Daihatsu Thor Grade Guide: X vs G vs G Turbo vs Custom — All Differences Explained

Japan's tall-wagon family hauler, decoded grade by grade. Five trims across two body styles, two engines, and one platform shared with the Toyota Roomy and Subaru Justy — here's exactly what separates them, and which one is worth your money.

📅 Current Model: Second-generation Thor (since Nov 2016, facelifted Sept 2020) 🚗 Grades: X · G · G Turbo · Custom G · Custom G Turbo 🇯🇵 Japan Domestic Market 🚪 Twin Power-Sliding Doors, 5-Seat Mini MPV

What Is the Daihatsu Thor?

The Daihatsu Thor is a compact, tall-body mini MPV with sliding rear doors, built on the same M700 platform as the Daihatsu Boon. It launched in Japan on November 9, 2016, as the successor to the Coo, and slots in just below the Toyota Sienta in Toyota's minivan hierarchy. Despite looking kei-car-sized at a glance, the Thor is not classified as a kei car — its exterior dimensions and 996cc engine both exceed Japan's kei regulations, though the small engine still keeps annual road tax modest.

What makes the Thor unusual is how many badges it wears. The same car is sold by Toyota as the Roomy (and, until 2020, also as the Tank through Toyota's Toyopet and Netz dealer channels), and by Subaru as the Justy. Following a 2020 dealer network consolidation in Japan, the Tank nameplate was discontinued and folded into the Roomy, leaving Thor, Roomy, and Justy as the three names in use today — all mechanically identical, differing mainly in grille, bumper, and taillight design.

The Thor lineup splits into two distinct looks: the standard Thor, with a simpler chrome-accented face, and the Thor Custom, a sportier, more heavily brightwork-laden version with its own front-end styling, aimed at buyers who want the practicality of a sliding-door mini MPV without the "family wagon" look.

Grade Lineup at a Glance

Prices and fuel economy figures per Daihatsu's official Japan-market pricing page. Hokkaido-region pricing runs slightly higher across all grades due to cold-weather specification.

The Two Engines — Naturally Aspirated vs Turbo

Every Thor grade uses a version of the same 996cc inline-3 "1KR" engine family, but the state of tune differs sharply depending on whether you pick a Turbo grade or not.

1.0L 1KR-FE · Naturally Aspirated (X, G, Custom G)

• Displacement: 996cc inline-3, DOHC, VVT-i
• Output: approximately 69 PS / 91 Nm
• Transmission: CVT, available in 2WD or 4WD
• Fuel economy: 18.4 km/L WLTC (2WD) / 16.8 km/L (4WD)
• Best for: buyers doing mostly flat, urban driving where outright power matters less than running cost

1.0L 1KR-VET · Turbocharged (G Turbo, Custom G Turbo)

• Displacement: 996cc inline-3 turbo, same block as the NA unit with a lowered compression ratio
• Output: 98 PS (72 kW) / 140 Nm
• Transmission: CVT, 2WD only — no 4WD offered on Turbo grades
• Fuel economy: 16.8 km/L WLTC
• Note: this is the same 1KR-VET turbo engine used in the Daihatsu Rocky's 4WD grades, here tuned for front-wheel drive only in the Thor

The turbo effectively adds the torque of a much larger engine to a small, light body — a meaningful difference for a fully loaded family car climbing a highway on-ramp or a hill with five people aboard, where the naturally aspirated version has to work noticeably harder.

Full Grade Breakdown

X — Entry Grade

From ¥1,742,400 (2WD)

• 14-inch full wheel caps
• Colored front bumper, chrome hood garnish
• Multi-reflector halogen headlamps (manual leveling)
• Single-dial analog meter
• Urethane 3-spoke steering wheel with chrome ornament
• Full fabric seats, black x ash-brown interior

The X is the value pick — simple lighting and a single-gauge cluster, but the same core platform and safety equipment as every other grade in the range.

