Daihatsu Rocky
The Rocky was the only SUV sold by Daihatsu in the US, besides the Charade minicar. It was sold from 1989 to 1992, when Daihatsu was pulled from the US market.
Daihatsu Rocky Overview
Daihatsu Rocky is the name used for several different vehicles over the years, manufactured by Daihatsu, a Japanese automaker. Depending on the market, the name “Rocky” might refer to different vehicles, but I’ll give an overview of the most commonly recognized ones.
The first generation Rocky was a compact SUV that was also sold under several different names in various markets starting in 1989 through to 2002. In Europe, it was known as the Daihatsu Sportrak, while in the U.S., it was marketed as the Daihatsu Rocky. In Japan and other Asian markets, it was called the Daihatsu Rugger. It came with various engine options, including petrol and diesel, with both manual and automatic transmissions available. It had a ladder-frame construction typical of rugged SUVs and had a part-time 4WD system.
In 2019, Daihatsu reintroduced the Rocky name for a compact crossover, which is quite different from its rugged predecessor. This newer Rocky is based on Daihatsu’s New Global Architecture (DNGA) and is aimed at modern city driving rather than off-road ruggedness. It is closely related to the Toyota Raize, as Daihatsu and Toyota have a business relationship and often share platforms and models for different markets. It’s a smaller crossover, typically equipped with a 1.0L turbocharged 3-cylinder petrol engine.
Daihatsu Rocky US Sales Data & Charts
US Monthly Sales
| Year | Sales Units |
|---|---|
| 1988 | 0 |
| 1989 | 295 |
| 1990 | 4,354 |
| 1991 | 2,761 |
| 1992 | 19 |
