Daihatsu is boxing clever to win over a new fan base -Rare enough to gain cult status (From Hereford Times)

Daihatsu is boxing clever to win over a new fan base -Rare enough to gain cult status

6:00pm Thursday 2nd July 2009 in

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AT-A-GLANCE Daihatsu Materia 1.5-litre petrol.

Price: £10,770.

Top speed: 106mph.

0-62mph: 10.8 seconds.

Fuel: 39.2mpg (combined figure).

Emissions C02 (g/km): 169.

MANY people love the distinctive looks of Daihatsu vehicles and value them for their reliability and keen pricing.

The charming little Copen sports, for instance, quickly attained cult status while the trendy five-door Materia hatch is different enough to turn heads wherever it goes.

The Materia is still a rather rare sight on British roads as the majority of the cars are sold in Japan and America, where the model has also attained something of a cult following with many style-conscious owners customising their cars.

But the funky-looking Daihatsu with a ground-hugging stance is becoming more widely available in this country and one of the best routes to buy one is through a local dealership.

With its tall, boxy shape, dark interior and darkened windows, it is certainly a car that stands out in the crowd.

For its size it is very roomy, with space for four or five people and large amounts of head and leg room into the bargain. The sliding and reclining rear seat with a 60/40 split is useful and so too is the storage compartment under the rear floor.

So if you are looking for plenty of space in a small family vehicle, this model could fit the bill.

There is only one engine choice, a 102bhp 1.5-litre petrol, with a fivespeed manual gearbox or a fourspeed automatic, which costs £780 extra.

But the motor is lively with both transmissions and is well suited to the urban environment and quick enough to keep up with the Joneses in the fast lane.

The Materia is cheap to run, too, with an everyday fuel return of nearly 40mpg from both the manual and automatic versions but no doubt the model would be even more appealing to UK buyers with a turbo-diesel unit under the bonnet.

From a price point of view, the Materia is not cheap at £10,770 for the manual but considering it is well built and offers a high level of equipment, it certainly represents value for money.

However, this is a car to love or hate as not everyone will like the appearance, particularly at the front where the nose has a stubby and squashed look. The boxy, yet wide and squat style with flared wheel arches is an unusual sight on British roads.

But the Materia has a lot going for it. The interior, although funky, is well laid out and all the seats have a high position, which not only gives a commanding view to those in the front and back but makes getting in and out easier than most cars. This is also helped by the wide and highwaisted doors.

The seats are well upholstered and comfortable and so is the ride, with the car keeping its composure over most surfaces.

With a 0-62mph time of 10.8 seconds for the manual and 13.7 seconds for the automatic, the car will be speedy enough for most drivers while its chassis is first class and, despite the tall body, the Materia is capable of handling all that the enthusiastic driver can throw at it.

The automatic transmission works smoothly considering it is allied to a comparatively small capacity engine and such a combination is what many motorists are looking for.

The equipment includes keyless entry, central locking, air-conditioning, power steering, four electric windows, alloys, and a quality radio/CD player.

Safety standards are good, too, with twin front and side airbags and ABS with electronic brake force distribution.

The only factory option is metallic paint at £350.