The totally new Daihatsu Terios
follows on from last year's new
Sirion in offering a strong
European flavour to its styling,
packaging and dynamics.
As a result Daihatsu aims to boost
European sales from the 32,000 of
2003 to 80,000 in 2008.
As so confident is parent company,
Toyota of the new Terios's appeal
that it plans to sell 1,500 per
month of its version in Japan,
badged 'Rush'.
The new Terios UK line-up will
comprise the Terios 1.5 available in
BlackMica only at £12,995 on-theroad,
the higher-spec 1.5X at
£14,295 OTR - expected to be the
best-seller - and the 1.5SE automatic
at £14,995 OTR.
Arguably the most stylish small 4x4
on themarket, the totally new
Terios has a dynamic, fun-to-drive
appearance with strong off-road
styling cues yet short front and
rear overhangs, a long wheelbase
and especially wide tracks an body
width.
Its roomy, four-door, five-seat
body succeeds in being compact
yet practical, avoiding the bulk,
high fuel consumption and negative
image of some 4x4s.
Designed to appeal to young families
and older people seeking the
traditional 4x4 qualities of visibility,
bad-weather traction and versatility,
the new Terios also offers
small car running costs and
manoeuvrability.
Its turning circle is a tight 9.8
metres (kerb-to-kerb) for the S and
SE and a still hatchback-like ten
meters for the bigger tyred SX
while the SX body length is
between that of the new Renault
Clio and larger Megane.
Compared to the previous model,
the new Terios 1.5SX is 230mm
longer at 4,975 and a significant
190 mm wider at 1,745mm. It is
45mm higher but purely because
of its standard roof rails. The entrylevel
S model - which lacks roof
rails - is actually 5mm lower than
before.
The versatile interior offers midsized
hatchback passenger space
with a clever split fold-and-tumble
rear seat which liberates a 1,290
mmmaximumfloor length - long
enough to take a mountain bike.
Its standard Dynamic Variable
Valve Timing (DVVT) enhances low
speed pulling power and high rev
throttle response by maximising
combustion efficiently. It also
boosts fuel economy and lowers
exhaust emissions.
Top speed for manual models is
almost 100mph and over 93mph
for the automatic, while the Terios
1.5Smanual records 40.4mpg on
the Extra Urban Cycle and the
Terios 1.5SE automatic not far
behind at 39.8mpg.
In fact, the Terios 1.5S has the best
CO2 reading of any four-door 4x4 -
diesel included - and comfortably
beats rivals such as the Suzuki
Grand Vitara,Mitsubishi Shogun
Pinin and Honda HR-V.
Meanwhile, all new Terios models
have a full time 4WD system with a
fixed 50/50 front to rear torquesplit
and centre differential which
eliminates axle wind-up - the phenomenon
of the steering becoming
increasingly heavy on full-lock.
Because of this 50/50 toque split,
high-speed stability and slippery
surface traction is greatly
enhanced compared to most
rivals. These models are usually
rear-wheel drive with selectable
4WD or effectively front wheeldrive,
only calling on 4WD when
sensors detect wheelspin.
The new Terios has outstanding
safety measures with in-house
tests giving results equal to a Euro
NCAP four-star occupant protection
and three star pedestrian protection.
Both driver, passenger and side
airbags are fitted and the standard
four-channel anti-lock brakes
(ABS) also feature electronic
brakeforce distribution (EBD)
whichmaximises stopping power
and minimises skidding.
Every new Terios model has an
outstanding equipment tally with
the entry-level Terios 1.5S featuring
air-conditioning, power-steering,
ABS with EBD, full-time fourwheel
drive with centre diff-lock,
driver, passenger and side airbags,
three rear-seat three-point seatbelts,
radio/CD player, four electric
windows and reverse parking
sensors.
Expected to be the best-seller, the
Terios 1.5 SX adds, for example,
alloy wheels with 235/60R tyres,
two-tone wheelarch extensions
and side-skirts, roof rails,multiinformation
display, front foglamps,
smoked 'privacy glass' for
the rear side doors and rear window,
leather steering wheel, electric
windscreen de-icer and door
mirrors and various AC sockets
and load-restraint ties.
The automatic transmission-only
Terios 1.5SE has a similar equipment
level to the SX but features a
different design of alloy wheel with
215/65 tyres and has colour-keyed
side skirts.
Like all Daihatsus, the new Terios
will enjoy the protection of a threeyear
unlimited mileage warranty
with roadside assistance plus an
eight-year anti-perforation warranty.
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