New Terios
Japan's self-styled compact car specialist has released the second-generation Terios: slightly longer, more powerful and, crucially, 190mm wider - both inside and out. It was launched in a range of three models: the trademark full-time all-wheel drive...
Japan's self-styled compact car specialist has released the second-generation Terios: slightly longer, more powerful and, crucially, 190mm wider - both inside and out. It was launched in a range of three models: the trademark full-time all-wheel drive with manual or automatic transmission and a two-wheel drive version in manual.
The styling has morphed into something more purposeful than its predecessor, wider at the bottom than at the top with prominent wheel arches. There are large combination headlight/indicator units at either side of a split-level grille with a small air intake in the conventional position and a larger one in the colour-coded front bumper.
The Terios retains the strong C-pillar and wraparound rear side windows of the previous model but the wheels are closer to the corners, giving the new Terios a 45mm longer wheelbase, conferring some useful extra cabin space and creditable approach and departure angles (thanks to short overhangs) of 38° and 37° respectively.
Motivation is provided by a new 1495cc DOHC engine - actually the familiar 1.3-litre Sirion unit with its stroke lengthened to 91.8mm - for which Daihatsu claims 77kW at 6,000rpm and 140Nm at 4,400, quite high revs for a substantially undersquare engine. Nevertheless, it spins willingly, if vocally, to its power peak and will take the Terios up to an easy 140km/h cruise with a bit more to come.
The power reaches the 16-inch alloy rims via a five-speed manual or straightforward four-speed automatic transmission and conventional transfer case, giving a 50:50 power split.
There's an electronically lockable centre differential but no traction control so, if you get one wheel cocked off the ground, it will spin and the other wheel on that axle will lose all power - but the other axle's wheels will continue to pull at full strength. Daihatsu quotes fuel consumption of 7.9 litres/100km for the manual and 8.4 litres/100km for the self-shifter.
The Daihatsu Terios is still primarily a road vehicle, however, and behaves well on tar without excessive body roll or pitching. The engine is longitudinally rather than transverse-mounted, so the two-wheel drive model is rear-wheel driven, making it the smallest rear-wheel drive vehicle in its class
The Daihatsu Terios is available from Muscats Motors, Gzira (www.daihatsu.com.mt; Tel: 2326 4586/7). Prices start from €23,200 (Lm 9,959).