DAIHATSU has always been known for their compact hatchbacks. Remember the days of the Charade GTTI? That iconic little pocket rocket? Since then, Daihatsu has continued to release a slew of compact hatches although, it must be noted, nothing ever came close to the Charade GTTI.
In terms of styling, Daihatsu has always faltered with uninspiring and sometimes downright boring designs. Paninfarina is it not.
However, the designers at Daihatsu probably got a mouthful from the directors and decided to get creative and funky with the design of the Daihatsu Sirion.
With a lowered styling approach and a big emphasis on space, the new Daihatsu Sirion turned out to be quite the looker. Just look at the almost fearsome-looking bumpers and the almost-muscular rear stance.
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By building the dual meters into the steering column,
you can clearly see them regardless of the steering
wheel's position. |
The first thing that hit me when I got into the car was the steering column.
The instrument cluster with dual meters is built onto the steering column, just behind the steering wheel, making sure that visibility is clear at whichever position the steering wheel is adjusted to. Quite like the MINI.
The instrument cluster also came with stylish orange back light for that sporty effect. From there, the car just brought itself to me.
The quality of the interior was impresssive. It seems like Daihatsu really made an effort to put itself ahead in a category filled with the likes of the Swift and the Picanto. The fabric and plastics used felt anything but cheap. Together with that, the car had a lot of storage space built into the cockpit − handy for pack rats like me.
The Daihatsu Sirion would also easily swallow four adults, but, five adults sized like me would be a bit of a squeeze. Leg and head room are enough even for those above 1.8m. Boot size is impressive, even before the added storage space provided when the seats are folded down flat.
The fabric and plastic are anything but cheap, and it has a lot of storage space in the cockpit. |
So enough about the interior, does this car handle and go as good as it looks?
The test car that was handed to me was an automatic transmission, 1.5L sports version. Do not be misled by the “sports” tag. It simply means added visual enhancements like a body kit and spoiler. Everything else remains unchanged.
The engine is a simple, fuss free 1.5 litre Toyota engine. As with any Toyota, you can expect frugal fuel consumption and reliability that seems to last forever.
As with any standard range Toyota, you can expect the drive to be nothing phenomenal. The engine on this Daihatsu Sirion does what it is supposed to do − but it takes a considerable amount of time to pull the car out from standstill.
You would have to be rather patient with the engine at this point but once it overcomes that initial inertia, driving the car around town would be a breeze. Steering is light and the car is easy to handle.
But the relatively high body also means the car is prone to roll and the tyres on this test car are somewhat slippery, as I found out when I went into a corner at speed. Engine noise is evident though not annoying; with a note of roughness that the car could do without.
The Daihatsu Sirion is for those who are looking for style and function. The car is stylish and does the job of ferrying you to anywhere you want to go fairly quickly and easily.
The small compact size also means parking would not be a gargantuan task. The rather large boot space means that you will definitely have space for that crazy shopping weekend you have been looking forward to, and trips to Ikea would be manageable.
If you are looking for a wild ride, the Daihatsu Sirion is not it. The car is all about reliability, comfort and functionality with a dash of passion; which is how life should really be anyway.
So again, in a nutshell, the Daihatsu Sirion is a looker (especially in bright colours), high on space and a fuel consumption that will not require you to find another job to maintain. Coupled with a trusted engine, you can be sure this car will serve you, your family and friends for quite some time.
For the Daihatsu Sirion, ''sports' means added visual enhancements like a body kit and spoiler. |
