DBA-L235S
Daihatsu Esse L235S specs
L235S is the model code of the Daihatsu Esse, a kei car. Japan’s transport ministry lists it in its fuel economy lists from 2006–2011 under the model type DBA-L235S. A genuine car’s chassis number starts L235S-.
L235S at a glance
- Make
- Daihatsu
- Model
- Esse
- Model code
- L235S
- Model types
- DBA-L235S
- In MLIT’s lists
- 2006–2011
- Engines
- KF 658 cc petrol
- Gearboxes
- 3-speed automatic, 4-speed automatic, 5-speed manual
- Drive
- front-wheel drive
- Kerb weight
- 700–730 kg
- Official fuel economy
- 19.4–26 km/L (55–73 mpg)
Fuel economy is from Japan’s official tests and is usually better than you’ll see on UK roads. MLIT doesn’t list power or torque.
DBA-L235S
Listed 2006–2011. The DBA prefix (our explanation, not MLIT’s) means petrol passenger car certified to Japan’s 2005 emissions rules, 75% below their limits. Check DBA-L235S against ULEZ and clean air zones.
| Engine | Gearbox | Drive | Weight | Seats | Fuel economy | Listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KF658 cc petrol | 3-speed automatic | front-wheel drive | 710–720 kg | 4 | 21 km/L59 mpg, Japanese 10-15 mode test | 2006–2009 |
| KF658 cc petrol | 4-speed automatic | front-wheel drive | 720–730 kg | 4 | 19.4–22 km/L55–62 mpg, Japanese 10-15 mode test | 2006–2011 |
| KF658 cc petrol | 5-speed manual | front-wheel drive | 700–720 kg | 4 | 24.5–26 km/L69–73 mpg, Japanese 10-15 mode test | 2006–2011 |
Each row is one version as MLIT lists it. A version can appear twice when MLIT gave figures on two tests that year. Low-emission stars and trim names aren’t shown. MLIT gives fuel economy in km/L; the mpg figures are our conversion to UK gallons. Japanese tests are gentler than real UK driving, so expect less.
Check an L235S before you buy
Make sure the car is what the advert says: the chassis number on the V5C should start L235S-, and the engine and gearbox should match one of the versions above. Our free check reads the UK MOT history and compares it with the chassis code.
Other Daihatsu Esse model codes
Questions
What engine does the L235S have?
MLIT lists the Daihatsu Esse L235S with KF 658 cc petrol.
What fuel economy does the L235S get?
Officially between 19.4 and 26 km/L (about 55–73 mpg), depending on the version, on Japan’s own tests. Real-world figures are usually lower, especially against the older 10-15 mode test.
How heavy is the L235S?
Between 700 and 730 kg kerb weight, depending on the version.
Is DBA-L235S the same as L235S?
Yes. DBA-L235S is the full model type: the letters before the hyphen are Japan’s emissions code, which changed as the rules were tightened, and L235S is the model code. The chassis number starts with L235S-.
About these figures
The model types, engine codes, capacities, gearboxes, drive, weights, seats and km/L figures are copied from MLIT’s yearly lists of cars on sale in Japan each March, so “listed” years are list years, not exact production dates. The English model names, mpg conversions, emissions code explanations and chassis number matching are ours. Lists before 2013 were printed as PDFs that we read by machine; where an older list gives an engine code that doesn’t match its capacity, we’ve used the figure the same model type has in other years. Check anything that matters against the car’s own papers. Spotted a mistake? Email [email protected]. All Daihatsu model codes.
Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), Japan, fuel economy lists 2004–2026, used under the Public Data License 1.0. Edited and translated by JDM History.