Daihatsu Charade (2007 - 2013)

To the attention of all environmental groups,

Good news! There is a new car on the market which is exceptionally economical. The new Daihatsu Charade is one of the most economical cars at the moment. It is solely a few eco-diesel and hybrid cars which promise to be kinder to the environment.

The low consumption of the Charade is due to its modern three cylinder engine. An approved recipe for economical cars is one less cylinder than usual. On top of that, Daihatsu's three cylinder has been so refined that the engine runs just as smoothly and quietly as an ordinary four cylinder.

In spite of its low consumption, the Charade can't be classified as a slow car. This newby reacts lively to the accelerator and keeps up smoothly with the rest of the traffic. In the city, the Charade can sprint away in first position from traffic lights, if required. On the motorway, this environmental miracle rides along in the far right lane without any problems. Of course, this little beast really enjoys those tiny parking spaces.

Before you replace your entire fleet with Charades, (which incidentally and very appropriately is available in Lime Green Mica Metallic), heed this word of warning. It can take some getting used to; there is absolutely no feeling when the Charade changes gear. Daihatsu has promised that the average consumption of 4,4 litres per 100 km (emissions: 104 grams CO2 per kilometer) is very finely tuned. In reality, 5 litres per 100 km is more achievable. Adapting your driving style and taking everything to its outer limits, it is possible to achieve 3,9 litres per 100 km.

Dear President of the Society of Scrooges,

Great news! Daihatsu has introduced a new car with a very competitive price/performance ratio. Although you may keep a miserly tight grip on those purse strings, you wouldn't say no to such a monstrously spacious limousine?

Believe it or not: the Charade is so spacious that two adults can sit as comfortably in the rear as in a large limousine. 99% of most mid-segment cars offer less space in the rear, with even much larger cars still offering a lot less space.

Have you heard such urban myths before? Then let me enlighten you. The Charade has relatively small wheels, which means that the wheel casing is also small. This in turn means that less interior space is required. On top of that, the rear seats are placed on rails which provide the passenger with the choice of considerable legroom and minimal luggage space, or masses of luggage space and a little less legroom.

This space wonder will give you cause for wonderment up in front. The latest generation Charade is remarkably well finished. This is not a small, budget-mobile; it is a fully-fledged, compact car.

The finish is ample, although to be perfectly honest it is only the so-called Premium version that is completely complete. The Premium version offers remote control central locking, electric front windows, a radio/CD player, ABS, two airbags, a rev counter and an onboard computer, which is quite handy to keep an eye on the exact fuel consumption.

Air-conditioning and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) are optional. VSC is no superfluous luxury, since with those small wheels and their narrow tyres, the road handling is mediocre. The Charade is not a dangerous car; it's just that the road handling of its direct competitors is significantly better.

The new Charade is available from £6,995. Thanks to the proven reliability of Daihatsu (which is a subsidiary of Toyota), there'll only be sporadic maintenance and economical refuel.

Dearest Daihatsu Charade driver,

Bad news! Since 16th August 2007, you are no longer the proud owner of the new Charade. There is, as it happens, a brand spanking new model.

This new generation has moved forward with leaps and bounds. The design, its finish and its kit have been improved massively. On all counts, the car is more refined resulting in a more mature and complete vehicle. Moreover, the new Charade is even more spacious and practical as can be seen with the lock of the boot. The engine runs a lot more pleasantly and is significant quieter.

Even so, there is still more good news, because the new Charade is now at the dealers.

Yours kindly, Ivo Kroone

Conclusion

The new Daihatsu Charade is literally something to write home about. With the new Charade, Daihatsu has a strong trump card up its sleeve. According to the factory statement, this is the most economical petrol car at the moment. In reality, the promised consumption is however difficult to achieve, but the Charade is still really economical. Moreover, the car is smooth and comfortable.

In addition, the Charade is exceptionally roomy. In the back of the Charade, there is more space available than in all the other little cars. Even many of the much larger cars offer less space on their back seats than the new Charade. Finally the Charade has a really nice design, neat finish and an even neater price. Good news then!