Daihatsu Tanto Exe

Daihatsu Tanto Exe: which version to buy

If you are choosing a Daihatsu Tanto Exe, buy the 0.7 CVT with 64 hp and FWD. Across both catalogue periods it is the quickest measured car in the line: 15.8 s to 100 km/h at 920 kg, with 103 Nm at 3000 rpm. The same 0.7 CVT at 52 hp needs 20.8–21.3 s (FWD) or 22.2–22.6 s (AWD).

If you are choosing a Daihatsu Tanto Exe, buy the 0.7 CVT with 64 hp and FWD. Across both catalogue periods it is the quickest measured car in the line: 15.8 s to 100 km/h at 920 kg, with 103 Nm at 3000 rpm. The same 0.7 CVT at 52 hp needs 20.8–21.3 s (FWD) or 22.2–22.6 s (AWD). The restyling (October 2011–October 2014) did not add a faster engine; it dropped the 58 hp engines and the only 0.7 AT. Fuel consumption, top speed, and prices are not measured in this catalogue, so the choice is power, drive, weight, and 0–100.

Overview: what you are actually choosing between

The Daihatsu Tanto Exe is a Mini 5-doors kei-class hatch sold from December 2009 to October 2014. The catalogue lists 2 entries under `pokoleniy`, but they are one generation: 1 generation (December 2009–October 2011, 7 versions) and 1 generation, restyling (October 2011–October 2014, 4 versions). Every version uses a 658 cm³ Gasoline engine, Inline 3 cylinders, 4 valves per cylinder, Distributed injection (multi-point), fuel 95, a 36 l tank, Independent, spring front / Semi-independent, torsion rear, Disc front / Drum rear. Boost, engine location, compression ratio, bore and stroke, CO2, eco class, gross weight, and wheel sizes are not measured.

What changes between versions is output (52, 58, or 64 hp), gearbox (Variable vs Automatic), drive (FWD vs AWD), kerb weight (890–980 kg), ground clearance where measured (155 or 160 mm), and 0–100.

Generations: what the restyling actually changed

1 generation (December 2009–October 2011) is the only period with three power levels and with a gearbox choice. Seven versions, all Mini 5-doors:

• 0.7 CVT, 52 hp / 38 kW at 7200 rpm, 60 Nm at 4000 rpm, FWD, 20.8 s, 890 kg, clearance not measured
• 0.7 CVT, 52 hp / 38 kW, AWD, 22.2 s, 890 kg, clearance not measured
• 0.7 CVT, 58 hp / 43 kW at 7200 rpm, 65 Nm at 4000 rpm, FWD, 17.9 s, 890 kg, 160 mm
• 0.7 CVT, 58 hp / 43 kW, AWD, 22.2 s, 890 kg, 155 mm
• 0.7 AT, 58 hp / 43 kW, Automatic 4, AWD, 19.4 s, 920 kg, 155 mm
• 0.7 CVT, 64 hp / 47 kW at 6000 rpm, 103 Nm at 3000 rpm, FWD, 15.8 s, 920 kg, 160 mm
• 0.7 CVT, 64 hp / 47 kW, AWD, 16.7 s, 980 kg, 155 mm

1 generation, restyling (October 2011–October 2014) keeps the same Mini 5-doors shell and the same 0.7 CVT name, but the grid shrinks to four versions. The 58 hp pair and the 0.7 AT are gone. Remaining:

• 0.7 CVT, 52 hp FWD, 21.3 s, 890 kg, clearance not measured
• 0.7 CVT, 52 hp AWD, 22.6 s, 890 kg, clearance not measured
• 0.7 CVT, 64 hp AWD, 16.7 s, 980 kg, 155 mm
• 0.7 CVT, 64 hp FWD, 15.8 s, 920 kg, 160 mm

Arithmetic on those 0–100 figures: restyle 52 hp FWD is 0.5 s slower than pre-restyle (21.3 vs 20.8); restyle 52 hp AWD is 0.4 s slower (22.6 vs 22.2). The 64 hp FWD and AWD times are unchanged at 15.8 s and 16.7 s. If you want 58 hp or Automatic 4, you must stay in 2009–2011. If you want the same 64 hp numbers with a later build window, the restyling matches the first period on those two versions.

