Daihatsu Sirion Centenary Limited Edition
If youre thinking of buying a new supermini, then youre probably not thinking about buying a Daihatsu Sirion. But then again, youre also probably not thinking of spending £7,395.
If you did budget that kind of amount and, by some chance, found a dealer prepared to sell you a new supermini (rather than a tiny Ford Ka-sized citycar) for around that price, then you wouldnt expect it to come with much kit. Certainly not things like ABS, alloy wheels, electric mirrors, drivers seat height adjustment, a CD player, all-round electric windows, twin front and side airbags and remote central locking. If that little list tied into the sub-£7,500 price I mentioned earlier has got your attention, then you need to know about Daihatsus Sirion Centenary limited edition which, as youve probably guessed by now, includes all the aforementioned features for the aforementioned price. Thats £60 less than the car on which this variant is based, the 1.
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It was this marques forerunner, the Hatsudoki Seizo Company Limited, that was founded in 1907 to manufacture internal combustion engines. Still, lets not split hairs. The Hatsudoki organisations first truck was produced in 1919 and a range of three-wheeled vehicles introduced in 1930, followed by the mid-sized four-wheeled car the FA in 1937. In May 1965 Daihatsu became the first Japanese manufacturer to export to Britain with the 797 cc Compagno Berlina.
This exact car is now owned by Daihatsu Vehicle Distributors Limited and regularly takes part in classic car rallies and dealer events.
"For urban-based buyers, its well worth adding this model to your shopping list"
Under the bonnet of this Sirion beats a 1.0-litre three-cylinder unit that punches above its 69bhp weight. That said, performance is still best described as unhurried, the 69bhp unit getting the car to 60mph in 13.6 seconds and on to a top speed of 99mph.
The off-beat three-cylinder thrum is deeper and more characterful than the rather anodyne engine note of pricier 1.3-litre Sirion models and for that reason alone, it would be my pick, even though the volume of the engine note can get annoying on longer runs. The fuel consumption is not to be sniffed at, the 1.0-litre managing a combined total off 56.
5 miles per gallon. Carbon dioxide emissions are pegged at a lowly 118g/km. Obvious rivals, nearly all of which cost more, include the Honda Jazz, the Fiat Panda and the Mitsubishi Colt, the latter of which the Sirion most closely appears. The truncated nose and nicely contoured rear wheelarch and rear wing combination are redolent of the sharply-styled Mitsubishi, although the front grille is a little anonymous.
It is worth pointing out however, that you can also buy the Sirions design in the UK badged as the Perodua Myvi for £500 less and equipped with the larger 1.3-litre petrol engine used in pricier Sirions. However, you wont match the Sirion Centenarys equipment tally, model for model, and youll have to put up with a much smaller dealer network. There is some evidence of cost cutting in the materials used inside the Sirion and if youre used to, say, a SEAT Ibiza, some of the plastics used will seem a little low rent.
The counterpoint to this is that the dash is far more adventurously styled with a silver centre console and a quirky cowled fascia pod. If you can operate a payphone, you should have no difficulty with the Sirion. No, scrub that. Ive been into some payphones that are a whole lot trickier to figure out than a Sirion.
All the controls are legibly marked, the steering is light and the ride is surprisingly supple for a small car. The manual gearbox probably isnt as direct as it could be and the windscreen pillars can be intrusive when negotiating tight roundabouts but other than that this is an extremely easy car to drive. The front end of the car has been designed to do well in pedestrian safety tests, the deformable bumper and nose cone section and ample space below the domed bonnet being a whole lot friendlier than many rivals. Theres certainly no shortage of headroom inside the Sirion.
Six footers should find no issues in either the front or the rear and legroom is also surprisingly good. Its even possible to adjust the rake of the rear backrest. Naturally this abundance of cabin space comes at a price and rear luggage space isnt the best. Like most modern superminis, the Sirion features a multitude of cup holders, stowage spaces, trays and cubbies and it also includes a split level glovebox, neither compartment yielding much in the way of useable space.
Rather surprisingly, the seats are firmer than youd expect and give good support, even to broad shouldered drivers. Cars like the Sirion Centenary show just how much value there is to be found if you opt not to go for a typical supermini and take the time to widen your search. For urban-based buyers, its well worth adding this to your shopping list.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Daihatsu Sirion Centenary
PRICE: £7,395 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 4
CO2 EMISSIONS: 118g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 99mph / 0-60mph 13.6s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 56.5mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front, side airbags, ABS, EBD WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE ?: Length 3600mm/Width1665mm/Height1550mm
