Daihatsu Cuore

A shopping trolley with an engine, with high spec, great fuel economy, and an ability to slip in between a pair of trucks doing a two-head blocker on a dual carriageway. But the Cuore is not likely to be mistreated by being sent down the Naas Road, rather it will serve dutifully in the Tesco car park and the short trip home with the groceries. I suspect your insurance company looks as benignly as it can on the Cuore too. And if you have any doubts about relaiability, remember that Daihatsu has a strong Toyota involvement and makes both bodywork and engines for that best-built-car-in-the-world brand. But Cuore is massively eclipsed by the marketing power of the big brands (when did you ever see an advertisement for a Cuore?), and lags at the bottom of a sales list topped by Fiat’s Seicento. Stars: 5/10

Daihatsu YRV

I never could make up my mind about the styling, a much-referred to ‘double wedge’. Truth, actually, it never caught my fancy. But the YRV is space-positive and economical with its 1.3-litre VVT-i engine, and has a couple of interesting ideas in seats/van flexibility. There’s a nice dimple-effect fascia and door casings. The instrument dials are big and clear while continuing the sporty look and are set in very unusually shaped dashboard. Body hugging front seats are made from good quality materials and hold you firmly in place. It’s also good to pedestrians, and gained a high three stars in Euro NCAP in this respect. A turbocharged 138bhp version is promised in mid-year. An automatic was promised at launch here. Guess the market just wasn’t attractive enough. Stars: 6/10

Daihatsu Sirion

Bigger than the Cuore, and with a more adventurous sense of style, but powered by the same 989cc engine and therefore a little more thirsty and a fair bit more sluggish. Again, the general level of specifications are good, but the competition out there is led by Fiat’s Punto and really it is no contest between the Sirion and everything in between. This doesn’t make it a bad car, but there are just too many really good ones out there promoting their cause, and it seems that Sirion has no marketing champion in its constellation. Stars: 4/10

Daihatsu Terios

An alternative, although significantly pricier, to the Suzuki Jimny, as a butch-looking mini-SUV with real offroad capability. Though you can have a 2WD version too, if town asphalt is your only territory. And there are automatics. A real wide range for a tiny niche car. Power comes from the same 1.3-litre VVT-i engine as used in the YRV, and it gives a gutsy enough performance. Funny, it gets a bad press elsewhere, but I’ve always enjoyed the drive and the ability. There’s also plenty of room, given that it is almost down to supermini in size. It does have is a good on-road ride, a comfortable - if grey - ambience, and reasonable fuel consumption where it will mostly be used. Stars: 6/10