Skip advert
Advertisement

Daihatsu Materia

Third report: Has first set of bills taken edge off supermini?

  • The Daihatsu’s boxy body provides plenty of luggage capacity. If I fold the rear seats, there’s easily enough space for my growing collection of camera equipment – although I have to empty the boot at weekends to make room for passengers in the back seats.
  • One of my few gripes concerns the indicators, which cancel themselves too easily. On my criss-cross commute through London, I constantly have to reapply the indicator, which can be a real pain.
Find your Daihatsu Materia
Offers from our trusted partners on this car and its predecessors...
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car
Advertisement

I don't know about you, but taking your car for a service always feels like a bit of a lottery to me. I usually get an uncomfortable sensation from the depths of my wallet when my car is due a visit to the workshop – it’s like going to the dentist!

And although our trusty Daihatsu Materia isn’t even a year old yet, and showed no signs of needing any extra work, I was nervous about its first scheduled check-up. Covering more than 16,000 miles in four months in any supermini is enough to make you sweat, and I was anticipating a hefty bill.

After a nail-biting couple of hours in reception at Links Garage in Yeovil, Somerset, I realised I needn’t have worried. The Materia came through with flying colours, and I was handed a reasonable £144.98 bill. Sadly, my good mood didn’t last for long. On the way home, after a quick glance to the right at a roundabout, I joined the flow of traffic – only to find my route blocked by a Toyota Yaris. Its driver had stopped at a zebra crossing inconveniently positioned out of sight on the first exit.

I barely had time to hit the brakes before the inevitable happened – and I was staring at a £250 insurance excess payment to fix the Daihatsu’s dented nose. So, after a hassle-free introduction to the Auto Express fleet, the little Materia was forced back to the garage for a second time in a week to get a quote for the work.

Apart from a tiny crease in the leading edge of the bonnet, a cracked front number plate and dented bumper, the repair work looked cosmetic. But appearances can be deceptive, and it turned out the impact had also broken one of the car’s headlamps. Even so, things could have been much worse.

Aside from this eventful trip, life with the boxy supermini has been blissfully easy so far, with no faults to report.

There’s very little to dislike about the Materia in my book. An auxiliary input for the stereo would be a welcome improvement, while a sixth gear would make motorway trips much more bearable. But in every other respect, I’m very happy with the car.

I’ll soon have to hand over the keys while the experts at Priory Park Coachways Accident Repairs in New Milton, Hants, return the Daihatsu to its former glory. That will mean running a courtesy vehicle until the work has been completed – and whatever car it happens to be, I’m sure to miss our long-termer’s blend of style, character and interior space.

Second Opinion

Every time I look at the Materia’s boxy bodywork, I wonder about the effect those bluff aerodynamics have on its fuel economy. For someone like Otis –
who covers high mileages travelling around the UK taking pictures for the magazine – a sleeker shape would definitely be far more efficient.

Interestingly, the fluctuating fortunes of the second-hand car market mean our Daihatsu’s value has increased since our last report! According to our figures, the model is worth £30 more now than it was at the beginning of May.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Ross Pinnock
Road test editor

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Hot Land Rover Defender Octa in high demand with close to 3,000 orders at £150,000 each
Land Rover Defender Octa - front action

Hot Land Rover Defender Octa in high demand with close to 3,000 orders at £150,000 each

Buyers aren’t being deterred by the hefty asking price for the most powerful Defender yet, with 2,900 already signing up worldwide
News
12 Nov 2024
Car Deal of the Day: no-nonsense MG ZS EV for £226 per month
MG ZS EV - front tracking

Car Deal of the Day: no-nonsense MG ZS EV for £226 per month

Our Deal of the Day for 10 November comes from Carwow’s new leasing arm, Carwow Leasey
News
10 Nov 2024
Car Deal of the Day: 641bhp Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is a bargain at this price
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N - front action

Car Deal of the Day: 641bhp Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is a bargain at this price

The 2024 Auto Express Performance Car of the Year is now our Deal of the Day for 7 November
News
7 Nov 2024