Item: Used Daihatsu YRV 2001 - 2005
Author: What Car? Team

What is it like?

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Daihatsu specialises in building small, budget cars, and while it pulled out of the UK market in 2011 when the strong yen made it impossible for it to make a profit here, there are still plenty of its models on the used market.

The best of the lot is the Charade hatchback, which feels perfectly suited to city driving and is surprisingly spacious for something so small. However, its back catalogue also includes the tiny Terios and Fourtrak SUVs and the Copen convertible, which featured a Mercedes-Benz SLK-style folding metal roof.

DAIHATSU

It's a decent runaround that's easy to drive, if not very entertaining.

Used Daihatsu YRV 2001 - 2005

The YRV isn't as cheap as you might expect. It's by no means expensive, but used prices are on a par with some more mainstream, higher-profile rivals - although you do get a lot of kit for your money, though.

Running costs aren't bad. The standard 1.3-litre version will return an average of 47.1mpg, and even the turbocharged version will manage a fairly competitive 43.5mpg.

Insurance costs are where the Turbo really loses out. It has a lofty classification of group 11, while the rest of the cars in the range, which use the standard 86bhp unit, are in the far more acceptable groups 6 or 7.

Servicing is a bit pricey in comparison to the Yaris. This will have much to do with the fact that the YRV needs to be serviced every 12,000 miles, while the Yaris can go for 20,000 miles between overhauls. Parts can be needlessly expensive, too.

It's a decent runaround that's easy to drive, if not very entertaining. 


The YRV was initially released with a retuned version of the Toyota Yaris' sprightly 1.3-litre engine. It sacrifices a little bit of top-end pull for more low-down flexibility, making it even easier to drive on a day-to-day basis and also paying dividends in fuel economy.

Later on, Daihatsu released a turbocharged version that knocks out 127bhp. The engine isn't bad, but the chassis struggles to cope with the standard engine, let alone this more powerful one. It's pricier to buy as well, so we'd leave it alone.

The basic Radical car came with power steering, twin front airbags, and electric front windows, while Radical2 models - our favourires - added central locking and electric windows.

Another trim level called 1.3 added electric rear windows, while Premium models also gain alloys, air-con, and remote central locking. The 4trak model had four-wheel drive and a CD player, the F-Speed and Turbo models both had a paddleshift transmission.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Spacious enough for four adults to sit comfortably</li> <li>Logically laid-out interior that doesn’t</li> <li>feel too cheap</li> <li>Mature driving manners </li> <li>Decent-sized boot</li> <li>Competitive buying and running costs</li></ul>

Small cars, or superminis as they’re also known, used to be bought almost exclusively as first cars or by people with no children – but the likes of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/fiesta/hatchback/review/n106">Ford Fiesta</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/ibiza/hatchback/review/n17359">Seat Ibiza</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/polo/hatchback/review/n83">Volkswagen Polo</a> have grown to the point where they can be considered all-round family transport, albeit with the odd compromise.

The Fiesta remains a star of the class, thanks to its strong Ecoboost petrol engines and suspension settings that are beautifully judged for British roads. However, the latest Volkswagen offers even more practicality, decent performance and a classy interior that has the edge on the Ford’s for quality.

Any of these models will be a competent commuter car – especially if fitted with one of the increasingly popular small turbocharged petrol engines – but just remember that while you’ll be able to carry two adults and two children, it might still be a struggle to get all of their luggage into the boot.

Small

Despite its age, very little reliability data is available on the YRV, mainly because Daihatsu never sold enough in this country to make a decent sample size.

Being a relatively small manufacturer, Daihatsu is rarely included in reliability surveys or the JD Power Customer Satisfaction Survey. However, Daihatsu has made some incredibly reliable cars in the past - the Fourtrak off-roader and the Charade city car are both seemingly unbreakable.

The components used in the YRV are tried and tested in other Daihatsu models, and there's no evidence to suggest that they'll be any less solid in the YRV. What's more, the engine is sourced from Toyota, one of the most reliable car makers , so it's very unlikely that this will cause any trouble.

The only problems concern the dealers. We have heard complaints from frustrated owners that dealers are too few and too far apart, and that some lack expertise.

The Daihatsu YRV is one of those cars that many people turn their noses up at. An obscure little supermini from a small far-eastern manufacturer doesn't seem to be many people's idea of a good time.

However, while the YRV certainly has its limitations, it's better than people give it credit for. It borrows a very good engine from Toyota, making it punchy and frugal. The car's tall body also provides excellent head- and legroom in any of the four seats, and provides it in a car no longer than the average supermini.

Granted, the boot is small, but a sliding rear seat means that it's easily extendable. The extra space comes at the cost of rear legroom.

Despite keen performance, the YRV isn't a great drive. The ride is lumpy, the car loses grip easily in corners and sloppy steering calls for too much arm twirling. There's a lot of noise on the motorway, too.

Used Daihatsu YRV 2001 - 2005 review

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