Motors North

Daihatsu Sirion 1.3 S petrol

HERE’S a lesson in car psychology.

An old acquaintance of mine who lives in Skye is middle-aged, well-adjusted, comfortable and takes an interest in cars without resorting to reading every motor magazine.

The last time I saw him I was driving a Porsche 911. He was impressed. Jimmy, well let’s call him that, beamed when I crunched up his gravel drive and he even called on a neighbour to "come and look!"

Last week I returned and arrived as "Jimmy" was chugging round his neat lawn with his motor mower.

But where was the beaming welcome? The bonhomie?

He barely glanced in my direction but was obviously scowling.

It wasn’t until I stepped out of my test car – a pale blue sub-£9000 Daihatsu Sirion – that a flash of recognition cracked across his weatherbeaten Hebridean face.

"Och, it’s you!" he called. "I thought it was a tourist looking for directions."

No, it wasn’t that, he later confessed. It was the car!

Like so many people "Jimmy" had fallen foul of the "not in my drive" camp when he spotted the lowly Daihatsu – and that’s a shame.

It’s a cracking little car – cheap, nippy, cleverly designed and practical. The Sirion falls into the same camp as the equally impressive Suzuki Alto – another low-cost five-door that’s an ideal shed on wheels.

There are 10 models in the five-door hatch Sirion range, from the entry level one-litre three-cylinder with 68bhp to the 102bhp four-cylinder range-leading 1.5 litre SX+. The first costs £8320 and will average 56.6mpg with en emissions level of 118g/km while the unnecessarily large 1.5 SX+ will set you back £10,990 and manages 45.6mpg with emissions of 145g/km.

I can’t quite see the logic in offering so many versions of this small car, especially when you realise that the test car was fitted with yet another unit – a 90bhp 1.3 litre four-cylinder offering 48.7mpg and 137g/km.

And Daihatsu doesn’t stop there. Although the standard transmission fare is the light five-speed manual fitted to my 1.3 S model, you can opt for a four-speed automatic in the 1.3 and 1.5 cars costing, oddly, £790 in the 1.3 and £785 on the 1.5.

But the 1.3 on the test car is undoubtedly the best for general use.

It’s frugal round town where I averaged an easy 39mpg and man enough to pull a loaded Sirion at a respectable lick with a remarkably relaxed 60mph cruise at just 2500rpm.

There’s not a huge amount of power and you have to rev the engine hard, but overtaking on the open road from 50mph simply calls for a 500rpm boost by dropping down into fourth and flooring it. It won’t skelp away, but it can get the job done safely.

Good design extends to the integrated steering column and instrument pod that allows both to move with one another so that no matter where you adjust the steering wheel for comfort you will always be able to see the dials unobstructed by the wheel rim.

And I liked the rear door electric windows which, unlike many small cars, actually retract almost all the way into the door panel.

Clever gets better when you load up. Daihatsu has simplified the seat back release mechanism and mounts it on the C pillar. Then there’s the rear seat squabs that pivot forward and down to remain horizontal but are low enough to allow the split and fold seat backs to lie flat.

There’s even a sliding panel to close the gap between the rear boot floor and the folded seat back.

All good, practical stuff.

The boot’s not big – just 225 litres. But with the rear seats down the cargo is a very useful 630 litres and the car’s high roof means awkward loads can be slid in through the large and low-opening tailgate.

On the road it rides well on its 14-inch steel wheels, but the suspension has that lightweight mini car characteristic of bouncing from one ridge to the next unless it’s heavily loaded. Getting it loaded isn’t difficult – it starts off at just under a tonne. But it’s got the guts to tow a trailer of up to one tonne – ideal for allotment holders and anyone shifting gardening gear or a motor mower.

Noise levels are reasonable. Wind rush picks up at 55mph and road noise intrudes on rougher surfaces and when it’s wet. And the indicators irritatingly don’t self-cancel quickly enough and it’s easy to leave them blinking.

The dash is a typically Japanese plastic-fest – hard and uncompromising. But the integrated dash instruments are neat and clear and switchgear is easy to use. The tilting steering column helps make the most of the seating position which is good even though the seats lack lumber support.

Visibility is good from the front but the rear is cluttered and it’s just as well the tailgate is flat and vertical to make it easy to judge parking spaces.

The 1.3 S makes most sense in the Sirion line up – the 1.0 lacks open road punch with a load and the 1.5 is, well, unnecessary. You could opt for a higher specification 1.3 at S+, SE and even SE+ level. But I found the S lacking in nothing apart from electronic stability control which is only fitted to the 1.5 versions.

The 1.3 S comes with ABS, twin front and side airbags, front seat belt tensioners, featherlight power steering, central locking, air conditioning, an immobiliser, electric windows, split and fold rear seat and a good RDS and CD system.

Better still Daihatsu sells the Sirion with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty – now there’s confidence!

Like the Suzuki Alto I’ve already mentioned the Sirion would make an excellent little holdall. The Alto has a smaller, one-litre three-cylinder engine but even in top SZ4 trim is generously equipped for £8460.

When you are in the market for cars at this level it’s all about how much you are willing to pay.

Both these Japanese offerings are good, but the Sirion is undoubtedly the most accomplished of the two despite a slightly higher price tag and the fact that it occupies more expensive Group 6 insurance territory compared to the Alto’s modest Group 2.

The Daihatsu would be my choice – but only with the 1.3 litre petrol.

By the way, "Jimmy" apologised for his upmarket response when he first spotted the Sirion and admitted the Daihatsu was not as embarrassing as he had originally thought.

But he still didn’t ask his neighbour to take a look – and he wants to know when I’ll be back with another Porsche!

Rating: 7/10

FINAL THOUGHT: If you are in the market for a lightweight, low-cost five-door city car you’d do a lot worse than a Sirion. This is a refined little box on wheels that punches over its 940kg kerb weight. It’s not particularly economical, but it is surprisingly swift for a car in this class and scuttles along well. Ride is good too. Of all Sirions I’d recommend the 1.3 S test car – well-priced with front and side airbags as standard.

Daihatsu Sirion 1.3 S petrol

Price: £8810
Capacity: 1298cc
Power: 90bhp
0-62mph: 11.7 seconds
Maximum speed: 106mph
Economy: Combined 48.7mpg; Urban 37.7mpg
CO2 emissions: 137g/km
ESP: No
Insurance: Group 6

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Daihatsu Sirion 1.3 S petrol