A 2010 search maps to 1 generation; 2011 sits on the changeover (stop of the first block and start of restyling both sit in October 2011); 2012 maps to restyling only.

Engines and specs

All eleven listed cars share 658 cm³, Gasoline, Inline 3, 4 valves per cylinder, Distributed injection (multi-point), fuel 95. Boost is not measured on any version. Gearbox is Variable except the one 0.7 AT. Specific output on 658 cm³: 52 hp = 79.0 hp/l, 58 hp = 88.1 hp/l, 64 hp = 97.3 hp/l. Torque is the larger split: 60 Nm (52 hp), 65 Nm (58 hp), 103 Nm (64 hp) — +43 Nm from 52 to 64 hp, +38 Nm from 58 to 64 hp, versus only +5 Nm from 52 to 58 hp.

Peak power on the 64 hp 0.7 CVT arrives 1200 rpm lower than on 52 and 58 hp (6000 vs 7200). Peak torque arrives 1000 rpm lower (3000 vs 4000). That is the mechanical reason the 0–100 gap is large even though displacement does not change.

Performance and economy (0–100, mpg, top speed)

City, highway, and combined consumption are not measured on any Tanto Exe version in this catalogue; mpg searches cannot be answered with a number from these data. Top speed is not measured. CO2 is not measured.

Measured 0–100, slowest to fastest:

1. Restyling 0.7 CVT 52 hp AWD — 22.6 s 2. 1 gen 0.7 CVT 52 hp AWD — 22.2 s (tied with 1 gen 0.7 CVT 58 hp AWD — 22.2 s) 3. Restyling 0.7 CVT 52 hp FWD — 21.3 s 4. 1 gen 0.7 CVT 52 hp FWD — 20.8 s 5. 1 gen 0.7 AT 58 hp AWD — 19.4 s 6. 1 gen 0.7 CVT 58 hp FWD — 17.9 s 7. Both periods 0.7 CVT 64 hp AWD — 16.7 s 8. Both periods 0.7 CVT 64 hp FWD — 15.8 s

Spreads: fastest vs slowest is 6.8 s (15.8 vs 22.6). On FWD Variable cars in 1 generation, 64 hp beats 52 hp by 5.0 s and 58 hp by 2.1 s. On AWD Variable cars in 1 generation, 64 hp at 16.7 s beats both 52 hp and 58 hp AWD by 5.5 s — the 58 hp AWD 0.7 CVT does not buy a 0–100 gain over the 52 hp AWD 0.7 CVT (both 22.2 s). AWD vs FWD at 64 hp costs 0.9 s. AWD vs FWD at 52 hp costs 1.4 s (1 gen) or 1.3 s (restyling). The 0.7 AT 58 hp AWD is 2.8 s quicker than the 0.7 CVT 58 hp AWD (19.4 vs 22.2) despite +30 kg.

Dimensions and weight

Body type does not change: Mini 5-doors throughout. Tank is 36 l on every version. Wheel sizes are not measured. Gross weight is not measured.

Kerb weight is three values only: 890 kg, 920 kg, 980 kg.

• 890 kg: all 52 hp 0.7 CVT cars, plus both 58 hp 0.7 CVT cars in 1 generation.
• 920 kg: 0.7 AT 58 hp AWD, and both periods’ 64 hp 0.7 CVT FWD.
• 980 kg: both periods’ 64 hp 0.7 CVT AWD — +60 kg versus the 64 hp FWD, +90 kg versus the 890 kg cars.

