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ABOUT THREE YEARS ago, there weren't that many SUVs (Sport Utility Vehicles) available if your budget was in the region of $60,000 with COE. As a matter of fact, there were only two vehicles that fitted the bill; the Perodua Kembara and Suzuki Jimny.
The Koreans then joined in the segment about two years ago with the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage. Today, these two examples are selling better than the abovementioned Malaysian and Japanese cars, mainly because they offer more attractive overall packages, including roomier interiors, more powerful engines and better refinement.
Recently, small-car specialist, Daihatsu, has decided to join in the sub-$60K SUV party with its all-new Terios. For those of you who are hearing the "Terios" name for the first time, it's not actually a newly conceived car from Daihatsu. The previous-generation model wasn't sold locally, but the Perodua Kembara is the closest thing you can get to the old Terios.
The current model is based on a new platform. Physically, it's considerably bigger than the Jimny and Kembara, but more compact than the Tucson and Sportage. It has proper SUV styling, with high ground clearance, chunky bumpers, a side-hinged boot door complete with spare wheel and a square-ish body profile.
Just one engine is available currently, a 1.5-litre four-cylinder unit with 109bhp. However, you can choose between a two-wheel or four-wheel drive, with either a manual or automatic transmission for the latter variant. The two-wheel drive Terios is available in manual transmission only.
The Koreans then joined in the segment about two years ago with the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage. Today, these two examples are selling better than the abovementioned Malaysian and Japanese cars, mainly because they offer more attractive overall packages, including roomier interiors, more powerful engines and better refinement.
Recently, small-car specialist, Daihatsu, has decided to join in the sub-$60K SUV party with its all-new Terios. For those of you who are hearing the "Terios" name for the first time, it's not actually a newly conceived car from Daihatsu. The previous-generation model wasn't sold locally, but the Perodua Kembara is the closest thing you can get to the old Terios.
The current model is based on a new platform. Physically, it's considerably bigger than the Jimny and Kembara, but more compact than the Tucson and Sportage. It has proper SUV styling, with high ground clearance, chunky bumpers, a side-hinged boot door complete with spare wheel and a square-ish body profile.
Just one engine is available currently, a 1.5-litre four-cylinder unit with 109bhp. However, you can choose between a two-wheel or four-wheel drive, with either a manual or automatic transmission for the latter variant. The two-wheel drive Terios is available in manual transmission only.
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DRIVING IT
The 1.5-litre engine is exceptionally smooth and quiet. It revs happily to 6,200rpm and produces a nice sporty note beyond 4,000rpm. Daihatsu claims an automatic four-wheel drive version like the test car we drove has a top speed of 150km/h and it's capable of sprinting from stationary to 100km/h in 13.6 seconds.
In practice, the manufacturer's performance figures feel just about right. The engine sounds strained, however, when it's pushed above 80km/h and it tends to run out of puff. The Terios is happier zipping around town traffic than cruising at three-figure speeds on highways.
The four-speed automatic transmission moves up the ratios seamlessly and it's remarkably responsive during kickdown.
The steering is a bit heavy, but it provides a decent amount of feedback. Around the corners, the Terios rolls a fair bit and you can feel some chassis flex when the road surface is less than perfect. In the braking department, stopping power is excellent and there's great progressiveness.
The Terios' suspension is softly sprung, but because its chassis lacks rigidity, it doesn't always swallow bumps and road irregularities efficiently.
The 1.5-litre engine is exceptionally smooth and quiet. It revs happily to 6,200rpm and produces a nice sporty note beyond 4,000rpm. Daihatsu claims an automatic four-wheel drive version like the test car we drove has a top speed of 150km/h and it's capable of sprinting from stationary to 100km/h in 13.6 seconds.
In practice, the manufacturer's performance figures feel just about right. The engine sounds strained, however, when it's pushed above 80km/h and it tends to run out of puff. The Terios is happier zipping around town traffic than cruising at three-figure speeds on highways.
The four-speed automatic transmission moves up the ratios seamlessly and it's remarkably responsive during kickdown.
The steering is a bit heavy, but it provides a decent amount of feedback. Around the corners, the Terios rolls a fair bit and you can feel some chassis flex when the road surface is less than perfect. In the braking department, stopping power is excellent and there's great progressiveness.
The Terios' suspension is softly sprung, but because its chassis lacks rigidity, it doesn't always swallow bumps and road irregularities efficiently.
