Kei trucks are some of the smallest but mightiest vehicles you may encounter. They may appear cute but these vehicles punch well above their weight in terms of capability. Today we review a Suzuki Carry, and you will learn all about these amazing vehicles and what they can do.
The Carry is a 'Kei Truck', which means 'light truck' and is a commercial flatbed truck sold in the Japanese Domestic market. They are inexpensive, small, durable and incredibly versatile. Read on to find out more.
The Carry has been a staple model in Suzuki's lineup since aeons ago in 1961. The current model, designated DA16T, is the 11th generation and was released in 2013.
If you would like know more about what Kei Cars are all about in general, check out this post.
I'll give you a rundown of it's features along with my thoughts and experiences, and I may just convince you to buy one.
Variations and Trim Levels
The Carry is available in Japan in two variants and multiple trim levels.
There are two main models, the standard Carry, and the Super Carry. The Super Carry version has extra space behind the seats for storage or reclining, at the expensive of reduced cargo space.
The different trim levels provide options for Gearbox (Auto or Manual) 2WD/4WD (including low range option), and the addition of AC and power steering.
For more details on individual grades, please see the Suzuki website, don't forget to translate the page if needed!
First impressions
When you first lay eyes on the Carry it doesn't necessarily strike you as diminutive unless its parked next to something else for reference, or you are simply accustomed to much larger cars. 30 years ago you would not have blinked at the size.
Studying the exterior, the front with its flat face is dominated by a large windscreen, grille and lights. There is a refreshing lack of sharp angles resulting in a friendly and innocent look. Behind the cabin, the deck looks simple and utilitarian, and poking your head underneath, a lot of the workings are on display, from the leaf spring rear suspension, to the drive shaft, gearbox and engine.
When I first climbed in and took to the driver's seat it felt a little like a toy. It just felt like it would be fun to drive. You sit reasonably high up and the large windscreen gives you a wide field of view with a sense of being close to the action, certainly something as a motorcyclist I felt at home with. With all the glass, the cabin is very light and open with no feelings of claustrophobia like I now experience in our much larger SUV with its long sloped windscreen and dark interior.
It didn't feel cramped either. I sat for a few minutes wondering what to do, there really isn't a whole lot in here. It's simple, basic and functional and in the next section we will take a closer look at the interior.
Interior
The interior is incredibly basic. Its refreshing. It screams utilitarian. Every detail is functional and designed for ease of use and low maintenance. There really is not much to it. 2 seats, a plastic centre console and a dashboard and the standard controls; a steering wheel, handbrake, gear shifter and 3 pedals.
The dash consists of a central vertical stack that houses the Stereo, climate controls and a few storage holes. The climate controls are old-school knobs that you can operate without taking your eyes of the road, unlike the annoying touch screen controls found on most modern cars. The centre console below houses two cup holders, the gear shifter, a proper handbrake and yet more storage pockets. No armrest, but in a manual I never really miss having one. Especially one with short gearing, you are rarely off the gear stick for long.
On the passenger side you have a generously sized glovebox, an airbag and a shelf above the glovebox. The shelf is angled down away from the passenger, so that your items do not slide out. Simple attention to detail. The top of the dash is the same in this regard if you ever need to use that as additional storage.
Over on the driver side you have a nice large but thin polyurethane steering wheel that's comfortable to hold, with some more storage cubbies to either side. A central gauge cluster that comprises of a large clear analogue speedometer and warning lights, with a digital odometer than has trip modes and even a nifty oil change indicator that comes on every 6 months. There are no buttons on the steering wheel and the stalk controls are nice and basic. With auto lights you really only need to use the indicators and wipers. The lights have beam height adjustment to be able to compensate for a heavy load too.
The seats are two-piece, a back and a base. They have minimal padding and are covered in a grippy fabric that feels water resistant and is easy to wipe down for low maintenance. Headrests are fixed to the back cabin wall. The Driver's seat has a pocket in the back, and there is a small space behind both seats that could be utilised for storage in a pinch, like stuffing a rain jacket there just in case.
The windows operate with manual winders like the good old days, no more fussing around with a button to get the window open to just the right amount. It's a bit of a reach across to the passenger one if you want that one down too. Best not to try that when moving.
The lower areas of the interior are lined with a durable plastic over the metal chassis. This means if needed you can take a hose to it without worrying about wet carpet. Vacuuming is easier too, trying to vacuum 'normal' car carpet is a nightmare, the way it grabs onto dirt and doesn't want to let it go! I tend to just wipe it all down along with the plastics and it rarely takes more than a few minutes.
