![This Daihatsu Atrai is a shrunken Alphard with RWD and an engine in the middle 01]()
The Toyota Alphard is one of the most recognisable cars on the road and the art of imitating the luxury breadbox on wheels seems to be prevalent in Japan. It might be one of the most popular cars in the land of the rising sun but if you want to get around some of the tightest streets in the world, smaller Kei boxes on wheels, like the Daihatsu Atrai are a better fit.
![This Daihatsu Atrai is a shrunken Alphard with RWD and an engine in the middle 02]()
The Atrai appeals more to the masses than its more commercial-oriented twin, the Daihatsu Hijet which was given a brand-new generation in late 2021. The Hijet is one of Daihatsu’s first Kei vehicles and its oldest nameplate dates back all the way to 1960.
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![This Daihatsu Atrai is a shrunken Alphard with RWD and an engine in the middle 01]()
The regular Atrai looked like any Kei van but at the 2022 Tokyo Auto Salon, Daihatsu brought out the Atrai Premium Ver which turns it into an Alphard that has been introduced to a shrink ray.
Also read: These 5 Chinese copycats look like the Toyota Alphard but cost as much as an Innova
![This Daihatsu Atrai is a shrunken Alphard with RWD and an engine in the middle 02]()
Perhaps it’s the Pearl White paint job and the massive black front grille that enhanced the uncanny resemblance to the bigger breadbox from another mother. Besides the black trims, the Atrai Premium is also lowered by 50 mm and comes fitted with 16-inch wheels for that VIP treatment.
Also read: A VIP's choice: Used Toyota Alphard (AH30) from RM 150k. Expensive to repair?
![This Daihatsu Atrai is a shrunken Alphard with RWD and an engine in the middle 03]()
Inside, the mini-Alphard comes with a white interior, further enhancing the premium but cool theme of what is usually seen as a commercial vehicle.
![This Daihatsu Atrai is a shrunken Alphard with RWD and an engine in the middle 04]()
The Atrai sits on the Daihatsu New Global Architecture (DNGA) Kei car platform much like the Daihatsu Taft and the Daihatsu Tanto. It retains the mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive (RWD) layout of its predecessors but being a Kei vehicle, the only engine offered is a turbocharged 3-cylinder 660-cc KF-DET unit (64 PS/91 Nm) paired to a D-CVT gearbox.
Also read: With CVT, the 2022 Perodua Myvi facelift is just as quiet as the Ativa!
![This Daihatsu Atrai is a shrunken Alphard with RWD and an engine in the middle 05]()
Besides RWD, the Atrai is also offered with four-wheel-drive (4WD) and there is even a little pick-up variant called the Atrai Deck Van.
![This Daihatsu Atrai is a shrunken Alphard with RWD and an engine in the middle 06]()
Unlike the Spacia Custom that we featured before, the Daihatsu Atrai Premium Ver is only a concept and Daihatsu has no plans to enter its baby Alphard into production. The non-premium Atrai starts from JPY 1.56 million (~RM 53k) but surely some aftermarket specialist might have ideas in offering their own take on turning this Daihatsu into a blinged-out minivan.
Also read: The Suzuki Spacia Custom is a little Kei car that pretends to be an Alphard
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