Daihatsu Copen

Our verdict

The Daihatsu Copen ought to be awful, which helps explain why it seems so bloody marvellous when you have a go. A tiny, fizzy, agile little thing that’s endlessly fun to thrash and looks fantastic.

Comfort

You don't buy a Copen for cosseting. It rides pretty hard, there's plenty of wind noise from the folding roof and the 1.3-litre engine sounds like a leaf blower that smokes 20 a day.

Performance

The sensation of speed, rather than anything amounting to actual speed, is what the Copen is all about. So close to the ground, 30mph feels like twice that, while the national speed limit feels lethal.

Cool

Oddly the Copen is borderline cool. Slick-looking, practical (ish) and always a hoot, it's a car for everyman. Or every woman anyway.

Quality

It doesn't feel particularly classy inside the Copen, in fact it just feels small and really old, but at least it's highly unlikely to ever go wrong. There's lots of scuttle shake too, but that's what you get in a £10k soft-top.

Handling

This is the ace up the Copen's sleeve. Despite being, well, a Daihatsu, it's superbly involving to drive. Lots of feel, lots of grip, bum nearly touching the deck, this is the 21st Century's MG Midget.

Practicality

Buy this with the understanding that there's never going to be much room for you or your luggage and you'll be pleasantly surprised by what the Copen does offer. Folding tin-tops are the best of both worlds, and it's tiny dimensions make the Copen a boon in the city.

Running costs

Low insurance, especially for a soft top, combined with excellent economy and quite strong residuals mean your money's safer in a Copen than in any other Daihatsu.