Daihatsu Copen (04-10) - Review

Review by David Ross on
Last Updated: 24 September 2009
The funky little Copen is one of the most affordable small convertibles around and great fun to drive too. Unusually for a car this small it features a metal-folding roof rather than a fabric hood, which means it is relatively quiet on the move and well-insulated from cold weather. It's diminutive dimensions make it easy to drive and a doddle to park in town, but the downside is a cramped cabin and virtually no boot space when the roof is down. The original engine was a 0.7-litre turbo but this was replaced in early 2007 by a more powerful 1.3-litre which is also more economical.
3.5 out of 5

Other Daihatsu reviews

2.5 out of 5

Safety

Twin front airbags are standard as are dual side-impact door beams and extensive underfloor bracing. Twin roll-over bars are mounted for extra protection in the event of a roll-over accident and along with ABS the Copen also features electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD) which avoids the locking-up of individual wheels during sever braking.

NCAP Test

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2.5 out of 5

Reliability

Daihatsu has a reputation for mechanical toughness. However, the quality of some of the trim isn't as good as you'd expect from a company that's linked to the Toyota empire.

Car check problem points

Body

No problems reported.

Engine/Gearbox

No problems reported.

Other

No problems reported.