Daihatsu Materia (2007 – 2009) Review

July 2007

Daihatsu Materia launched

Priced £10,995 manual and £11,795 auto. Sliding and reclining rear seat with 60/40 split. Interior passenger space matches large family car. Similar in size to Renault Modus or Vauxhall Meriva.

Lively 103PS chain cam 1.5 litre engine gives 46.3 mpg Extra Urban and 169 g/km (manual). Auto 45.6. Both manual and auto comfortably exceed 100 mph top speed for relaxed long-distance touring.

Funky interior features acrylic black panels, central instruments and blue lighting for armrests and circular front door speakers. Standard equipment includes power steering, ABS with EBD, driver, passenger and side airbags, air-conditioning, four electric windows, CD tuner with six speakers, remote central door locking, driver’s seat height adjustment, sliding and reclining rear seat, rear privacy glass, alloy wheels with 185/55 x 15 tyres and front fog lamps.

Tight 9.8 metre turning circle (kerb-to-kerb). 619 litres of load space with the rear seat folded and either 294 or 181 litres with the rear seat upright (VDA) depending on whether the seat is slid forward or backwards. Five-speed manual gearbox or four-speed automatic. Self-Regenerating long-life Catalytic Converter. 3,800mm long x 1,690mm wide x 1,635mm high.

The only factory option is metallic paint at £325.

Key standard features include:

* Sliding and reclining 60/40 rear seat
* Height-adjustable driver’s seat
* Power steering with height-adjustable steering wheel
* Twin front and side airbags
* Anti-lock brakes with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution
* 185/55 R15 tyres on 15x6 ins spoked polished alloy wheels
* Keyless entry central-locking
* Air-conditioning
* Electric windows and door mirrors
* Front fog lamps
* Radio/CD player with six speakers and MP3 capability
* Dark tinted privacy glass for rear occupants
* Body coloured bumpers, side skirts, door handles and door mirrors
* Various storage compartments and eight cup-holders
* Rev-counter and interior clock
* Rear retractable luggage cover

Man: 106mph, 0-60mph 10.5 seconds, 46.3mpg combined, 169g/km CO2.

Auto: 102mph, 0-60mph 13.4 seconds, 45.6mpg combined, 176g/km CO2.

Fuel capacity 40 litres
Kerb weight Man 1,035kg, Auto 1,050kg
Payload Man 565kg, Auto 550kg
Braked Towing weight Man 1,000kg, Auto 1,000kg

April 2008

From April 2008 Materia comes with five years’ unlimited mileage warranty plus five years’ UK roadside recovery. The offer is not transferable and applies to all retail sales. It runs until the end of the year when it will be reviewed. In addition, the Materia enjoys a £500 price cut until the end of June 2008, bringing it down to £10,495 for the 1.5 litre manual and £11,295 for the automatic.

May 2009

Price of manual now £10,770 and available with a further £1,000 discount if ordered before June 30th 2009. Inside, the Materia offers air-con, central locking alarm, CD stereo, centrally-mounted integral speedo/rev counter/odometer, electric (tinted rear) windows and mirrors and pockets/cup holders/storage galore. And, all inclusive for just £10,770, with a five-year, unlimited mileage warranty, five years’ UK roadside assistance and eight years’ anti-perforation cover.

Materia manual 106mph, 0-60mph 10.8 seconds, 39.2mpg combnined, 169g/km CO2.

Materia auto 102mph, 0-60mph 13.7 seconds, 37.7mpg combined, 176g/km CO2.