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05/01/2009, 12:01
By EWAN KENNEDY
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Australians love their 4WDs, going for everything from the big truck-based tough models to the smaller vehicles aimed at the beach. But some are just considered too small, Daihatsu’s tiny Terios was never a huge seller but did steady business from the time it went on sale here in 1997.
A cute little machine, it has a fun shape that appeals to those who like something out of the ordinary. However, the Daihatsu Terios is very narrow, principally to let it into a lower-tax bracket on its Japanese home market, so the rubbing of shoulders can be irritating if the occupants are on the wide side.
 While not a ‘real’ 4WD in the true sense, Daihatsu Terios has decent traction and good approach and departure angles. So it can be a useful toy to take to beaches and with which to explore slippery dirt roads. It will certainly take you places a two-wheel drive can't go.
The narrow body and relatively high centre of gravity means Terios can be on the tippy side if you drive it hard at corners. Under sensible control it’s fine, but don’t try to push your luck.
Though it meets the required safety regulations, the Terios is high on the list of motor vehicles in which we would prefer not to have a crash.
Performance is better than you would expect from a four-cylinder 1.3-litre engine, with the light weight giving Terios decent acceleration. Hillclimbing with a bit of a load on board can be a hassle so if you’re going to be spending time in conditions like that make sure to find suitable roads for your initial road test.
Daihatsu Terios received a major upgrade in October 2000. The engine capacity remained at that diminutive 1.3-litre, but the new engine was a more modern unit than in the original models. Now featuring a twin-cam cylinder head it put out 120 kW in comparison to the 105 kW of the first powerplant. Performance was improved, though it’s still nothing to get excited about.
The engine is pretty busy at highway speeds, even in the later models, as this is really only intended to be an around-town conveyance.
Spare parts are still generally available and we hear of no real complaints on prices, though not all dealers will carry at range of less-used parts so you may have to wait a day or two for parts to be shipped to your local dealer.
These days Toyota controls Daihatsu in Australia, indeed worldwide. For a while Daihatsu was allowed to work in a reasonably autonomous manner but when times became tough in 2005 the decision was made to discontinue the Daihatsu marque in this country.
These are simple little cars to work on, with good underbonnet space and not too many opportunities to draw blood from your hands.
Insurance costs are usually towards the bottom end of the scale. There seems to be a difference of opinion amongst insurers as to what to charge, so it pays to shop around for the best deal. As always, make sure you are comparing apples with apples when doing the price comparison.
An all-new Daihatsu Terios model has been introduced in Japan, indeed in quite a lot of other markets throughout Asia. At this stage at least there are no plans to reintroduce the brand to Australia. Given the state of the world’s auto markets at the moment it’s unlikely we will see any new Daihatsu models on our roads in the near future.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
The engine should start without hesitation, pull well even when it’s cold and have reasonable, though not great, performance at all times. Rough idling, especially on a hot day, is another sign of trouble.
Check the gearbox works properly, the clutch doesn’t slip and make sure there isn't any slack in the driveshafts and universal joints. The latter are best tested as part of your off-road driving.
Be wary of a Terios which appears to have been taken into tough bush conditions. Look for underbody damage, bent bumper-bar corners, and scratches in the paint.
Inner-city motoring, which is how the Terios will spend most of its time, is also tough on a car’s body, with park-by-ear drivers knocking them around. Look the body over carefully, then call in an expert on crash repairs for the final opinion if there's the slightest doubt on the body’s health.
During your test drive, preferably on dirt, or at least rough bitumen, listen for creaks or groans in the body. These could indicate it has been seriously stressed at times, probably by being driven hard in rough areas.
Examine the condition of the interior, especially for signs of sand usage and for muddy looking stains on the upholstery indicating the Terios has been seriously off-road.
CAR BUYING TIP
Particularly in a smaller car, it makes a lot of sense to take all regular occupants along on your test drive. Then quiz them on their comfort ratings.
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