Car Statistics: Daihatsu - Materia Series 07 (2 stars)

Styling (1 star)

Possibly the oddest car we've ever seen, the Materia is ugly from all angles, and with blacked out windows and alloy wheels, it just looks silly.

Handling (3 stars)

Its no warm hatch, but the Materia does handle competently. Its steering is precise and there's little play through the steering wheel. It doesn't suffer from body roll either which is surprising given its height.

Comfort (1 star)

Few modern cars have resulted in numb buttocks after a two-hour motorway journey, but the seats are cheap and uncomfortable, whilst the suspension is harsh and crashy for a car of this type. Road and wind noise are a problem at higher speeds too.

Quality (3 stars)

Japanese cars will run forever, so it's unlikely for much to go mechanically wrong with this car; however the build quality is very poor. The cabin squeaks and rattles and the dash is made up of hard cheap plastics.

Performance (3 stars)

The 1.5-litre petrol engine is both zippy and refined on a motorway, although it needs to be kept above 3,000rpm to get the most out of it. 0-62 is achieved in 10.8 seconds and it will go on to a top speed of 106mph.

Roominess (4 stars)

The Materia's main strength is the amount of interior space, which it has in abundance. Its high roof allows room for four tall adults, whilst leg and elbow room is substantial too.

Costs (2 stars)

Fuel consumption of 39.2mpg is a little below average for a car of this size, and it only has a small fuel tank, so it will need fairly regular trips to the petrol station. Insurance group 8 is average, but this car is likely to have poor residuals due to low demand.

Value (1 star)

There is a noticeable lack of basic equipment on this car and what you do get is not of a particularly high standard. It has just the one trim level and engine, starting from £10995 and any additional equipment will cost extra. You'd have to really want something quirky and

Stereo (1 star)

The stereo is very basic and looks dated, and the speakers are poor quality. Satellite navigation is wishful thinking.