There is zero insulation for the cabin that I can tell, with a lot of exposed chassis visible on the inside, and the door cards are literally just plain flat panels with door handles and window cranks and rudimentary armrests.
The original stereo was an amusing basic head unit with an inbuilt speaker. Everything sounded like AM radio. It was truly awful. I did like the stock stereo for the simplicity, but it was radio only and driving is the only time I get to listen to music. An aftermarket bluetooth head unit and a pair of 4'' 2-way speakers replaced it. In the top of the dash there is provision to install the speakers and navigating speaker wires through was a doddle. In the small cabin this stereo setup is plenty adequate and with drastically improved sound quality.
There is no central locking or push button start here. It's rather liberating going back to unlocking with a key (unless in total darkness) and turning a key in the ignition. To lock the doors you flick the locks on the inside, and hold the door handle up when closing. It's really not that more inconvenient than a 'modern' car, except the passenger has to wait for you to reach across and unlock their door. And it is possible to lock the keys inside, for those too young to not have worried about this before, be careful!
An Immobilizer is also absent, so for security I use (and recommend) a steering lock. I picked up a compact one that I chuck in the passenger footwell when not in use, and it's small enough that it's not in the way of the passengers feet. It's a decent deterrent along with being a manual, and it's hardly a theft magnet anyway.
All in all I love how basic it is. Everything just works and you have confidence it's always going to, without flashy systems and screens that are all interlinked that can render a modern car immobile when something stops working. The interior is a doddle to keep clean too. It's like owning a classic car without all the downsides.
Comfort
You would think that a tiny car and being 6'2 wouldn't mix. They didn't initially but soon it became perfectly comfortable. Let me elaborate: I bought the car from a dealer a good 40 km away, not usually a lengthy drive using the motorway, but given it was a brand new engine and a small one at that, motorway driving was not conducive to a good running in. Instead, it was an hours drive through urban areas with lots of traffic lights. I have bad knees from running, and they would often be quite sore. That first drive, having my knees at a much steeper angle than I'm used to was extremely uncomfortable. I quickly got used to it, in fact thinking about it, my knees haven't hurt in ages, so perhaps it's actually been good for strengthening the knees.
The driving position is very upright, the seat backs have limited recline if the base is pushed all the way back meaning you feel almost ramrod straight. Once again it feels rather unnatural at first but quickly it becomes normal and even comfortable - my back is probably thanking me as it improves my posture from all the times slouching on the couch.
Ergonomics-wise everything is nice and in reach. The shifter is just the right height. There's nothing blocking the handbrake for hill starts, and the steering wheel size and angle is just right for resting your hands on or doing tight maneuvers. AC controls we touched on previously, and of course the stereo is within easy reach with your left hand.
All in all, if you aren't a particularly large human being or over 6'2 tall it is perfectly comfortable to nip around in all day once you get used to the different position. I wouldn't want to do a long boring slog for 3 hours down a motorway, and to be fair you wouldn't be doing that in this car anyway.
Performance and Driving experience
There is a perception that Kei cars are slow. That would be accurate. They are slow. But they are far from incapable or unusable. Or quite as slow as you might think.
Drivetrain
The Carry, being a commercial vehicle for carrying heavy loads and navigating rough roads is geared very short. The motor is tuned for less peak power and more torque, the result is that it can accelerate rather well, and is by no means ponderous to get up to speed around town. Don't forget its very light when unladen.
The 660cc 3-cylinder is responsive and eager and happy to rev, though given the short gearing you can get upto speed easily without going much over 5000 rpm. The R06A engine does have VVT, so when you get up there in the revs, it stays nice and smooth, pulling cleanly to nearly 7000 rpm. Using all those revs is really only necessary for a motorway on-ramp for either 3rd or 4th gear, then it will happily cruise at 100-110kph a bit over 5,000 rpm.
3-cylinders are always noisier than 4 cylinders, it's just a characteristic of a triple. In a car with little insulation the engine can be loud and even a little enerving at first, particularly going 80 kph or above it gets considerably louder combined with the wind noise. Just turn up the music or open the windows and enjoy.
The 5 speed gearbox provide a nice solid positive feel when shifting, though sometimes it's a bit stiffer for reasons unknown, and possibly a characteristic of this individual vehicle. I had Suzuki check it out and the 'box oil changed and shift linkages greased, and they said its fine. I'm just nitpicking. The heavy shift knob was nicely shaped but textured plastic like the steering wheel. It would get a bit clammy and sticky from sweaty palms I suppose, I changed for a super smooth round Monster Sport one, which was also lighter, providing more feel when moving across the gate, as well as being more comfortable to hold.
