Daihatsu Esse
| Daihatsu Esse (L235) | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Daihatsu |
| Production | December 2005 – September 2011 |
| Assembly | Japan |
| Designer | Eiji Murakami |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Kei car |
| Body style | 5-door hatchback |
| Layout | |
| Related | Daihatsu Mira (L275) |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | |
| Transmission | |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,390 mm (94.1 in) |
| Length | 3,395 mm (133.7 in) |
| Width | 1,475 mm (58.1 in) |
| Height | 1,470 mm (57.9 in) |
| Kerb weight | 700–780 kg (1,543–1,720 lb) |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | Daihatsu Mira e:S |
The Daihatsu Esse (Japanese: ダイハツ・エッセ, Hepburn: Daihatsu Esse) is a kei car manufactured by the Japanese automaker Daihatsu. With a base price of ¥680,000, it was one of the cheapest new cars in Japan when launched in December 2005. According to Daihatsu, the name was derived from the Latin root for the English word "essence", but also serves as a backronym for "Eco, Simple and Smart, and Easy".