1995 Daihatsu Mira TR-XX Avanzato R4: A Tiny, Turbocharged, All-Wheel-Drive Kei Car

The Daihatsu Mira TR-XX Avanzato R4: A Quirky Kei Car

• 🇯🇵 This 1995 Daihatsu Mira TR-XX Avanzato R4 is a high-performance version of a tiny Japanese hatchback, notable for its performance upgrades within the Kei car regulations.
• 📏 Kei cars in Japan must adhere to strict dimensions (under 134 inches long, 660cc engine, 63 horsepower or less), with this model pushing those limits.

Performance and Engineering

• 🚀 The TR-XX Avanzato R4 features a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine producing exactly 63 horsepower, a significant upgrade from base models.
• ⚙️ It boasts an 8500 RPM redline, a limited-slip differential, and a rare all-wheel-drive system for a Kei car, enhancing its handling capabilities.
• 💨 Despite its upgrades, the car weighs only around 1,500 lbs, contributing to its nimble feel.

Exterior Design and Features

• 🏎️ The exterior showcases a sporty body kit, dual rear spoilers (one with an integrated, offset tailgate handle), and tacked-on fender extensions.
• 🎨 Distinctive pink "TRXX" badging is present, along with "Avanzato R4" on the rear bumper, reflecting its performance focus.
• 💡 The front features large fog lights integrated into the body kit, resembling a junior rally car, and an off-center license plate mount due to radiator placement.

Interior Quirks and Comforts

• 💺 The interior includes heavily bolstered seats with "Avanzato" stitching and unique, colorful floor mats with the Mira badge.
• 🪵 Surprising wood trim accents are found on the center console and climate control switches, adding a unique aesthetic.
• 🥤 The climate controls offer "cool," "mild," or "off" for AC, with "mild" being an unusual option. Small, flimsy cup holders are hidden behind a "drink holder" panel.
• 🪙 Coin holders are present in the passenger door panel where rear window switches would typically be, indicating cost-saving measures for models without power rear windows.
• ⚠️ A mechanical piece hangs down into the passenger footwell, and a slot for a road flare is integrated into the trim, a common feature in Japanese cars of the era.

Driving Experience and Verdict

• ⚡ The car feels peppy and eager, with surprisingly little turbo lag and a responsive powertrain for its size.
• 🛣️ While it doesn't feel substantial and the ride can be jarring over bumps, it offers predictable and solid cornering thanks to its AWD and LSD, with no noticeable torque steer.
• 👍 The shifter and clutch are noted as good, and despite its small size, the car punches above its weight class, providing genuine driving fun.
• 💯 The Daihatsu Mira TR-XX Avanzato R4 receives a DougScore of 39/100, praised for its lively feel, decent handling, affordability, practicality, and the unexpected "wow factor" of its AWD system.