Nissan DAYZ 2020 Review

Good things come in small packages, they say. Well, the bloke who found a venomous redback spider in a small box in the garage wouldn’t describe that as 'good'.

However, the axiom does apply in the car world and seems to sum up the Nissan DAYZ kei fairly accurately.

Indeed, the underpowered but charming Nissan kei-car left a smile on my dial after punting it around Tokyo. And it’s far and away more pleasing than a redback bite.

Powered by a tiny 0.66-litre (660cc) three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, the boxy van-like micro machine is no speed demon. But it is frugal. We recorded fuel economy of 5.2L/100km, which is fairly good considering most of the testing was inner-city, stop-start driving.

But it's not just the engine that's efficient. The DAYZ has the sort of intelligent interior design for which Japan is famous. It milks all three physical dimensions and squeezes every last cubic centimeter of space out of the footprint.

The Nissan DAYZ car is taller than it is wide, 1.66m versus 1.47m, which means there's loads of head room. This also creates an open, airy sensation inside the car. By way of comparison, a Fiat 500 is 1.5 tall and 1.63m wide.

The DAYZ's narrow hips also mean, however, you'll be cozying up with your co-pilot (not always a bad thing!). But it's not so squeazy that you constantly feel compelled to engage in small talk about the pros and cons of libertarianism.

The back seats are likewise accommodating, even for taller passengers and a sliding seat base provides surprising levels of legroom. While this can translate as an issue for cargo space, there's a huge secret compartment under the floor that can swallow backpacks whole.

Up front there no less than three latching drawers, a soft zip-up compartment, two cup holders, two bottle holders and more incidental storage solutions than Ikea. To describe the interior layout as 'very good' would be like calling the Dalia Llama cluey...

The various controls are sensibly laid out and there's a hint of creativity with common touch points, like the temperature controls. These touches add a little eye-candy to the already cheery cabin.

Indeed, this miniscule Nissan may be small in stature, but it's big on charm. A palpable sense of glee washes over as you step into it thanks to its unique design and clever layout. From the outside, you think "Oh Lord, this is going to be claustrophobic". But the reality is the exact opposite.

The basics, too, are sound. Seat comfort is good and it comes with all the mod cons, like keyless entry and exit, automatic headlights, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, push-button start and a touch-screen infotainment system with de rigueur high-pitched commentary.

The Nissan DAYZ is no NASCAR but it is an entertaining chariot with which to bolt through Tokyo.

It's tight turning circle (9.0m kerb-to-kerb) made three-point turns and tricky intersections a doddle. It’s no surprise the DAYZ's compact size affords access to the sort of places most Aussie SUVs could only dream about.

Tight laneways and cramped carparks? Easy as. You can get two of these little fellas in one regular car spot.

Surround-view parking cameras are handy – but almost superfluous, given the vehicle's tiny footprint. Anyone with a fear of parking will be cured after zinging around in one of these.

Light steering loads ensure the car is effortless to control and a slightly elevated seating position and upright windows create a platform that delivers excellent visibility. It's fair to say the Nissan DAYZ is about as intimidating (to drive and look at) as a fluffy toy.

Ride comfort could be a little smoother and was somewhat firm over rutted surfaces and roadworks but overall, passengers are well looked after.

Throttle response isn't amazing but the car is light, weighing just 890kg. This ensures adequate acceleration during city driving of up to around 60-70km/h.

Any faster and things can get interesting. Merging with traffic on the highway or trying to keep up with a V6-powered camera car proved challenging.

The compact three-pot turbo mill bangs out a paltry 47kW at 5600rpm and while 100Nm of torque ain't much thrust, it kicks in at low revs (2400rpm) which gives it a hint of impetuosity off the line.

But fuel efficiency is the name of the game here, which is important when the fuel tank is just 27 litres -- about a quarter of the size of a Nissan Patrol. We saw figures as low as 3.4L/100km with careful driving, rising to 5.2L/100km after a few full-throttle launches.

Another fuel-saving tactic is the choice of a continuously variable transmission (CVT). While it dulls the driving experience and manipulates the engine in a way that creates an awful droning noise, the reality is that folks looking to buy a box-on-wheels are not putting driving enjoyment at the top of the list.

The Nissan DAYZ is smaller than, well, pretty much anything you can buy from a new car dealership in Australia.

But what exactly is a kei-car? Simple: any vehicle that measures less than 3.4m long, 1.48m wide, has an engine smaller than 660cc that generates no more than 47kW.

Kei-cars are also the smallest passenger cars that can legally travel on the highway in Japan (although we did see go-karts!) and this one has a top speed of 140km/h – claimed, not tested.

Because of their low emissions, small size and light weight, kei-cars get special tax and insurance dispensations in Japan, making them cheaper to buy and run. This is why in 2018 roughly a third of all new cars sold in Japan were kei-cars.

Interestingly, the van-like super-compact cars such as the Nissan DAYZ and Honda N-Box were among the most popular. With their Tardis-like cabins that seem to defy physics, it's not hard to see why.

So, would Nissan DAYZ work in Australia? No, not really, and here's why.

Let's start with the paper-thin doors. They not only impart a sense of fear in terms of safety but also allow in road noise.

The DAYZ does have the safety essentials, such as six airbags, anti-lock brakes, autonomous emergency braking and stability control, but it would be unlikely to attain a decent ANCAP safety score in Australia. The only safety credentials it has is four-star JNCAP rating from 2013.

To its credit the Nissan ProPilot add-ons that include radar cruise control and lane keep assist are pretty neat but ultimately they wouldn’t push the car over the line for safety-conscious Aussie buyers.

Small-car sales in Australia are dwindling too. A vehicle like the Nissan DAYZ is the exact opposite of what car buyers are demanding Down Under. Good things may (sometimes) come in small packages, but size matters Down Under. Ahem.

Nonetheless, the Nissan DAYZ makes a lot of sense when you consider that it evolved within a megacity. It's a simple, affordable mode of transport you can park in a bicycle rack.

As the smallest and least powerful car I've driven in a decade, the Nissan DAYZ still has its charms. Like the venom of a spider bite, it’s left a lasting mark.

How much does the 2019 Nissan DAYZ cost?
Price: $17,000 (approx)
Available: Now (in Japan only)
Engine: 0.66-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 47kW/100Nm
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Fuel: 5.2L/100km (as tested)
Safety rating: Four-star JNCAP (2013 Year)