1st Gear is very short. It should be labelled as a low ratio gear. Taking off in 1st gear, the moment you have some forward movement you already have to dip the clutch and grab for second, which if you have impatient cars behind you gunning off the lights, they may get caught off-guard by your sudden drop in momentum. 2nd gear feels like what 1st gear on most cars does, and it's far easier to take off in second as long as it's not on any incline, then use 1st with your handbrake, naturally.
I have not used the 4WD system but checked that it works - simply press the 4WD button on the dash and you'll hear a vacuum pump activate to lock the front hubs putting you into 4WD. My model has no low range selector. Considering the small wheels and lack of ground clearance, the 4WD usage would be used for light rough tracks, and not for 'proper' offroading.
Handling
The Carry handles like a dream. Providing you drive it as designed. It's light, flickable and turns on a dime (3.6m turning radius) Combined with it being a little noisy and a little bouncy it really is quite a fun and engaging driving experience.
The 12'' wheels have narrow but tall tyres on them that provide a cushy ride most of the time. Potholes can hurt though as the smaller wheel size is less able to skip over a hole than a larger wheel is. There are a few colossal deep pot holes near my house and as the Carry is so narrow, I can easily navigate around them whereas in other cars I have to option but to drive through them.
Suspension is struts and springs on the front, and leaf springs on the back. Leaf springs are to cater for the potentially heavy loads, and when unladen the back end is a bit light. It's only noticeable when turning out of an intersection in a hurry in the wet, with the brief sound of spinning tyres and the traction control light flashing on the dash reminding you there's not a whole lot pushing your drive wheels down.
The Carry's weakness is when combining wind and speed. A motorway trip at 100kph with strong gusting side winds can be a harrowing experience that you need to keep your wits about you. Similar to a motorcycle but safer. However, dropping some speed to 80-90 kph and you get buffeted far less.
Practicality
Practicality and utility are the Carry's trump cards. It is what it does. It's why it exists.
The deck on the standard Carry is 1.94m long and 1.41m wide, the overall m2 is the same as a double-cab Toyota Hilux! Impressive for a small vehicle. The decks on most utes, being so large and tall for that rugged 'manly' look, is the loading height is very difficult to use. Not so with the Carry, its low height (around a sitting height) with low sides (29cm) help make it ultra easy to use. I've done a few trips to Bunnings to load up with stones and bark for the garden, and it was the easiest loading/unloading I've ever done with a vehicle.
The deck itself on the Carry is superb. It's all steel, base and sides. The base is ribbed and has holes in each corner for water drainage. The sides fold down 180 degrees for easy loading. They can also be removed entirely, though I have not tried this. There are tie down hooks all the way around, and the latches feel nice to operate, smooth with a firm and positive lock.
The 'tower' at the front provides more utility for leaning and securing long or tall objects to, and on either side under the deck there are steps so you can step-up to tie your load. A nice detail.
Suzuki sell rubber deck mats to protect your cargo / deck paint, but any rubber sheet cut to size will do the job. Suzuki also sells the tarp-type covers which are essential for keeping your cargo dry and away from prying eyes.
New Zealand has a lot of opportunist criminals, so cargo security is important if parking and leaving items unattended. The cabin would not be ideal for leaving something valuable in plain sight, nor even a covered deck if someone was audacious enough to have a look. A lockable tool box is essential, I found a heavy duty weatherproof plastic one that almost matches the deck width perfectly. Great for securing the shopping.
The small size gives the Carry yet more practicality. Simply put, it can fit and maneuver in places other cars cannot. Parking is a joke. It's so easy. With carpark spaces getting smaller and cars getting bigger, reverse parking is generally the only way to park
well. With the Carry though, you can just drive on in, no worries. The lack of bonnet and the tight turning circle means you can almost turn on the spot and put the Carry anywhere you want.
I was once blocked in at work. There were 2 cars parked behind me, and a carry sized gap between them (with about an inch to spare on either side), the problem was I had no room to maneuver to line up for the gap. Solution; 2 guys lifting the back end and turned the car 20 degrees, lined me up and away I went. Now how many cars can you do that with?
Safety features
Safety isn't the first thing the comes to mind with a Kei Truck, but it does have Driver and Passenger Airbags along with ABS.
Being small, nimble and engaging to drive for me are the main safety features. It's power (or lack of) mean you are never going to be taken by surprise or lose control, and being a manual keeps you far more focused than driving an automatic.
