Living in a Materia world
15/05/08 19:24 Filed in: Road
tests
I can see where Daihatsu was coming from when they designed the
Materia. Nissan and Honda have tried to woo young trendy buyers
with cuboid cars. Nissan even call theirs the Cube in the Japanese
Market. Daihatsu, too, wants to appeal to younger
customers and that is where the Materia comes in.
To my eyes the Daihatsu Materia looks like a Chrysler PT Cruiser which was snatched out of the crusher at the last second, just before it became a perfect cube.
So the Materia is certainly not a car for the shy, retiring types.The Materia was probably the most commented-on car that I have driven recently.
The quirky looks may be the main reason for the Materia's shape, but there is also pracitality. A brick-shaped car is an ideal way to package as much as possible with great efficiency.
As a result, this is a very practical motor. The rear seats slide back and forth and, in their rearmost setting they make the rear seat of the Diahatsu very accommodating. The doors are easy to get in and out of. Legroom, with the seats in this position, is generous to say the least and would put many larger cars to shame.
And I haven't yet mentioned the headroom. Sitting in the Materia is a bit like sitting in a cathedral with a towering ceiling somewhere up there. The boot is good, but slightly smaller than some of its rivals. Again, you have the option to slide the rear seats forward for more load space.
The thought struck me that Daihatsu have clearly intended to woo a younger customer profile with the Materia. Strangely, though, they might find a queue of older buyers. Those, not so agile at getting in and out of lower, more-cramped hatches will love the easy access and spaciousness of the the Materia.
It is clear that the Materia has been produced to a price. The plastics are functional rather than luxurious. This budget impression is heightened by the clang from the doors when you shut them.
That said the price is really not that keen. It may undercut the Nissan Note and the Skoda Roomster, but the Vauxhall Meriva or the Renault Modus will cost you less.
On the road it has reasonably strong performance, but it is rather uninspiring to drive. The steering feels a little lifeless and the suspension is neither cosseting nor sporty. Daihatsu has apparently tweaked the suspension for European markets to make it a little stiffer and less prone to body roll. However, on a car this tall, body roll remains.
To underline the positioning as a quirky car to appeal to those who want to be different, one of the prominent switches on the dashboard which turns on a blue neon style light around each door speaker.
If your main desire is to buy a car that is different, then the Materia may well appeal. If you do, you will be rewarded with that excellent practicality of carrying four, maybe five, passengers with good space for all.
If, however, you are more concerned about a car's driving characteristics you may look elsewhere.
To my eyes the Daihatsu Materia looks like a Chrysler PT Cruiser which was snatched out of the crusher at the last second, just before it became a perfect cube.
So the Materia is certainly not a car for the shy, retiring types.The Materia was probably the most commented-on car that I have driven recently.
The quirky looks may be the main reason for the Materia's shape, but there is also pracitality. A brick-shaped car is an ideal way to package as much as possible with great efficiency.
As a result, this is a very practical motor. The rear seats slide back and forth and, in their rearmost setting they make the rear seat of the Diahatsu very accommodating. The doors are easy to get in and out of. Legroom, with the seats in this position, is generous to say the least and would put many larger cars to shame.
And I haven't yet mentioned the headroom. Sitting in the Materia is a bit like sitting in a cathedral with a towering ceiling somewhere up there. The boot is good, but slightly smaller than some of its rivals. Again, you have the option to slide the rear seats forward for more load space.
The thought struck me that Daihatsu have clearly intended to woo a younger customer profile with the Materia. Strangely, though, they might find a queue of older buyers. Those, not so agile at getting in and out of lower, more-cramped hatches will love the easy access and spaciousness of the the Materia.
It is clear that the Materia has been produced to a price. The plastics are functional rather than luxurious. This budget impression is heightened by the clang from the doors when you shut them.
That said the price is really not that keen. It may undercut the Nissan Note and the Skoda Roomster, but the Vauxhall Meriva or the Renault Modus will cost you less.
On the road it has reasonably strong performance, but it is rather uninspiring to drive. The steering feels a little lifeless and the suspension is neither cosseting nor sporty. Daihatsu has apparently tweaked the suspension for European markets to make it a little stiffer and less prone to body roll. However, on a car this tall, body roll remains.
To underline the positioning as a quirky car to appeal to those who want to be different, one of the prominent switches on the dashboard which turns on a blue neon style light around each door speaker.
If your main desire is to buy a car that is different, then the Materia may well appeal. If you do, you will be rewarded with that excellent practicality of carrying four, maybe five, passengers with good space for all.
If, however, you are more concerned about a car's driving characteristics you may look elsewhere.