Since most motoring writers enjoy driving cars which are powerful and comfortable and stay firmly attached to the road when being pushed hard, the Terios was always going to run the risk of being heartily criticised in road test reports. The truth is that it does the job required of it in the specific set of circumstances relating to a small but relevant customer base, though it would be reasonable to point out that those circumstances tend not to involve driving at above about 40mph.As mentioned in our launch report, the Terios isn't at all a bad off-roader. Indeed, according to one school of thought, off-roading is the thing it does best. It will not, of course, leave Discoveries and Cherokees and Shoguns floundering in its wheeltracks, but its permanent four-wheel drive system, high ground clearance and very short front and rear overhangs mean that it will continue plugging gamely on in conditions that would signal Game Over for any non-SUV.The high seating position and very tight turning circle combine to make the Terios user-friendly in urban driving, too. For even greater in-town suitability you could opt for the SE instead; it has more or less the same equipment as the SX tested here (and more than the cheaper S model), but the extra £700 added to the SX's £14,295 list price gets you automatic transmission which makes city motoring easier still.The only trouble with the automatic is that it blunts the already limited performance that the manual Terios has to offer. All models use the same 103bhp 1.5-litre engine - a larger version of the 1.3-litre unit found in the Sirion - and you might expect that this would provide reasonable, if not especially exciting, performance.But a lot of that power is absorbed in the four-wheel drive system, and what's left has to battle against the airstream thanks to the Terios's enormous frontal area. After accelerating hard for what seems like quite some time you might think that you had at last reached 70mph, only to glance at the speedometer and find that you've only just got up to 55.There are people who say that the Terios could do with more power, but frankly that's the last thing it needs. Despite Daihatsu's claims to the contrary ("sporty handling" my arse), the Terios is villainously erratic on country roads, as any short and narrow car of disproportionate height inevitably must be, and who knows what fresh hell would be revealed if it could travel down them more quickly than it already does?Its behaviour over bumps is worrying, and you can make it rock alarmingly even from a standstill by bouncing up and down in the driver's seat. (I don't recommend you try this at home because I suspect it would eventually be possible to turn the thing over.)On the plus side, there's plenty of room for front passengers, and despite external appearances there's also quite a lot for those in the rear. If you've ever sat in a Charade you'll know that this kind of packaging is a Daihatsu trademark, and something that several European manufacturers could learn from.Space for humans does not unduly compromise space for luggage. The boot volume is 380 litres with all the seats in place, and access is particularly easy thanks to a right-hinged tailgate which opens and shuts like one of the side doors. It's amazing how much more convenient this is than the normal system.My only complaint - and it applies to other cars too - is that there's no luggage cover, so either you take everything out if the car is parked in an unfamiliar area or worry about what the local tea leaves are getting up to until you get back.I can see the point of the Terios. If I lived on a farm, and there was a city within easy reach, it would make a lot of sense. It might also appeal greatly to elderly or disabled or otherwise below-averagely supple drivers who don't have to make long trips. If you don't fit it into any of these groups, though, £14,295 seems a lot to pay for something which is less suited to more conventional motoring conditions than almost anything else on the market. Engine 1495 cc, 4 cylinders Power 103 bhp @6000 rpm Torque 103 ib/ft @4400 rpm Transmission 5 speed manual Fuel/CO2 34.9 mpg / 191 g/km Acceleration 0-62mph: 12.4sec Top speed 99 mph Price From £14322.00 approx Release date 01/05/2006