G — Mid Grade

From ¥1,939,300 (2WD)

• 14-inch full wheel caps
• Colored front bumper, chrome hood garnish
• Full LED headlamps (manual leveling, clearance lamp, position and turn functions)
• Self-illuminating twin-dial meter with tachometer
• Urethane 3-spoke steering wheel with chrome ornament and silver accent
• Full fabric seats, black x ash-brown interior

The step from X to G is almost entirely about lighting and instrumentation — full LED headlamps and a proper twin-dial gauge cluster with tachometer replace the X's halogen lamps and single dial.

G Turbo — Performance Grade

From ¥2,065,800 (2WD only)

• Same core equipment as the G grade (14-inch wheel caps, full LED headlamps, twin-dial meter, chrome-accented urethane steering wheel, fabric seats)
• Distinguishing feature is entirely under the hood: the 98 PS 1KR-VET turbo engine in place of the G's naturally aspirated unit
• 2WD only — no 4WD option

If you want more low-end pull for hills, highway merging, or driving with a full load of passengers, but don't need the Custom's extra brightwork, G Turbo is the grade to look for.

Custom G — Upper Trim, Sport Styling

From ¥2,118,600 (2WD) / ¥2,294,600 (4WD)

• 14-inch aluminum wheels (versus wheel caps on the standard Thor)
• Chrome front grille, large colored aero bumper (front), Custom-exclusive chrome hood garnish
• Full LED headlamps with auto-leveling (clearance lamp, position and turn functions)
• Self-illuminating twin-dial meter with tachometer, Custom-exclusive design
• Leather-wrapped 3-spoke steering wheel with chrome ornament and silver accent
• Full fabric seats (water-repellent treatment), all-black interior

Custom grades wear a completely different, more aggressive front fascia versus the standard Thor, plus genuine alloy wheels and a leather-wrapped wheel — this is the trim most buyers picture when they think "Thor Custom."

Custom G Turbo — Top Grade

From ¥2,257,200 (2WD only)

• 15-inch aluminum wheels (the largest wheel size in the lineup)
• Chrome front grille, large colored aero bumper (front), Custom-exclusive chrome hood garnish
• Full LED headlamps with auto-leveling, clearance lamp, position and turn functions
• Self-illuminating twin-dial meter with tachometer, Custom-exclusive design
• Leather-wrapped 3-spoke steering wheel with chrome ornament and silver accent
• Full fabric seats (water-repellent treatment), all-black interior
• 98 PS 1KR-VET turbo engine

The Custom G Turbo combines the sportiest styling in the range with the strongest engine, at the cost of losing the 4WD option and paying the highest price in the lineup.

Full Feature Comparison Table

✓ = Standard/Available | ✗ = Not offered. Features sourced from Daihatsu's official grade pages (daihatsu.co.jp/lineup/thor).

Thor vs Toyota Roomy vs Subaru Justy — Same Car, Three Badges

If you're cross-shopping, know this upfront: the Thor, Roomy, and Justy share the same M700-based platform, the same two 1.0L engines, and the same interior dimensions. The differences are cosmetic — each brand gets its own front bumper, grille, and taillight treatment, and the Custom-equivalent grades share styling cues across brands (Thor Custom's bumper design is shared with the Roomy and standard Justy, for example). Toyota also sold a third badge, the Tank, until 2020, when it was discontinued as part of a Japanese dealer-network consolidation and folded into the Roomy lineup.

Standard vs Turbo — Which Engine Should You Choose?

• Choose the naturally aspirated 1.0L (X, G, or Custom G) if you drive mostly flat, urban routes and want the lowest running costs — this is the majority of Thor buyers.
• Choose the 1KR-VET Turbo (G Turbo or Custom G Turbo) if you regularly carry a full load of passengers, live somewhere hilly, or do more highway driving — the extra torque is the difference between confident merging and hunting for revs.
• Note the 4WD trade-off: 4WD is available on X, G, and Custom G, but not on either Turbo grade. If you need both 4WD and the turbo engine, the Thor doesn't offer that combination — you'll have to pick one priority over the other.

