Daihatsu Terios Estate 2006 - Present

The second evolution of the Terios is larger and more upmarket than the previous model. It has room for four adults, but is still one of the most compact and affordable off-roaders on the market.
A good alternative for buyers who would have previously considered Toyota's RAV4 or Suzuki Grand Vitara (both of which are now bigger and more expensive to run). It's permanent four-wheel drive makes it very capable off-road when required. It is got pace enough to keep up with traffic and feels stable on the road. However a fundamental lack of torque and power makes it unsuitable for serious towing or high speed use.

The 1.5-litre petrol engine is frankly not big or tough enough to really make sense of being in a car of this size. It has the option of a five-speed manual gearbox or a four-speed auto. With 103bhp there's barely enough power to cope with off-road driving and general everyday use, so overtaking and motorway trips are something of a lottery. Get stuck in the wrong lane and you may well struggle to recover that easily. The 1.5 engine wouldn't really be that great as a bottom level option but having it as the only option is bewildering. The 0-60 time of 12 seconds and 99 mph top speed are unlikely to leave any but the slowest of driver happy and mean that buyers will feel short changed. The fuel economy isn't even very good. Daihatsu need to either develop or buy a decent diesel engine to go in there. There are plenty of diesels engines out there that give good performance and economy. They should source one as the Terios engine is deficient on both counts.

Engine aside, driving the Terios is a pleasant surprise. It's a nice car to drive, with little body roll and the ability to corner well. However, the suspension is overly firm, which can make the ride too bumpy. When taking the Terios off road speed needs to be kept down to remain comfortable. It handles well on the road, resisting bodyroll when cornering. It has a full-time four-wheel drive with a diff-lock to give added traction in very slippery conditions. The compact dimensions give extra room to manoeuvre past rocks and trees (if your child's school is up a mountain!). This can more practically be handy if you're squeezing into a tight parking spot.

Inside the car the seats are comfortable enough and there's plenty of leg and head room for both front and rear occupants with room for four six-footers if required. The rear seatbacks can recline too, allowing the rear passengers more comfort. The Terios' good handling unfortunately comes at the expense of an element of comfort for the passengers with the ride being somewhat unforgiving. Road and engine noise both feature in the cabin which can become tiresome over long journeys.

Boot space is adequate but little more although the hinged rear door can make rear access easy.

The Terios unfortunately delivers what you'd expect for a car that is so keenly priced. This is a shame because one can't help feeling that most of the hard work on the car has been done and that with a little more money spent a much better car would be available.

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