2008 Daihatsu Materia 1.5L Mini MPV

You do not have to look far to find inspiration for Materia's angle and upright styling, and cliff faces horizontal roofline reference design themes pioneered by the Nissan Cube, and more recently a Dodge Nitro. In the UK this car is still rare, but this style popular in Japan and the U.S., so the logic is clear Daihatsu. How well the concept translates into a car with a small dimension Materia is a matter of personal opinion, but from our experience of Materia will make you see. To the rear of our money is the most successful elements, especially crossing the lights, wheel arches and boot line to curve Materia awkwardly introduce a straight line.

Under way is strong, boxy exterior Materia origins far more humble, the extended version of the platform used for Daihatsu's Sirion, which in turn is based on the Toyota Yaris (Toyota holds 51 percent stake in Daihatsu).

In fact, many of Materia friendly technology. 1.5-liter, four-cylinder gasoline is the same as that of the Terios and the soft-roader is essentially an enlarged version of the Sirion 1.3.

There is a choice of five standard-speed manual or optional four-speed automatic gearbox. Suspension and brakes that are equally conventional, with MacPherson struts and ventilated discs at the front and the alleged economic and torsion beam set-up drums in the rear. For the European market Daihatsu Materia has tweaked the settings and adding a front anti-roll bar - basically stiff suspension to reduce body roll.

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2005 Daihatsu Sirion 1.3L SE

By placing Sirion below the obvious opposition (Ford Fiestas, Volkswagen and Skoda Fabias Polos), not using a high roofline to maintain interior space, Daihatsu to play to strengths - value for money and interior space. It's a neat idea, and the only problem with that is that the Daihatsu was not the first person who has had it. Into what would have become a rather exclusive niche, the Sirion is now found himself falling into the class car developed by Mitsubishi Colt filled competent, very capable of Fiat Panda, Kia Picanto talented and often underrated Hyundai Getz.

The Sirion is available with two engines and cut rates, from £ 6995 for the three-cylinder 1.0-liter 68bhp S and up to £ 8395 for 86bhp four-cylinder 1.3-liter SE. Automatic gearbox is only available on the second and £ 795 extra cost, but the stick-shift version has bright lights shining in our typical, almost funny faces.

Style at home in Daihatsu, Sirion design classes and current best practice with devotion that was almost like a slave. There is a high roof line needed to accommodate the upright seating position and, therefore, free up space for the legs, the abbreviated tail and short overhangs and little touches like the pumped-up designing some sense of style wheelarches in the car. Mostly, it works.

Mechanical model of the car seems very small convention, with a twin-cam 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine, five-speed manual gearbox and front wheel. Suspension is by struts in front and a torsion beam rear axle.

But there are several interests here: the engine has variable valve timing and, Daihatsu claims, features the world's first self-regenerating catalyst. Instead of letting the palladium particles degrade over time, reduce the effectiveness of the catalyst and improve the engine emissions, nanotechnology has enabled these particles pass into and out of the crystalline state, extending the natural life of the catalyst.

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2006 Daihatsu Terios 1.5L SX

A style of eco-friendly SUV, or a Daihatsu claims. The Terios offers not only exhaust emissions are the lowest in the class, but the combined rate of fuel consumption 35.8mpg - relevant to buyers, especially in this political climate. This should make the ownership of this new soft-roader is not more than expensive than running a small hatchback.

We have encouraged the Japanese version is called Be-go, but this is our first drive in the UK ready Terios, which is different from not having descended the hill, but the software has been revised suspension set-up. And rides with impressive low speed, with firm damping to limit intrusion quickly. Do not have the agility of a supermini and understeers tight corner but the body, assisted by a larger track, remained flat and much less than the car lurches old. Hydraulically assist steering has a heavy but there is still very little feeling.

This 1.5-liter SX model testing, with two-wheel-arch tone attachments as standard, will be the biggest seller until the diesel variant (Toyota 1.4 D-4D) reached the end of next year. Above 5000rpm, four-cylinder's thrashy record infiltrates the cabin, and relay some pedal vibration, but quite interesting. Speed five maunal 'direct box, if not a little liquid, and there is minimal powertrain driveline shunt for permanent 4WD. A locking differential to help the development of off-road but ultimately hindered by poor ground clearance.

Back on the asphalt, which raised the point of view, wheels-at-each-corner stance and super-short overhangs has created a car that was easy to navigate without sacrificing functionality. There is plenty of room in the back with a split-folding rear seat, and side hinged doors to access the boot.

It must be admitted, that the spare wheel cover about as stylish now as black ash furniture and interior design may be feeling a bit flat compared to the external architecture, but the cabin is solid. It's worth considering. New Terios superior predecessor in every way, but also £ 4k more expensive, and sharply priced competitors, such as the Fiat Sedici wait.

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