Daihatsu Sirion1.3 SX
You dont have to cast your mind back to the lunatic and less than succinctly titled Cuore Avanzato TR-XX R4 to name a Daihatsu that could entertain its driver. The diminutive citycar diverted power from its fizzing 0.7-litre turbocharged and intercooled engine to all four wheels for a driving experience that certainly blew the cobwebs away but more recent Daihatsus have also proved great fun. The Copen roadster and the Charade citycar may be small but theyre well capable of putting a big grin on your face, as is the Sirion 1.
3 SX - a supermini endowed with more of the Japanese marques trademark effervescence.
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No, the fun factor in Daihatsu products comes from the nippiness of the free-revving engines up to 20 or 30mph facilitated by the cars lightweight construction. Then theres the nimble handling, often accompanied by a little too much body-roll and a lack of front end grip which make it all feel considerably quicker than it actually is. The Sirion conforms broadly to this formula and in SX form, it plays the sporting card more vigorously thanks to a range of additional features. The Sirion was already a distinctive and pleasantly-styled small car but one thats a little out of the ordinary and a less obvious choice than some rivals.
The SX model gives an extra edge to the exterior appearance with a body kit including a deep front spoiler, side skirts and a rear spoiler mounted above the tailgate. Front fog lights also feature and special SX side decals in front of the rear wheel arches round things off. Paint options range from plain old Red, through Black Mica to Silver Mist.
"The SX special edition adds a younger, sportier dimension to the range"
Equipment levels look strong for a sub £9,500 supermini. They run to alloy wheels, air-conditioning, electric windows, four airbags, a CD stereo and remote central locking. Quality around the cabin is generally good, the fixtures and fittings putting many people in mind of the Aygo citycar from Daihatsus parent company Toyota. Indeed they should: the Sirion shares quite a bit with the Aygo, which itself is broadly identical to Citroens C1 and Peugeots 107. Its bigger than all three of these cars, however, with a more spacious interior and superior practicality. The SX uses the larger of the Sirions two engines, the 86bhp 1.3-litre powerplant.
It would be wrong to expect fireworks at the merest press of the throttle but the unit delivers feisty, free-revving performance and, more importantly, impressively low running costs. The 0-60mph sprint is dispatched in 10.9 seconds and theres a 106mph top speed, both of which should be more than adequate for buyers who do the lions share of their driving around town. Fuel economy of 49mpg on the combined cycle and 59mpg out on the open road are outstanding and the 137g/km emissions figure means the taxation burden is a small one.
Its crucial for a cheap, sporty-looking supermini to have a low insurance grouping so that the kind of younger driver who will be attracted to the car can afford to insure it. With a group 6 rating, the Sirion SX wont break the bank. 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 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.
The rev counter on the SX clips to the outside of the binnacle rather like the aftermarket turbo boost gauges seen on Japanese evo cars. This funkiness gives the Sirion a fun feel, even if its no great shakes when it comes to handling. 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.
Front, side and curtain airbags are standard on all models, ISOFIX child seat fixings in the outer rear seats and a trio of three-point seat belts in the rear. Anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution are also included,. 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.
The Sirion is a great little car, well-built, practical and affordable. The 1.3 SX adds a younger, sportier dimension to the range and has the potential to open up the little Daihatsu to a whole new group of buyers. Heres living proof that when it comes to driving, fun doesnt have to be fast.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Daihatsu Sirion 1.3 SX
PRICE: £9,305 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 6
CO2 EMISSIONS: 137g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 106mph / 0-60mph 10.9s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 49mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front, side airbags, ABS, EBD WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE ?: Length 3600mm/Width1665mm/Height1550mm
