Daihatsu CHARADE RANGE
Daihatsus Latest Charade Sees This Japanese Maker Doing What It Does Best, Namely Offering High Value, High Tech Citycars. Andy Enright Reports
Daihatsus Charade was the small car that really put its brand on the map here in Britain. We thought wed seen the last of it when newer Sirion and YRV models elbowed the original version aside at the turn of the century but no. The all-new version were looking at here is still apparently needed by
Daihatsu and has an important job to do in offering compact car buyers yet more choice.
Unlike its predecessor, this Charade is a tiny Citycar rather than a Supermini. The franchise is well used to producing city runabouts. Its previous offering - the Cuore competed ineffectually against the likes of Fords Ka and VWs Lupo but this car should be much more of a threat. Whats confusing is that the Charade actually offers a longer wheelbase than either Daihatsus larger Sirion or YRV Superminis.
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So, although its tiny on the outside the 3,410mm length makes it 20cm shorter than a
Ford Ka impressive interior space is promised within. Styling-wise, this car is certainly very neat, looking like a shrunken and chamfered
Honda Jazz. The 1.0-litre engine meanwhile, is an intriguing three-cylinder affair that manages a mere 58bhp but which seems to punch way above what the bantamweight statistics promise.
Daihatsu attributes this to a combination of a class-leading aerodynamic body and the fact that the car weighs next to nothing. The 58 horsepower available can punt the Charade to 60mph in 12 seconds and on to a top speed that knocks on the door of 100mph. An automatic version is available, but can only really be recommended if you plan to use it as a second urban scoot. Fuel economy is a beneficiary of the low weight/low drag approach.
An outstanding fuel return of 58.9mpg makes the Charade amongst the most economical cars its possible to buy in the UK and the 114g/km emissions figure also takes some beating.
"The Charade is billed as the most economical petrol engined four-seater on sale in the UK"
The engine features Dynamic Variable Valve Timing (DVVT) to provide even stronger low-speed pulling power, resulting in fewer gearchanges, yet also manages to increase top end power. Other innovations include a resin port intake manifold and a head cover incorporating an air-cleaner casing. Both serve to reduce weight and beef up torque in the lower and mid ranges. Anybody who has ever driven a sporty Daihatsu Sirion Rally cant fail to have been impressed by the meaty feel of the gearchange, and the Charade adopts the same materials used in the bushings and the same springs to give a similarly substantial feel to the manual shifter.
Likewise, the speed-sensitive power steering also offers plenty of feel once the cars rolling, being feather light for parking manoeuvres. The firm feel to the steering and gearbox, the surprising refinement and the abundance of room in the cabin all serve to give the impression that the Charade is operating in a class above its citycar station. Its not, of course, and one benefit of its light weight comes when you press the brakes. Anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution are fitted as standard, a system that takes into account the distribution of passengers and luggage to optimise the braking forces.
The EL and SL trim levels on the Charade provide a decent haul with the 5-door only £6,995 SL adding alloy wheels and air-conditioning to the £6,495 5-door ELs ABS, twin front airbags, CD player and central locking. A 3-door EL model is also available for a miniscule £5,695. Other safety features include twin airbags (with side bags on the SL), height adjustable
seat belts that feature force limiters and pretensioners, side impact bars and Daihatsus impact-sensing release system. During a collision, this unlocks the doors, illuminates the interior lights and activates the hazard warning lights.
Pedestrian safety hasnt been ignored either, and the engine compartment has been designed to allow it to absorb energy, the windscreen wiper pivots and bonnet hinges both being designed with shock absorbing spaces behind them. The Charade must also be applauded for upholding the tradition of wacky Japanese translations. Fire the word Charade into a thesaurus and itll come back with synonyms such as farce, sham, and travesty hardly the image many would want to project. Most will instead associate it with a genteel parlour game.
Its a car that really does go that extra mile to please. Every time you turn the ignition on, the instrument display reads "HELLO, HAPPY" which brings to mind the film Happy Gilmore which features a golfer prone to fits of irrational violence. When you switch off, the display flashes up "SEE YOU GOODBYE." How sweet. A great deal of thought has gone into making the Charade as user-friendly as possible. The front seat height of 480mm is said to closely match most peoples hip height to ease entry and exit although whether these people were Japanese or British is not clear. The doors open at right angles to the car, making entry and exit easy for those laden down with shopping or those who arent as agile as they once were.
The height adjustable steering wheel and front seatbelts also ensure a comfortable driving position. The Daihatsu Charade is a more impressive achievement than we ever expected. Perhaps it can even restore the Charade to its early nineties levels of popularity. With the citycar market being one of the few that are expanding, it looks set to do extremely well.
Not bad for something thats risen from the dead.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Daihatsu Charade range
PRICES: £5,695 - £6,995 on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 3-5
CO2 EMISSIONS: 114g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 12s / Max Speed 99.4mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 47.1mpg / (extra urban) 68.9mpg / (combined) 58.9mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Driver and passenger airbags, ABS with EBD WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE? Length/Width/Height mm 3410/1500/1475
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