Daihatsu Sirion: To most it's another small car from the firm that brought us the inspiring Charade. To Daihatsu, however, it's an MPC - a multi purpose compact - with added headroom and higher seats. Fine features, but in fairness they don't really represent anything uniquely different from other players in the small car market.
The Sirion manages to be spacious, while still one of the shortest cars in its class . . . so it's easy to park. Legroom is not much better than the rest, and boot space is actually one of the smallest in its class.
What it aims to offer is good value. That's what the previous Sirion had in mind, but it failed to sparkle given its mundane boxy looks, imprecise handling and tough competition.
The new car tries to be more fun and youthful, targeting the price-conscious urban and urbane motorists. This is a growing European market in which the Japanese brand is keen to increase its share. The wooing is done by putting a friendly smile on the car's front, by means of a short nose and high positioned lights.
Cute is the cure for those who feel their in-town tootling about doesn't warrant a full family car or saloon. The marketing types then move in with madcap colours.
Our test car came in what Daihatsu calls "coral metallic", but to several young rogues outside the car park it was just pink. The colour generated more comment than the car. Many small-car owners are in their 50s or older and wouldn't be seen dead in a luminous pink car, but this seems lost on the small-car "creatives".
The only discreet colour on offer is grey. Yet, ironically, inside, where colour-mad buyers could let their tastes run free out of sight of the sniggering masses, there seems to be no choice but grey. The exterior is a colour explosion, inside it's still a monochrome world.
The Sirion's interior is the usual price-conscious Asian fare - drab grey plastic dominating the dash. But, Daihatsu has tried to liven up the look with Smart-like white radio buttons and a speedometer on the steering column.
There are lots of cubbyholes and storage in the front, though the glovebox can hold little more than the manual. Boot space of 230 litres goes up to over 600 litres when the 60:40 split rear seats are folded down and the cushions flipped into the footwell; this gives a flat floor right up to the front seats.
For all the 230 litres, it still looks tight. We managed the weekend pilgrimage to the DIY centre in one run. Competitors, however, beat it for space. Seating is relatively high, which helps entry and egress for the less than nimble. That's probably the origin of the MPC tag.
ISOFIX childseat fittings are included, and the back doors open wide enough to make the engineering involved with installing seat and child easier than some cars in this market. Given boot space, however, much of the paraphernalia has to be loaded into the back seats.
Two engines are on offer: a 1-litre 65bhp unit and a 1.3-litre version due here this summer. Our test car was the sprightly three cylinder 1-litre engine and, though it offered a more sedate performance than when housed in the Charade, it nonetheless was peppy enough to turn in performance figures on a par with, if not better than, its larger-engined competitors.
There's a lovely eagerness from such a small engine, in keeping with its friendly looks.
Unfortunately, performance is less inspiring than the Charades. Oversteer cuts in early in corners, like a slap across the wrists of those who wish to have their small car pie and eat it. The car sets its own pace and you come along for the ride.
Handling is not its strongest suit. Steering is numb compared with many lower-priced competitors. (Does an informative steering system really add that much to the price?)
In this market, it's about functionality and price. If you've any doubt, just ask any frustrated Smart car salesperson.
The Fiesta tops this market, followed by the 206, but there's an extra €1,000 between their entry-level price and that of the Sirion. That can be enough to rule them out. Both are superior cars, but the entry level models may not be what buyers want.
So what can you get for under €14,000? Five rivals to the Sirion come to mind: the Chevrolet Kalos, the Hyundai Getz, the Suzuki Ignis, the Fiat Punto and the Skoda Fabia. Against its Asian rivals, the Sirion holds its own, carrying similar specification, including ABS with EBD (electronic brake distribution) and electric windows as standard. The Punto is a serious rival with Fiat often offering four-year warranties and breakdown cover.
The Fabia, at just €225 more, doesn't match the Sirion for peppy performance or fuel economy, but the boot is bigger and interior trim slightly better.
The Sirion is a useful city car with decent looks and it will find its buyers who value its strong record for reliability. However, it will not topple the leaders, even with its price advantage.