Fuel Economy
What constitutes good fuel economy is subjective, ask a Prius owner and a Prado owner and you'll receive two wildly different answers.
My real-world fuel economy: 6.5L/100km
I would call this reasonable given its mixed driving including some motorway, and I don't try particularly hard to be economical. Advertised economy is 5.3L/100km, but that is under perfect conditions and the stated economy is rarely achievable on any vehicle.
Don't forget it has a small engine, small wheels, low gearing and the aerodynamics of a brick. All things considered not bad at all.
Tested model upgrades
I've done a number of upgrades that improve the Carry:
- Suzuki under-tray Tool Box - bolts directly under the tray, fits lots of useful things such as tie downs, tools, first aid kit and is lockable.
- Suzuki rubber floor mats - not really needed given the plastic floor cover, but perhaps a bit more padding underfoot.
- Mckee Plastics Deck cargo box - perfect size for the Carry, weather proof, quiet and lockable. Great for keeping shopping secure and dry.
- Pioneer BT Stereo and speakers - original stereo had a speaker built into the head unit. Better sound and hands free calling is a must!
- Suzuki cargo 'green sheet' - for that genuine Japanese farmer look. Keeps your tray contents dry and out of sight.
- Pivot OBD2 Tachometer - with no factory tacho and an engine that sounds like its always working hard due to being a 3 cylinder, a tacho is useful as least until you get used to the car.
- Suzuki Weather shields - for those wet humid days to get some fresh air
- Rubber tray mat - protects the bed underneath as well as your cargo.
- Rubber Gate and tower trims - protects any cargo that you rest on the gate edges.
- Rear gate chains - to lay the back gate flat for longer loads
- Phone holder for dash - for navigation.
- Black wheel covers - just for looks.
How much do they cost?
The current price for a new one of this spec in Japan, with full factory warranty is ¥1,269,400, which at today's very favourable exchange rate of ¥98 to $1, is around $12,950 NZD.
In NZ, my Carry was $21,000 NZD for a 'new' import (delivery mileage of 14 kms).
You are probably wondering why they is such a huge markup on the pricing. Firstly, I doubt export/import car sales companies are able to buy new vehicles much cheaper if at all than domestic consumers. Secondly, from research into importing my own individual cars, the cost of getting a car to NZ with all taxes and checks paid was around $7,000 NZD. One could presume that companies importing a lot of cars would have that price down a fair bit, but its still an expensive exercise.
Is it good value, and what are the alternatives?
Ignoring the fact that they are much more expensive to buy in NZ than in Japan, I'd still say yes they are good value. Around 20k for what is almost a brand new car, that is tough and simple is exceptional value indeed.
For farmers, a side by side is more expensive and has much less cargo carrying capacity, no weather protection and cannot be driven on the road. A Kei truck wins hands down. Older models selling for around $10k NZD are viable alternatives to quad bikes too.
The Daihatsu Hijet is really the only competitor to the Carry currently, and is an appealing option especially given it looks more modern both inside and out. However, key considerations and ones I took when deciding between the two was that the Carry (5MT) is a tad more powerful and has slightly more drivers legroom, which is important if you are over 6' tall.
Verdict
The biggest endorsement I can give is that I would buy another. When we move to Japan and buy new cars, a Carry will be very high on my list, particularly if the very cool
Super Carry X is still available. I would love Suzuki to put the turbo engine in it, much like the Every Van. It would make the auto a more viable option.
I love the Carry, I really do. Reluctantly I have to part ways with it due to needing to carry a Car Seat. Technically the Carry could, but it's just not a great idea.
I've also never owned a vehicle that has had so many random strangers go out of their way to tell me how cool my truck is. If you want to be different, this is a great car for it, maybe even for a business promo vehicle.
I couldn't recommend the Carry if you drive a lot and it's your only vehicle, unless you were happy with its downsides and not travelling long distances at speed. For me it's a second vehicle, used for pottering around, running errands and being able to transport my own furniture home.
For a work, farm or trade vehicle it's a great option as you'd expect, it's a flatbed truck shrunk down.
Scores are hard to come up with as I could not measure it the same way you would a 'normal' car, for example, it would score very low on interior features, as it lacks many things that are standard on other cars nowadays (electric windows, cruise control, infotainment etc..) , but it's the lack of these things which add to its appeal. So no scores unfortunately. It's a car you can take at face value.
The Suzuki Carry, brilliantly simple and eminently practical.
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