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INSIDE IT
Unlike previous-generation Daihatsus, the Terios cabin is well screwed together and it's made up of good-quality plastics. The stalks are nice to use, while the switches and buttons are ergonomically located. Like a typical SUV, the tall driving position of the Terios gives you an excellent view out. The front seats provide decent support for your torso also and they have superb adjustability.
Head and legroom is generous in the back cabin. You can have three adult passengers sitting across rather comfortably, while the boot area should be able to swallow a couple of short-stay travel bags. Should you need more space to lug bigger items, the backseat can be easily folded and stowed against the front seats.
Only available in the four-wheel drive Terios, there's a centre-differential lock button by the dashboard. Activating this function will connect the front and rear wheels directly, which is useful in case you're trapped in thick mud or deep ruts.
Another neat feature in the Terios is the multi-function information display. It tells you the time, outside temperature, fuel status, maximum traveling range possible and vehicle altitude.
Unlike previous-generation Daihatsus, the Terios cabin is well screwed together and it's made up of good-quality plastics. The stalks are nice to use, while the switches and buttons are ergonomically located. Like a typical SUV, the tall driving position of the Terios gives you an excellent view out. The front seats provide decent support for your torso also and they have superb adjustability.
Head and legroom is generous in the back cabin. You can have three adult passengers sitting across rather comfortably, while the boot area should be able to swallow a couple of short-stay travel bags. Should you need more space to lug bigger items, the backseat can be easily folded and stowed against the front seats.
Only available in the four-wheel drive Terios, there's a centre-differential lock button by the dashboard. Activating this function will connect the front and rear wheels directly, which is useful in case you're trapped in thick mud or deep ruts.
Another neat feature in the Terios is the multi-function information display. It tells you the time, outside temperature, fuel status, maximum traveling range possible and vehicle altitude.
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DOLLARS AND SENSE
At $63,500 with COE, the Terios we tested is a top-of-the-line automatic variant, otherwise known as "High Grade". It comes with ABS, twin airbags, 16-inch factory alloy wheel, colour-coded electric wing mirrors, fog lamps, leveling projector headlamps, power windows and leather seats.The entry-level "Deluxe" variant is $2,000 cheaper than the High Grade. It makes do without projector headlamps, colour-coded door mirrors, alloy wheels, a luggage hook, a 12V outlet, the multi-function display, the front interior lamp, leather steering wheel and sunglasses holder.
The manual version of the four-wheel drive Terios is only available in High Grade and it's $1,000 cheaper than the automatic High Grade. For a more individualised choice, there's the $64,500 (with COE) "Big Wheel" Terios. It comes in manual transmission only and has wider wheels of different design, a roof rack, and wheel-arch extensions.
CONCLUSION
The Daihatsu Terios is practical and well-built. It'll make a fine city car and its inoffensive good looks should appeal to both sexes. We like the communicative steering and engine smoothness also, although the powerplant could do with more punch. The handling is decent as long as you don't treat it like a hot hatch and the car is generously equipped for its price.We can't think of another example that can compete head-on with this Daihatsu. The Jimny and Kembara are too small and a bit too old compared to it, while the 2.0-litre Tucson and Sportage are two-wheel drive SUVs that are physically closer to the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. This means that given proper marketing, Daihatsu has in the Terios a potential hit that could conceivably kick start a whole new genre of SUVs.
SIMILAR CARS WE HAVE DRIVEN
Kia Sportage 2.0 (A), $58,499 with COEThe Sportage might be a class higher than the Terios in terms of physical size and engine capacity, but it lacks a four-wheel drive system. The Daihatsu is also amazingly spacious and not that much slower in pace than the Korean car.
Perodua Kembara 1.3 (A), $53,400 with COE
Based on the old Terios floorpan, the Kembara feels dated in comparison to the current Terios in every aspect. However, expect the next-generation car to be closely matched to the current Terios as it again will be built on the same platform.
PLUSES
Pleasant styling, spacious cabin, excellent build quality, high-level of equipment and competitive pricingMINUSES
Underpowered engine, so-so handling, might be too niche
VERDICT
A potential success NEED TO KNOW
Model Daihatsu Terios Engine Type 1495cc 16V in-line 4
Max Power 109bhp at 6000rpm
Max Torque 140Nm at 4400rpm
Gearbox 4-speed automatic
Top speed 150km/h
0-100km/h 13.6 seconds
Price $63,500 with COE
Warranty 2 years / 50,000km
Contact Sin Tien Seng Pte Ltd, 6748-1166
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