DAIHATSU is one of those small companies whose existence is sometimes queried because of Toyota’s known large shareholding. Why not just call these cars Toyotas?
The Terios tested here answers the question unequivocally. It is unlike any Toyota on the market. It has rear-wheel drive and although this may point to some technical affinity with the Toyota Avanza, the rest of the Terios is not at all like the RAV4, which is its closest Toyota rival.
In the four-wheel drive Terios all four wheels are driven permanently, and the centre differential is manually lockable. This makes it a serious small offroader instead of just a parttime soft-roader like the RAV4. We drove it over some rugged mountain tracks and can affirm that it is very capable. Terios boasts a torquey engine, good ground clearance, and suitable gear ratios – and in off-road conditions rear-wheel drive is less prone to wheelspin than front-wheel drive.
The interior is very refreshing, because it is stylistically different. The centre console is strangely reminiscent of some pre-war American cars and gives the Terios an upmarket ambience. The controls are not just run-of-the-mill either, being classy and intuitive, it’s easy to see that a lot of thought has gone into their design.
For example, the air-conditioning controls are so logical and practical that they could serve as a model for other designers to copy. Huge round switches rotate for temperature and air volume and they incorporate push-buttons for the modes and other adjustments. A high-quality sound system, capable of delivering ample volume, is fitted.
Instruments are large and uncluttered, but it was disconcerting to find that a water temperature gauge is no longer deemed necessary. This omission cannot really be held against Daihatsu because it reflects a modern trend. The steering wheel carries the basic sound system controls. Features such as air-conditioning, central locking, electric windows, a front-loading CD-player, an extra 12V power supply and lots of drinkholders are all standard. There are dual front airbags and an emergency fuel cut-off.
The driver’s seat has a hippoint as high as 740 mm above the ground, but offers a downwards adjustment of 15 mm as well as an upwards adjustment of 31 mm. This has obviously been carried over from the 4×4 version, and shows one of the advantages of buying a 4×2 that is based on a 4×4. Most testers found a comfortable driving position quite quickly, in spite of the steering having only tilt adjustment, but a few staffers did complain about the lack of height adjustment. The gear lever position, which is quite low down, also came in for some criticism.
Interior space is quite generous in spite of the Terios looking small from the outside and there is an above-average amount of headroom. The boot is commendably large and can be extended by folding the 60:40 split rear-seat backrest. An external spare wheel cover, mounted on the tail door, seemed quite flimsy. The door opens sideways, and, as often happens, was praised by some testers and condemned by others.
The engine displaces only 1,5 litres and this places a limit on the performance, especially since it is powering a heavy body. The unit develops 77 kW at 6 000 r/min, and is commendably smooth. Fuel consumption is a very reasonable 9 litres/100 km according to CAR’s index, but readings taken from the vehicle’s fuel consumption meter at steady speeds suggest that this value can easily be bettered. Maximum torque of 140 N.m is delivered at 4 400 r/min, but the engine pulls well from below 2 000 r/min.
It takes a day or two to get used to the slightly strident exhaust note, which would be more welcome in a sportscar. It is loudest while accelerating but dies down at cruising speeds. After a few days we liked it, because it was an aural reminder of what the engine was up to. When going off-road it gave a good indication of how hard the engine was working.
Brakes are easy to modulate, feeling perfectly in keeping with the car’s intended use and the power steering carried just the right amount of weighting. Suspension is firm, most likely because the spring rates are shared with the off-road version, but the ride is still better than on some inexpensive family saloons.
TEST SUMMARY
This version of the Terios costs just under R205 000. That puts it right in the price bracket of many saloon-based station wagons, but very few will have its ground clearance or its dirt-road capability. The number of examples on the road seems to suggest that the Terios is a highly regarded all-rounder. We agree.