Daihatsu Terios

Road test

Sometimes your road test prejudices are so firmly presupposed in anticipation of a resoundingly shit product that its comparative quality leaves you disproportionately impressed.

Thus, it's important to remember that the Daihatsu Terios is just a mini-SUV, a thoroughly useless 21st-century conceit that combines two of the worst design dictates of modern motoring.

Namely, that everyone wants an SUV, regardless of where they live, and that there's no longer any road space in western Europe (or Japan), so any urban product has to be tiny. Nevertheless, the new Terios really is bloody good.

The first thing you'll notice is an upturn in general quality. Although the switchgear is still a bit cheap and the design lacking in anything we would call originality, it seems better stuck together than the old car and remains entirely functional.

On the move, the Terios gets genuinely impressive. It's unexpectedly quiet for a start, and the controls are excellent. The gearchange is firm but direct from the standard five-speed 'box. The steering is perfectly weighted too, light enough for the target market of SUV-lite devotees who will drive with one hand while applying a copious amount of slap with the other.

And girls will like the Terios too. Its pseudo-macho styling strikes a nice balance between imposing and discreet. If the anti-SUV lobby comes to town, the Terios will be one of the last on its list.

And you can tell the lot of them, as they wield smouldering Molotov cocktails over the bonnet, that your 103bhp 1.5-litre Terios will do a holier-than-thou 35.8mpg, despite all-wheel drive.

On a practical note, there's a great view, perched up there in the driver's seat. Visibility is superb in any direction and the cabin feels immensely airy. There's also a bizarrely spacious rear seat. Lots of leg-, head- and elbowroom, and all that without compromising the generous loadspace behind.

There are flaws, mind you. No reach adjustment to the steering wheel, and a gearstick that's oddly low, make for a far from perfect driving position if you're halfway tall. The boot also hinges from the right-hand side, which is bound to make for some tricky access when you're parked up somewhere tight.

All in all, though, it's good. A Daihatsu SUV, for £9,995, that's good. Never thought we'd say it.

Matt Master