toyota Ist: the SUV-type compact that came too soon
The Toyota Ist (ist), introduced in 2002, was based on the Vitz. While a car of the same generation was the multi-purpose ‘FunCargo’ with the same origins, the Ist was a ‘too-early SUV-type variant’, or should I say ‘too-early’.
The features of the Ist were a high overall height of 1535 mm (or 1530 mm), combined with large 15-inch diameter tires, making it a very usable car, and the 4WD models (and FWD 1.3L models) had a minimum ground clearance of 175 mm, making it not only a looker, but also a manoeuvrable car.
In my personal opinion, it was also characterised by a simple, friendly style that looked like a Bunbuku tea kettle in the back, and a casually pleasing interior design with a centre console accentuated by two pillars like the Range Rover and R50 ‘Mini’. The MD, CD and AM/FM multi-electronic tuner integrated 2DIN audio system with a built-in MD deck, which could play back up to 320 minutes, is also nostalgic today.
Mitsubishi Colt: shared the platform with the Smart Forfour
It sounds like a litmus test paper, but if you associate the Mitsubishi ‘Colt’ with the names and appearance of 1960s Colts such as the 600, 800 and 1000, then you have been a car enthusiast for quite some time. The ‘newer Colt’, on the other hand, is a revival of the same car name and was introduced in 2002.
But it’s been more than 20 years since the car was first introduced, so if you take 10 years as an ancient era, then it’s already two decades ago. What makes it feel like two decades ago is the fact that this car is based on a platform that was jointly developed at a time when Mitsubishi and Daimler-Chrysler were collaborating. The Smart Forfour was born from Daimler Chrysler at this time.
The styling was the handiwork of Olivier Bouley, head of design at Mitsubishi at the time. The one-motion body was innovative in its way. The interior was also space-oriented, with a 150 mm sliding mechanism for the rear seats. There was also a Ralliart version and a ‘Colt Plus’ with an extended rear overhang (the 2500 mm wheelbase remained unchanged) and more cargo space.
Toyota iQ: An A-segment microcar designed with the European market in mind
A concept car was exhibited at the 2007 Frankfurt Show (and Tokyo Motor Show); a mass-produced version appeared at the 2008 Geneva Show and made its official debut at the Paris Salon that year. This trend alone shows how much emphasis Toyota’s iQ placed on the European market, but with the second generation of the Smart appearing in 2007, it seemed as if it was going to be a big hit !? The iQ was introduced into the microcar market, which was thought to be a booming market.
The most striking feature of this car was its unique packaging, which combined an overall length of less than 3 m (2985 mm) with an overall width of 1680 mm to make it a viable car. The wheelbase was also 2 m short and the front and rear overhangs were trimmed to the limit. The minimum turning radius was a meagre 3.9 m. At the press test drive when the car was launched, a demonstration was held to show that it was even smaller than the Smart.
And surprisingly, it could seat four passengers, plus two more. The petrol tank was low-profile and placed under the floor, and behind the rear seats was the world’s first rear window curtain shield airbag. The engine was a three-cylinder 996 cc, the drive system was FF, and it was a very typical Toyota microcar, with consideration given to quietness, which would normally be discounted.
translated by DeepL