Daihatsu Extol (03-06) - Review

The Extol is a micro-van which is a rare breed these days. It has very compact dimensions, being shorter and narrower than supermini-based vans like the Ford Fiesta. However, thanks to its forward-mounted cabin area, greater height and relatively boxy shape, it has a much bigger cargo area. Its size makes it ideally suited to urban duties, where it threads in and out of traffic easily and makes the most of its tight turning circle. A decent payload and easy access to the load area are good news for multi-drop delivery drivers. The large volume cargo area suits those who carry bulky items, so it's a good choice for florists and caterers too.

The cabin is narrow on account of the slim shape, but it's otherwise roomy and easy to get comfortable in. There's no seat height adjustment but the steering wheel does adjust for height. The upright driving position gives a good view of the road and it's easy to manoeuvre with a tight turning circle of 8.8m. Power steering is standard and the controls are light and easy to use. Air conditioning is an optional extra. Commercial vehicles are always noisy, but the Extol is particularly so on the motorway.

The 1.3-litre engine is similar to that fitted to the Toyota Yaris supermini, so it's quite sophisticated. It has 84bhp and uses a five-speed manual gearbox. It's an engine that needs to be worked hard to produce its performance, but unladen it's pretty nippy. Top speed is quoted as 93mph. At lower speeds it handles well, feeling light and maneuverable - great for cutting through city traffic. On the motorway it has enough power for long distance work too, but is quite noisy. Being light weight and tall, it's prone to getting buffeted about by strong winds which can be unnerving at motorway speeds.