The Daihatsu Cast stands out in New Zealand as a smart and stylish kei car, offering a balance of compact efficiency, modern design, and everyday practicality. Its high seating position, lightweight build, and versatile interior make it ideal for urban driving. While it shines in city environments, it competes closely with models like the Suzuki Hustler, Suzuki Ignis, and Honda N-Box.

The Daihatsu Cast continues to appeal to buyers looking for a compact car that delivers personality, practicality, and efficiency in one package. Available in multiple versions including Style, Activa, and Sport, it gives drivers the flexibility to choose between a refined city car, a light SUV-inspired look, or a slightly sportier feel. Its compact dimensions make it extremely easy to maneuver in tight urban streets, while still offering a surprisingly spacious and well-thought-out cabin. Fuel efficiency remains one of its strongest advantages, making it very affordable to run on a daily basis. However, while it performs well in its segment, it faces strong competition from the Suzuki Hustler, Suzuki Ignis, and Honda N-Box.

For those interested in buying the Daihatsu Cast, we have prepared a separate Buyer’s Guide with details on what to look out for when buying a used one and the common pitfalls to avoid. Click here to purchase the Buyer’s Guide.

Engine Options

The 2024 Daihatsu Cast comes with a single engine option:

• 0.66L Naturally Aspirated 3-cylinder Petrol engine

(Some variants may include mild tuning differences depending on trim level and drivetrain configuration.)

Transmission Options

The 2024 Daihatsu Cast is equipped with a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) across all variants.

2024 Daihatsu Cast Grades

Daihatsu Cast
Daihatsu Cast Style
Daihatsu Cast Activa
Daihatsu Cast Sport

For a detailed review of these grades and the best pick while buying this car, kindly refer to the 2024 Daihatsu Cast Buyer’s Guide.

2024 Daihatsu Cast Interior

The 2024 Daihatsu Cast interior focuses on simplicity, practicality, and everyday comfort with a clean layout designed for urban use. The dashboard design is minimal yet functional, with easy-to-read instruments and a central infotainment display depending on the trim level. Soft-touch elements are limited, but the materials used are durable and well-suited for daily driving conditions.

The front seats are designed for comfort and visibility, with the high seating position giving the driver a clear view of the road, which is a key advantage in city traffic. Despite its compact size, the cabin feels surprisingly airy due to the tall roofline and clever space packaging.

The rear seating area offers decent space for a kei car, with a practical folding seat arrangement that allows for flexible passenger and cargo use. The seats can be folded down to expand boot space, making it useful for shopping runs or light luggage transport.

Practicality is a strong point in the Cast, with multiple storage compartments placed throughout the cabin including door pockets, cupholders, and small dashboard storage areas. Everything is designed with simplicity and ease of use in mind.

Higher trims of the 2024 Daihatsu Cast come with a touchscreen infotainment system featuring Bluetooth connectivity and smartphone integration support depending on specification. USB charging ports and basic connectivity features ensure everyday convenience.

2024 Daihatsu Cast Exterior

The 2024 Daihatsu Cast features a boxy yet modern design that emphasizes practicality with a touch of personality. Each variant carries its own styling direction, with the Style focusing on a more urban and refined look, the Activa offering a slightly rugged crossover appearance, and the Sport adding a more dynamic visual feel.

The front design is compact and friendly, with simple headlights and a clean grille layout that varies slightly depending on the grade. The Activa version adds protective cladding around the body for a more SUV-inspired look.

The side profile is tall and upright, maximizing interior space while maintaining a compact footprint ideal for tight city environments. Small wheels and short overhangs further enhance its maneuverability and urban-friendly character.

At the rear, the Cast keeps a simple and functional design with vertically positioned tail lights and a wide-opening tailgate for easy access to the boot area. The overall design prioritizes usability over aggressive styling, making it approachable and practical.

2024 Daihatsu Cast Cargo Capacity

The 2024 Daihatsu Cast offers practical cargo flexibility for its size. With the rear seats in use, it provides enough space for daily shopping and small bags. When the rear seats are folded, it transforms into a much larger loading area suitable for luggage, groceries, or light equipment.

The flat-folding seat design improves usability, making it more versatile than its compact exterior suggests. While it is not a large cargo carrier, it performs very well for urban lifestyle needs and everyday errands.

2024 Daihatsu Cast Fuel Consumption

Daihatsu Cast
0.66L Naturally Aspirated fuel consumption: approximately 23.0 km/L
0.66L Turbocharged variants (where available in similar tuning models): approximately 21.0 km/L

2024 Daihatsu Cast Fuel Tank Capacity

The 2024 Daihatsu Cast has a fuel tank capacity of approximately 30 liters, offering a good balance between compact efficiency and practical driving range for city and light highway use.

2024 Daihatsu Cast Ground Clearance

The 2024 Daihatsu Cast has a ground clearance of around 150mm to 160mm depending on the grade, making it suitable for urban roads, speed bumps, and light rough surfaces while maintaining stability and comfort.

2024 Daihatsu Cast Performance

The 2024 Daihatsu Cast is powered by a 0.66L 3-cylinder petrol engine producing around 49 to 52 horsepower depending on the variant, with torque figures averaging around 57 to 60 Nm. The engine is tuned primarily for efficiency and smooth city driving rather than outright performance.

The Cast delivers a light and easy driving experience, making it ideal for tight urban environments. Its compact size and responsive steering allow for effortless maneuvering in traffic and parking situations. The suspension is tuned for comfort, absorbing typical city road imperfections effectively.

Most variants come with front-wheel drive (FWD), while select versions offer all-wheel drive (AWD) for improved traction in wet or uneven conditions. A CVT transmission is standard across the lineup, ensuring smooth acceleration and fuel-efficient performance.

Safety features vary by trim but typically include airbags, ABS with EBD, stability control, hill start assist, and optional driver assistance technologies depending on the model year and grade.2024 Daihatsu Cast Reliability

Daihatsu’s reputation for building durable kei cars extends to the Cast, which benefits from proven mechanical simplicity and reliable engineering. The naturally aspirated engine and CVT system are well-tested, making the Cast a dependable choice for daily commuting and long-term ownership. Regular servicing ensures consistent performance and longevity.

2024 Daihatsu Cast Maintenance Schedule

At 5,000 km the 2024 Daihatsu Cast requires engine oil and oil filter change.
At 10,000 km, a full inspection is recommended including air filter, cabin filter, brake system check, tire rotation, and fluid level inspection.

CVT fluid checks and periodic servicing are important to maintain smooth transmission performance over time.

For a detailed maintenance schedule, refer to the 2024 Daihatsu Cast Owner’s Manual.

2024 Daihatsu Cast Competitors

Suzuki Hustler
Honda N-Box
Suzuki Ignis
Daihatsu Taft
Mitsubishi eK X
Nissan Dayz

For those interested in buying the Daihatsu Cast, we have prepared a separate Buyer’s Guide with details on what to look out for when buying a used one and the common pitfalls to avoid. Click here to purchase the Buyer’s Guide.

If you are looking to purchase the Daihatsu Cast, email us directly via info@newzealandmotors.com, and we will get back to you immediately.