Daihatsu Materia 1.5

Dec 21 2009 John Scantlebury

THE Materia is one of those somewhat-strange little cars that are so popular in their Far East homelands, in this case acquiring almost cult status back in Japan, where it is produced as both a Daihatsu and a Toyota, and, indeed, among American students.

Carrying the Daihatsu badge in our part of the world, the mini-MPV (it is just 3.8 metres long) has had its chassis-tuning and other aspects specially Europeanised and I have to say it's quite a likeable little fellow once you get inside and on the move

That's because externally it's a bit hard to take seriously. With a snub nose stuck on a box - it is almost vertical at both front and rear ends - lanky with skirts dropping down to its ankles, and with wheels pushed to the extremities of the corners, it is certainly different and definitely an acquired taste. But then, I can recall others arriving on these shores with similarly quirky stances which have proceeded to do quite well.

That's because they have expertly done the job intended for them, and the Materia is very much in that vein. The car looks the way it does to generate maximum space and the cabin supplies amazing amounts of room and variation. Just to give you an idea, the back seats recline flat, while the backs of the front seats do the same, resulting in a double bed on 15in wheels.

Okay, that's a facility that's not going to be used very often, but it does indicate the wonderful flexibility of the car.

Those rear seats, split/folding, actually slide 16cm, so you can choose between giving the space to rear passengers or boot luggage. If it is the former, they get stretch-out room to rival a luxury car (the Materia is 3.8m long, remember!).

Cabin length is just under two metres, while the internal width is 1.42 metres, and it shows. You can add in the spectacular height, but still be puzzled how, with these dimensions, this car can manage to have rear doors, and big enough, at that, to allow easy entrance and exit. No, it doesn't add up but that's the way it is.

Thus having settled down in comfort, you begin to give it more points for its performance. Almost unexpectedly, the Materia features a 103hp 1.5-litre petrol engine with Dynamic Variable Valve Timing that combines with 97lb/ft of pull to give a really bright performance, even low down the rev counter. The car is capable of more than 100mph and does the standstill-to-62mph sprint in an admirable 10.8 seconds.

Nor does the lively power upset a car which seems to be tightly put together, and the Euro-tuning of the chassis helps produce smooth and neat handling and ride.

The front suspension is by MacPherson struts while the rear is semi-independent, and both systems employ anti-roll bars that impressively smother the lean you would expect from a tall car. Starting out a bit apprehensively on winding roads, I quickly gained confidence - no more than that, I was won over. You could quibble about the slickness of the gearbox, I suppose, but the hydraulic rack-and-pinion steering system is precise and helpful and it all turned out to be quite a fun experience.

There's good all-round visibility from the high seating, although it leans towards the perched variety. However, comfort is good and there is height adjustment. Disappointingly, the steering wheel offers only height variation.

All dials and information are situated in a binnacle in the middle of dash, a ploy which always irritates me slightly, although I suppose you get used to it. And it does allow for a good-looking, dash which combines concave and convex shapes.

Equipment levels are pretty good for a car costing less than £11,000, standard items including air conditioning, rear parking sensors, front and side airbags, front and rear electric windows, heated door mirrors, front fogs, alloys, six-speaker sound system with radio/CD player and MP3 capability, body-coloured bumpers, side skirts, door handles and door mirrors and dark tinted privacy glass for rear occupants. You also get a five-year warranty.

Materials quality and the engineering feel quite good and the whole package is undoubtedly good value. In the end, though, the success of the Materia in Europe may be determined by whether it is viewed as funky and fun - or just odd.

FAST FACTS

Daihatsu Materia 1.5 5dr

Price: £10,775

Mechanical: 102bhp, 1,495cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front-wheels via 5-speed manual gearbox

Max speed: 106mph

0-62mph: 10.8 seconds

Combined mpg: 39.2

Insurance group: 8

CO2 emissions: 169g/km

BIK rating: 19%

Warranty: 5yrs/ unlimited mileage