Weight per horsepower (kerb ÷ hp):

• 52 hp at 890 kg: 17.1 kg/hp
• 58 hp 0.7 CVT at 890 kg: 15.3 kg/hp
• 0.7 AT 58 hp at 920 kg: 15.9 kg/hp
• 64 hp FWD at 920 kg: 14.4 kg/hp (lightest per hp)
• 64 hp AWD at 980 kg: 15.3 kg/hp (same kg/hp as the 58 hp 0.7 CVT at 890 kg, but 38 Nm more torque and 5.5 s quicker 0–100 on AWD)

Ground clearance is measured only on some versions: 160 mm on 1 gen 0.7 CVT 58 hp FWD, both periods’ 0.7 CVT 64 hp FWD; 155 mm on 1 gen 0.7 CVT 58 hp AWD, 0.7 AT 58 hp AWD, and both periods’ 0.7 CVT 64 hp AWD. All 52 hp cars: clearance not measured. Where both exist, AWD sits 5 mm lower than FWD.

Which version to choose

Default buy: 0.7 CVT, 64 hp, FWD (1 generation or restyling). Same 15.8 s, 920 kg, 160 mm, 103 Nm. Restyling does not change those numbers; it only removes weaker neighbours from the price list you cannot see here. This is the lowest kg/hp (14.4) and the highest specific output (97.3 hp/l).

Need AWD: 0.7 CVT, 64 hp, AWD, not the 52 hp or 58 hp AWD cars. Cost versus 64 hp FWD: +60 kg, −5 mm clearance (155 vs 160), +0.9 s to 100 (16.7 vs 15.8). You still keep 103 Nm. The 52 hp AWD 0.7 CVT is 5.5 s slower in 1 generation (22.2 vs 16.7) and 5.9 s slower after restyling (22.6 vs 16.7), at the same listed 890 kg as FWD 52 hp — AWD here is paid in time, not in the kerb figure.

Do not buy 52 hp unless the car is otherwise the right one. 52 hp FWD is 4.9–5.5 s slower than 64 hp FWD depending on period. After restyling it is the only alternative to 64 hp, because 58 hp is gone.

58 hp is a 1 generation-only middle that is uneven. FWD 0.7 CVT 58 hp (17.9 s, 890 kg, 160 mm) is a real step: 2.9 s quicker than 1 gen 52 hp FWD, 2.1 s slower than 64 hp FWD, only +5 Nm. AWD 0.7 CVT 58 hp matches AWD 52 hp at 22.2 s — extra 6 hp and 5 Nm buy 0.0 s on that pairing. Skip AWD 58 hp 0.7 CVT.

0.7 AT only if you want Automatic 4. It exists solely in 1 generation, 58 hp, AWD, 19.4 s, 920 kg, 155 mm. Versus AWD 0.7 CVT 58 hp it is 2.8 s quicker and 30 kg heavier. Versus AWD 0.7 CVT 64 hp it is 2.7 s slower, 60 kg lighter, and 38 Nm down. There is no FWD 0.7 AT and no restyling 0.7 AT.

Year filters: Tanto Exe 2010 = 1 generation (all seven versions). Tanto Exe 2012 = restyling (52 or 64 hp 0.7 CVT only). Tanto Exe 2011 = either block; match the engine to 52 / 58 / 64 hp and FWD/AWD, not the calendar month alone.

What “extra” buys, in catalogue arithmetic only (no prices): moving 52→64 hp on FWD Variable is +12 hp, +43 Nm, +30 kg, −5.0 s (1 gen) or −5.5 s (restyling). Moving FWD→AWD on 64 hp is +60 kg, −5 mm, +0.9 s. Moving to Automatic is available only as 0.7 AT 58 hp AWD. Colour (including blue) and “Custom” trim are not in these data.

Problems and reliability: this catalogue does not measure failure rates, CVT vs Automatic durability, or AWD servicing. Those searches cannot be answered from the numbers above.

Specification shortlist: if you can take FWD, take 0.7 CVT 64 hp; if you cannot, take 0.7 CVT 64 hp AWD; if you must have Automatic, the only row is 0.7 AT 58 hp AWD in 1 generation. Everything else is a slower 0.7 CVT at the same 658 cm³.