Category: Superminis 
Price Range: £8,495 to £11,220
Very spacious for a supermini, interesting 'podular' dashboard, economical, good ride, good green credentials, good value.
Lacklustre performance, hard plastics, some parts cheaply made and finished, springy gearchange.
Interesting alternative to the obvious, and Daihatsu's most credible effort yet.
Owned mainly by Toyota, but operating largely independently, Daihatsu - the first Japanese car company to sell cars in the UK, arriving in 1964 - is hoping that the Sirion will up its reputation as a compact car specialist and boost its sales figures in Europe. It makes two versions of this car for Japan, the Daihatsu Boon and the rebadged Toyota Passo, but our version, like its predecessor, is called Sirion. The name comes from a river in The Lord of the Rings, says Daihatsu.
Like the Fiat Panda, the Honda Jazz and the Mitsubishi Colt, for example, the Sirion has a tall stance, a snub nose and a tough, chunky demeanour. It's significantly shorter than its predecessor, but has grown in width, wheelbase and especially height. It shares much, though not all, of its platform with the latest Toyota Yaris, which also features Daihatsu's 1.3-litre petrol engine.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Daihatsu Sirion
wrote on 28 08 2006