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Daihatsu Charade (2003-2009)

SQUARE BUT SATISFYING (some text hidden) --NONE--

BY ANDY ENRIGHT

Introductionword count: 60

Daihatsu's Charade may not be the most visually arresting citycar you've ever clapped eyes upon, but beneath those unassuming lines is one of the most entertaining small cars money can buy. The 1.0-litre engine that resides beneath the Charade's stubby bonnet is more than enough to entertain and serves up a big portion of fun at a very small price.

Modelsword count: 8

Models Covered: 3/5dr hatchback, 1.0 petrol [EL, SL]

Historyword count: 84

The Charade was introduced in 2003 after a three-year absence from the British market. During this period, the YRV and the Sirion models had been fulfilling the small car duties for Daihatsu but neither could really fill the Charade's shoes and in May 2003 a new Charade was officially offered for sale. Three models were available starting with three and five-door EL and the range-topping SL. All models were powered by the same 57bhp three-cylinder powerplant with an option of manual or automatic gearboxes.

What You Getword count: 459

Unlike its predecessor, this Charade is a tiny Citycar rather than a Supermini. The franchise is well used to producing city runabouts. Its previous offering - the Cuore - competed ineffectually against the likes of Ford's Ka and VW's Lupo but this car has proved to be more of a threat. What's confusing is that the Charade actually offers a longer wheelbase than either Daihatsu's larger Sirion or YRV Superminis. So, although it's tiny on the outside - the 3,410mm length makes it 20cm shorter than a Ford Ka - impressive interior space is promised within. Styling-wise, this car is certainly very neat, looking like a shrunken and chamfered Honda Jazz. The 1.0-litre engine meanwhile, is an intriguing three-cylinder affair that manages a mere 58bhp but which seems to punch way above what the bantamweight statistics promise. The EL and SL trim levels on the Charade provide a decent haul with the SL (around £7,300 when new) adding alloy wheels and air-conditioning to the EL's (around £6,800 when new) ABS, twin front airbags, CD player and central locking. Other safety features include twin airbags (with side bags on the SL), height adjustable seat belts that feature force limiters and pretensioners, side impact bars and Daihatsu's impact-sensing release system. During a collision, this unlocks the doors, illuminates the interior lights and activates the hazard warning lights. Pedestrian safety hasn't been ignored either, and the engine compartment has been designed to allow it to absorb energy, the windscreen wiper pivots and bonnet hinges both being designed with shock absorbing spaces behind them. The Charade must also be applauded for upholding the tradition of wacky Japanese translations. Fire the word 'Charade' into a thesaurus and it'll come back with synonyms such as farce, sham, and travesty - hardly the image many would want to project. Most will instead associate it with a genteel parlour game. It's a car that really does go that extra mile to please. Every time you turn the ignition on, the instrument display reads "HELLO, HAPPY" which brings to mind the film 'Happy Gilmore' which features a golfer prone to fits of irrational violence. When you switch off, the display flashes up "SEE YOU - GOODBYE." How sweet. A great deal of thought has gone into making the Charade as user-friendly as possible. The front seat height of 480mm is said to closely match most people's hip height to ease entry and exit although whether these people were Japanese or British is not clear. The doors open at right angles to the car, making entry and exit easy for those laden down with shopping or those who aren't as agile as they once were. The height adjustable steering wheel and front seatbelts also ensure a comfortable driving position.

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Scoring (subset of scores)

Category: Small Runabouts

Performance
50%
Handling
50%
Comfort
60%
Space
80%
Styling, Build, Value, Equipment, Depreciation, Handling, Insurance and Total scores are available with our full data feed.

This is an excerpt from our full review.
To access the full content library please contact us on 0330 0020 227 or click here

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