It was introduced in November 1974[3] to replace the 44,[1] although at the time it was announced that the two cars would be sold "alongside" one another,[3] suggesting that there were still substantial stocks of the earlier model awaiting customers.

[4] The DAF 46 was carpeted throughout and equipped with cloth covered reclining seats.

It also had a redesigned gear lever and additional dash mounted warning lights.

Out of sight of the driver was a de Dion rear axle,[3] which DAF had fitted two years earlier to their more powerful model when replacing the 55 with the DAF 66: the car retained its defining variomatic transmission, but this was now coupled with a conventional differential which was said to improve noise levels and extend drive-belt life.

[5] Reports suggest that the DAF 46 had safer handling than its predecessor, but acceleration was nonetheless considerably slower, at a time when most European manufacturers were steadily increasing top speed and acceleration when they introduced model upgrades.