Which Grade Should You Buy?

💴 Best for Lowest Cost

Choose the X grade. Halogen headlamps and a simple single-dial cluster keep the price down, but you still get the same platform, safety equipment, and 4WD option as every other non-Turbo grade.

⭐ Best Value in the Standard Range

Choose the G grade. Full LED headlamps and a proper twin-dial gauge cluster with tachometer are a meaningful upgrade over the X for a modest price step, and 4WD remains available.

🏆 Best for Style

Choose the Custom G. Alloy wheels, a Custom-exclusive chrome grille and aero bumper, auto-leveling LED headlamps, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel give it a distinctly sportier look than the standard Thor, while keeping the 4WD option.

⚡ Best for Performance

Choose the G Turbo if you want the stronger engine without paying for Custom styling, or the Custom G Turbo if you want both the strongest engine and the sportiest look — accepting that both Turbo grades are 2WD only.

Importing a Daihatsu Thor

For buyers sourcing a Thor from Japanese auction, a few identification points matter:

• Front bumper and grille shape are the fastest way to separate standard Thor from Thor Custom at a glance — Custom wears a chrome grille and larger aero bumper versus the standard model's simpler colored bumper.
• Wheel type and size narrow it down further: wheel caps (any size) mean a non-Custom grade (X, G, or G Turbo), 14-inch alloys point to Custom G, and 15-inch alloys point to Custom G Turbo.
• A tachometer-equipped twin-dial cluster rules out the base X grade, which uses a single-dial gauge.
• Confirm 2WD vs 4WD before bidding on a Turbo-badged unit — both G Turbo and Custom G Turbo are 2WD only, so a "Turbo 4WD" listing should be treated as a red flag worth double-checking against the chassis data.
• Remember that identical cars may be listed under the Toyota Roomy, Toyota Tank (pre-2020), or Subaru Justy nameplate — cross-referencing the chassis number and grade code against Daihatsu's own equipment charts is the safest way to confirm exact spec regardless of badge.

Always confirm the exact grade, engine, drivetrain, and accident history against the chassis number before bidding, since equipment details are easy to misread from auction photos alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Daihatsu Thor the same car as the Toyota Roomy? Yes. The Thor, Toyota Roomy, and Subaru Justy are all built on the same platform with identical engines, transmissions, and dimensions. The differences are limited to front bumper, grille, and taillight styling.

What is the cheapest Daihatsu Thor grade? The X grade is the entry point, starting from ¥1,742,400 (tax included) for the 2WD naturally aspirated version.

Does the Daihatsu Thor Turbo come with 4WD? No. Both Turbo grades — G Turbo and Custom G Turbo — are offered in front-wheel drive only. If you need 4WD, you must choose a naturally aspirated grade (X, G, or Custom G).

What is the difference between Thor and Thor Custom? Thor Custom uses different front-end styling with a chrome grille and larger aero bumper, upgrades to alloy wheels (versus wheel caps), adds auto-leveling to the LED headlamps, and switches to a leather-wrapped steering wheel and water-repellent seat fabric — the standard Thor keeps a simpler bumper design, wheel caps, and an urethane steering wheel.

How much horsepower does the Daihatsu Thor have? The naturally aspirated 1.0L engine produces about 69 PS, while the 1KR-VET turbo engine in the G Turbo and Custom G Turbo grades produces 98 PS.

Is the Daihatsu Thor a kei car? No. Despite its compact, tall-wagon proportions, the Thor's exterior dimensions and 996cc engine both exceed Japan's kei-car regulations, though it still qualifies for a modest annual road tax bracket.

Whatever happened to the Toyota Tank? The Tank was Toyota's second badge-engineered version of this platform, sold alongside the Roomy through separate dealer channels. It was discontinued in September 2020 as part of a consolidation of Toyota's Japanese dealer networks, with its sales folded into the Roomy.