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.