Daihatsu Terios (06-10) - Review

Just one engine is available in the Terios - a 1.5-litre petrol which is offered with a five-speed manual gearbox or a four-speed auto. With 103bhp there's power enough to cope with off-road driving and general everyday use, but it lacks the power for confident overtaking and long motorway trips. It does need to be worked hard too - and is noisy as a result, while a 0-62mph time of 12.4 seconds won't set the world alight.

The Terios is surprisingly good to drive, with little body roll and an ability to corner well. However, the suspension is particularly firm, which makes the ride quite bumpy and means that the speeds need to be kept down on rougher roads to remain comfortable. On the plus side it handles well on the road, resisting bodyroll when cornering. It's full-time four-wheel drive system (some 4x4 systems are part-time, powering just two wheels for much of the time) gives added traction in slippery conditions. Its relatively compact dimensions give extra room to manoeuvre past rocks and trees, which also comes in handy if you're squeezing into a tight parking spot.