Daihatsu TERIOS RANGE
Although the Daihatsu cant claim to have invented the compact 4x4 sector with their cutesy Terios model, they are responsible for a good deal of the UK market share. Indeed, as it develops the Terios seems to become more and more relevant. The latest Terios is a case in point. The range has been slimmed down and is now more attractive than ever.
When it was first launched, the Terios was a slightly crude and simple thing, not too far removed from something like a Suzuki Jimny. The fitment of the 1.3-litre all-alloy engine purloined from the Toyota Yaris range transformed the driving characteristics and now Daihatsu have beefed up the Terios image with a pair of models that are a good deal more lifestyle than the old rather utilitarian trim designations. The range has been slimmed down to just a pair of models, the Terios Tracker and the Sport, priced at £8,995 and £10,495 respectively.
| Build |  |
| Comfort |  |
| Depreciation | |
| Economy |  |
| Equipment |  |
| Handling |  |
| Insurance |  |
| Performance | |
| Styling | |
| Value | |
The Tracker is basically a rebranded EL, the equipment list being exactly the same, but a hefty sum has been shaved from the price, bringing a Terios with features like power steering, twin airbags, electric front windows and mirrors, central locking and 15-inch alloy wheels under the £9,000 barrier for the first time. The Sport is a good deal more eye catching wearing huge 17-inch alloy wheels fitted with 225/55 series tyres. The overall effect is to make this Terios look like a remote control car scaled up, the lack of a huge whip aerial on the roof perhaps the only significant omission from the standard equipment list! Its enormously appealing and boasts a competitive specification list. As well as the big wheels, air conditioning and anti lock brakes are standard as is a four-speaker CD stereo system, big Impreza-like front fog lamps that are set into a full width black underbumper panel and a rear wing that sits proud of the roof like a carrying handle.
Colour choices extend to silver all over or a choice of metallic black, green or blue with silver lower body cladding, the Japanese national obsession for two-tone cars worming its way into Daihatsus export stock.
"The overall effect is to make this Terios look like a remote control car scaled up"
The Terios has sold well in the UK, due to a combination of keen pricing, cute looks, impeccable reliability and low running costs. What few realise is quite what a hoot it is to pilot the Terios around narrow city streets. At first the double whammy of height and narrowness make the Terios feel a little precarious, but it corners better than youd expect. The engine is a plus point too.
Toyota owns 51% of Daihatsu and the engine comes from the award-winning Toyota Yaris. Its a state-of-the-art 1.3-litre all-alloy unit with 16 valves governed by a variable valve timing system to raise power. Driver appeal is a plus with more acceleration and a level of refinement that, due to higher gearing, is worlds apart from the old engine.
Fuel consumptions better too, increasing by at least 4.5mpg in the city. The Toyota engine delivers only 3bhp more than the old Daihatsu unit, but its 86bhp is married to far more usable torque. This means the engine feels more relaxed and muscular than the old one.
Its still a bit of a handful in the cut and thrust of motorway traffic, but thats not really an integral part of the Terios design brief. In addition to looking at the powerplant, Daihatsu have also fundamentally revised the suspension and steering, eliminating the vagueness in the steering and banishing the old cars affinity for squirming about during hard cornering. Daihatsu were rather stung by criticisms that the previous generation Terios was less than adept once taken off road: nevertheless, they dont seem to have done much about it. Despite its beefier looks and full-time four-wheel drive, this is still not the sort of vehicle that would happily tackle the Rubicon Trail. Instead, with tarmac tyres and limited wheel articulation, the Terios was massively improved for on-road work. After all, the designers say, how often is a vehicle like this going to be taken off-road? Take that argument to its logical conclusion and you have to wonder why the Terios is equipped with all wheel drive.
Whereas the old Terios had a super-low first gear that could be used for off-rod stuff at a pinch, the current car abandons that in favour of a more road-oriented set up. Besides, the super wide tyres of the Terios Sport would be defeated by anything more arduous than a wet grassy slope. As a result, if you need a small 4x4 with greater off road capabilities, the Suzuki Jimny may well be a better bet. With a top speed of 90mph for the manual models and 87mph for the automatics, motorway driving can sometimes stretch the Terios drivers patience.
The width of the car may also be a limiting factor for those who are looking for something to cope with family duties. Whilst its not possible to climb into the drivers seat and inadvertently fall out of the passenger door, don't expect the interior to be as wide as that of a conventional family hatchback. The narrowness - it's only 1555mm wide - is a result of the Terios needing to fit into the dimensions for a Japanese microcar. None of which helps British buyers much and means that rear seat passengers will need to be on friendly terms. As an urban runaround that offers superb allround visibility, cute good looks and low running costs, the Terios has a lot going for it. Only now are many realising quite what a clever concept it is.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Daihatsu Terios range
PRICES: £8,995 - £10,495 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 7-8
CO2 EMISSIONS: 183g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60 mph 16.1s / Max speed - 90mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 30mpg / (extra urban) 41.5mpg / (combined) 36.7mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin airbags
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 3845/1555/1695mm
