Car Statistics: Daihatsu - Sirion Series 05 (3 stars)

Styling (3 stars)

Boxy looks are lifted by the cutesy front end - a far more harmonious piece of design than Daihatsu's other recent efforts.

Handling (2 stars)

Lots of roll and not much grip - the Sirion is happiest on urban streets.

Comfort (3 stars)

The ride gets bouncy over rougher road surfaces and lots of noise gets into the cabin at cruising speeds.

Quality (3 stars)

Impressive for something so small and inexpensive - the cabin feels like a cut above those of most obvious rivals.

Performance (3 stars)

The basic 1.0 litre petrol engine needs to be thrashed to make decent progress, but the Toyota derived 1.3 litre motor is far punchier, and almost as economical.

Roominess (4 stars)

Daihatsu's city car know-how has made this one of the most spacious vehicles in the segment. Surprisingly good for rear seat passengers, too.

Costs (4 stars)

Excellent fuel economy, but servicing and insurance costs are steeper than those of some rivals, and depreciation is steep.

Value (4 stars)

Less good value towards the top of the range, but the base 1.0 S comes with standard air conditioning, making it look like attractive value.

Stereo (2 stars)

The feeble audio system struggles to make itself heard at higher speeds. Satnav is unavailable.