The Daihatsu Mira e:S was rated at 30km/ℓ [71mpg] on the JC08 fuel consumption test. It weighs 1,700lb and is powered by a 660cc i3 engine.
While we believe that the electric car is, most definitely, the future, we understand that the transition isn’t going to be easy. That’s why it’s so encouraging to see even conventional vehicles becoming more fuel-efficient than ever before.
Daihatsu, Japan’s oldest automaker, is already well-known for its lineup of small fuel-efficient vehicles and off-road vehicles. Weighing in at barely 1,700lb and powered by a 660cc i3 engine, the Daihatsu Mira e:S was rated at 30km/ℓ [71mpg] on the JC08 fuel consumption test. Aside from fairly aggressive start-stop technology [SST], the Mira e:S doesn’t include any other fancy [read: expensive] hybrid or electric components.
Achieving 71mpg in a conventional[-ish] vehicle is really tipping the scales for fuel-efficient conventional vehicles, but this car isn’t built for enthusiasts or car-lovers. In order to keep costs down between $11,000 and $15,000, there’s a lot of trimming that Daihatsu had to leave out. This is transportation at its most basic level – four wheels, an engine, and at least two seats.
Even though the Daihatsu Mira e:S was released only two years ago, some improvements are in the works to further trim this already-fuel-efficient vehicle. The new version of the e:S, due in August, is expected to achieve 33.4km/ℓ [79mpg] for the two-wheel drive version. Among other improvements, the engine’s SST is even more aggressive, stopping the engine when vehicle speed gets below 11km/h [7mph], where the previous SST started working at 7km/h [4.3mph].
Real-world fuel efficiency though, is another matter. Some have reported achieving barely 45mpg on the old version, in comparison to the 71mpg rating under the JC08 test. Still, this isn’t a deal-breaker when you consider the small price. I also wouldn’t expect to find this the Daihatsu Mira in the US anytime soon though.
