The Daihatsu Terios has had a number of incarnations since the ’70s. Does its latest (and largest) model signify that the Terios has finally grown up? asks Johan de Smidt.

Ah, the circle of life … Remember how you cringed during Christmas family reunions when your aunt Dorothy cooed, “My, but you’ve grown!” Well, spare a thought for the new Terios, because, my, but has it shot up since we last saw it.

The Terios has grown from a squashed-in-a-vice SUV at launch in 1977, to just over 4 m in December 2006 and now, to a comparatively cavernous 4.37 m long wheelbase (LWB).

It is now large enough to ferry the nuclear family, and moreover, the Terios’s boep is large enough to swallow a third row of seats to turn it into a seven-seater. Or to accommodate a mountain bike, says Daihatsu. Crickey, haven’t they heard about bike racks?

Wasn’t that a ...

If you come across the Terios long wheelbase on the street, you will be forgiven for thinking it’s a Toyota Fortuner.

Bar the easily accessible spare wheel mounted to the Terios’ side-opening rear door, from sideways on you’ll see clean Fortuner-like lines and features.
At just over 4.3 m long and almost 1.7 m high, the LWB is just 30 cm shorter and 15 cm lower than the Fortuner.

In front in its stubby snout, the Terious also features the two fog lights you’ll find on the Fortuner.

And this comparison makes sense if you keep in mind that Toyota owns 51% of Daihatsu.
The Japannese even market the Terios as the Toyota Rush in its own back yard.

Inside story

At home.
Slide into the Terios’ firm, height-adjustable driver’s seat and you’re faced with a tilt steering and a redesigned dash board with a centrally-placed speedo wedged between an easily visible rev counter and temperature gauge.

Creature comforts.
The softer package of the two, the LWB lacks the short wheelbase’s GPS, and only retains the radio/CD player. However, you still have aircon, electric windows, front and rear 12V power points for equipment such as inverters and hairdryers, vanity mirrors for the driver and front passenger and more than ample cup and bottle holders.

Toe-touch test.
As you would need the suppleness of a Nadia Comaneci in her heyday to squeeze past the double-folding second-row seat to reach the seven-seater’s rearmost bench, it is not quite suitable as the Bulgarian weightlifting team bus.

Safe, my mate!
But at least you’ll be travelling with the reassurance that dual front airbags surround you and the team manager, and that ABS brakes with electronic brake force distribution and brake assist will bail you out when a Zola runs the red light.

Revved up

Under da hood.
The petrol-injected 1.5-litre four-pot, which provides a power-to-weight ratio of 66 kW/ton (same as the SWB), will get your star pupil to her Hindi lessons quite efficiently.

In the 4x2 and 4x4 versions, power is distributed through a five-speed manual gearbox, with a four-speed autobox optional on the 4x2 models.

Aided by permanent four-wheel-drive and electronic diff-lock, it will launch you up and over two-storey high dunes or a steep mountain pass if needed.

However, because the Terios is somewhat deficient in the midrange power and torque department, all the while you will be subjected to a wailing and gnashing of double overhead camshafts and valves while the engine peaks at a soprano-screeching 6 000 rpm to deliver maximum power of 80 kW.

On the road

The Terios’ road holding is good enough for you to feel in control with little evidence of body roll around the twisties as you push it past the passenger comfort zone, as happened during the launch on the Uitkyk Pass in the Cederberg.

This is where the epiphany struck about the fun one could have in this vehicle at a fraction of the hole the more exalted brands will burn in your pocket.

Having driven the off-road-focussed short wheelbase (SWB) Terios 4x4 with its firmer suspension and bouncy ride the previous day, the LWB’s gliding ride made it our choice long-distance wheels.

Why will you buy it?

Here are eight good reasons:

• You want to travel in style.
• You don’t want to be seen dead in a SsangYong Korando.
• You can’t squeeze the R282 000 for a Toyota Rav4 (or even the R244 000 for a Chev Captiva) out of the bank manager.
• You want to have more fun with your family than you can have in a sedan.
• You can load up the whole family (Aunt Dorothy and her parakeet included).
• You can go off-roading (think 4x4, extra ground clearance and above-average approach and departure angles).
• You’ll sleep sounder, trusting Daihatsu’s best-in-class CO2 emission claim.
• At a claimed 8.1 litre /100 km you can stretch your rands.

… and why not?

• You have power issues and you’ll feel inadequate next to a Fortuner.
• You want to travel to Moremi with the manne where the Terios won’t make it through the mud.
• You don’t give a hoot about melting polar caps.
• Some Terios owners have complained about the unavailability of spares (matters have apparently improved during the past year since Daihatsu has established its own line of spare supplies, independent of Hyundai.)

At the end of the day ...

At a time when inflation-hit consumers are cooling spending under Mboweni’s whip and fuel pumps have run out of space for four-digit fuel prices, Daihatsu is positioned exceeding well – they may just have hit the sweet spot.

The bottom line is: in the well-packaged, if under-powered Terios long wheelbase your family will have heaps of fun travelling to places your sedan couldn’t take

Braaivleis fact: The Terios SWB off-road package has a nudge bar with spot lights, step bars, tow bar and a stainless steel freeflow exhaust.