Fast Facts

Verdict:
The cheapest seven-seater SUV is well worth the money

Adequate performance despite small engine, third row is spacious enough for adults, minimal weight gain means fuel economy and handling isn’t degraded, extra equipment

Original cute looks suffer from stretch treatment, mushy brakes

Daihatsu’s sport utility vehicle gets extra utility

By Derryn Wong

IN OUR RECENT our review of the Honda Accord 2.0 we just spoke about the ‘big car small engine’ situation that comes about as a result of tax laws which penalise big engines. No sooner spoken than when a grand sized seven-seater with a teeny engine rolls onto the market: the Daihatsu Terios 7-seater.

To make space for the third row, Daihatsu’s popular soft-roader (aka the Toyota Rush in Japan) gets some stretch treatment. Built on a longer wheelbase, the 7-seater now has 10.5cm more between the wheels than the ‘regular’ Terios, bringing the wheelbase to 2,685mm. Overall length is up by a huge 35.5cm courtesy of the extended rear section behind the B-pillars and a larger rear overhang. Headroom is fine in the new back row although people with long limbs will be complaining after long rides.

Predictably this iteration of the Terios looks exactly the same as its smaller range brothers but with an extra big rear end and not much else to identify it as the 7-seat model. The extension might look ungainly to some, but it’s only really obvious when viewing from the side. At all other angles it doesn’t look any different from the bog-standard model.

But the Terios was never one of those new-age flame-surfacing influenced angular muscular sort of cars, and it’s rounded good looks (especially around the front bumper) were accentuated by the fact that it was quite a compact package all around. Originally being round and cute, stretching the Terios out doesn’t have the best effect visually.

In order to keep overall weight down with the additional heft of a longer car and an additional third row, the 7-seat version is only available in rear wheel drive, unlike the standard model which comes in rear- or four-wheel drive models. This version weighs only 40kg more than the standard five-seater manual, and only 10kg more than the 4WD automatic.

A kerb weight of only 1210kg means the Terios is light despite the new bulges and the 1,495cc in-line four cylinder engine isn’t overworked. It cranks out only 109bhp at 6,000rpm but the 140Nm of torque made at 4,400rpm is plenty for this application. Granted we didn’t seat six other massive individuals in the vehicle at the time, but for normal families the Terios should get around decently.

The ride does get a bit jarring sometimes, probably attributable to stiffer suspension to cope with the added weight of seven, and the slightly mushy brakes mean you really have to get your foot in to stop the vehicle.

Potential buyers might lament the loss of additional off-road prowess but let’s face it: the installation
of a third-row in any SUV is simply a confirming statement of what was already obvious, which is the fact that they are merely high-riding multi-purpose vehicles.

The car comes with all the usual accoutrements like projector headlamps, leather seats, the SUV requisite step-plates and roof rails. One nice addition is a six-speaker touch screen Kenwood DVD system with a reverse camera. But to many the biggest selling point will be the third-row. After the Suzuki APV and Hafei MinZ, it’s the cheapest seven seater around but you get a lot for the money.

NEED TO KNOW

Daihatsu Terios 7-seater 1.5(A)
ENGINE TYPE 1,495cc, 16 valve in-line four
MAX POWER 103bhp at 6,000rpm
MAX TORQUE 140Nm at 4,400rpm
GEARBOX 4 speed automatic
TOP SPEED 155km/h
0-100KM/H 15.3 seconds
PRICE $66,800 with COE
WARRANTY 3 years / 100,000km
CONTACT Sin Tien Seng
TELEPHONE 6748-1166