1988 DAIHATSU Rocky Hardtop 2.8L Turbo D 5MT AWD (91 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Along with the more affordable and less-powered Feroza, Daihatsu offered the Rocky as a better option.

There are 4×4 pickups that could take a Rocky in their beds and cross them over some water beds where the little Daihatsu could draw or float away. But there are forests where the same big rig would be stuck in no time, and the agile Japanese off-roader would squeeze without a problem between trees. Nevertheless, it was easier to live with the Rocky inside a city than with a full-size pickup.

Daihatsu tried to make its way into the U.S. market with the Rocky. It started from the same wedged shape Feroza, but it changed the front fascia. Unlike its European cousin, the Rocky featured smaller, rectangular, headlights and its flat grille was slightly taller. Its widened wheel-arches followed an angular design. Daihatsu’s designers sculptured a line that crossed the car from headlights to taillights to make the car look slightly better than a cube.

Inside, there was room for four adults, but with limited-slip legroom for those sitting in the back. At least, the carmaker thought about them and offered the Rocky with pop-out windows. The trunk was big enough to hold two happy-meals and a WD40 can. Due to its size, Daihatsu had to install the spare-wheel on the trunk’s door.

Daihatsu installed a 2.0-gasoline engine supplied by Toyota, and, for specific markets, it added a 2.8-liter diesel on the offer. All versions sported a 4×4 transmission.