Daihatsu Charade Hatchback 2003 - Present

The first thing that prospective buyers will notice as they step in the Japanese manufacturer's showroom will be the price of the Charade. You can drive one out of the showroom and still have change in your pocket from £6,000, only a fiver but change nonetheless.

Inside the car is another pleasant surprise. The finish is clean and neat and while doesn't boast a great amount of luxury it is well made and doesn't feel cheap. There is a surprising amount of room for such a small car and the seating is comfortable. It's not going to be great over very long journeys but that's not what the car is for. What it does offer is great fuel economy, just shy of 59 mpg, and the lowest rate of car tax. The charade won't quite pay you for driving it (they are unlikely to make very good taxis owing to their size), but they will provide such cheap miles that it will almost feel like it is.

The one litre engine generates 58 bhp and feels nippy enough in the city but is found wanting on longer journeys. Motorway journeys leave the driver feeling a little out of their depth and overtaking has to judged and timed to perfection to avoid being stuck in a place that you don't want to be. Around town the engine offers the feel of a sporty car and is more than able to nip and an out of traffic. It's the Charade's natural environment and feels at home in this surrounding.

The Charade's suspension is surprisingly adept at coping with even the roughest of urban landscapes. The steering offers a somewhat less competent performance and will often feel a little vague if approaching a corner at anything above a crawl. The back end will screech and step out at the slightest provocation and while something of a shock it does at least do it an a manageable way. It can even be something of an entertaining surprise. The boot is adequate for a city car and will just about hold enough luggage for a weekend away, if you want to stay somewhere not too far from home.

The Daihatsu Charade is a solid, well constructed car. It's personality belies it's size and it offers entertaining and economical miles around town. As long as that's what you want it for it's hard to beat.

Leave a comment

Type into the box below