Daihatsu Terios 4WD Review

Once in a blue moon, the enthusiast stumbles upon a set of wheels that one might classify as heart warming; vehicles that aren't exactly very conventional, but emerge to be classics over time. Take for instance, the Suzuki LJ80, Mitsubishi Pajero Mini and the military based Land Rover series III. At the risk of being a little hasty, we might classify Daihatsu's small crossover SUV, the Terios, as one of those likely candidates.

Exterior and Mechanics

Take a close look at this car - you'll realize several things that the uninspired won't.

The spare wheel in the rear of the Terios is covered with canvas. "So what?" you might say. Anything taller than the average Singaporean with four wheels and locking differentials happens to be delivered with the same device. It doesn't exactly look the part of rough, but it is definitely lighter and easier to remove during one of those "flat" situations.

Talking about locking diffs, the Terios surprisingly has one, or rather, the relevant buttons to make them function. This is very much not in line with most imported, "soft-roaders" equipped only with part time all wheel drivetrains (ring ring?) that at most, work by transferring some power away from the wheel that is loosing traction the most, and to those with the most grip.

Being a full time 4WD, all wheels receive equal amounts of power on the Terios. Hitting the button that locks the diffs means getting out of that swamp, mud pit without the need for serious help. What happens is that both wheels on the same axle turn at the same speed (hence the word lock) and aid with traction.

Interior

Being a non-hardcore, small crossover device means doing away with the stuffy interior of an old school military vehicle or off-road utility vehicle. The car's inviting insides are "car" enough to live with and will not cause the head of a tall driver to poke through the roof. Although leather seats are available, the typical weekender who enjoys stuffing his water-skis and dog into the boot will appreciate the foolhardiness of the standard fabric.

Large, circular instruments make for excellent reading, and help the driver keep his eyes on the road. The air-conditioning is a blast, literally, and the controls are easy to reach for. Gladly, the same goes for the 5 speed stick that is also available on the Terios. However, being the lazy urbanized Singaporean, this reporter chose the 4-speed self-shifter instead.

Driving Impressions

On the move, wind and engine noise were unfortunately, rather apparent. Having driven the old Mitsubishi Pajero Mini VR-II, we expected the car to get itself off the line in a swift fashion, and nothing else after that.

The Terios pleasantly proved us wrong.

The 1.5 litre 3SZ-VE, although not rally tuned or turbocharged, proved to be the competent and punchy critter that might satisfy the most aggressive of urban war-drivers, if you get what we mean. It is rated for 103hp at 6000rpm with a sprightly 140Nm that happens at only 4400rpm.

The Terios hugged the tight, undulating bends of South Buona Vista Road (ie. 99 bends) without so much as a chirping complaint from the rather mediocre tyres, turning in sharply at corner entry. The drivetrain did not disappoint, and the well tuned suspension gave the car a prowess that belies it's tallish, narrow stature.

It was evident that the suspension of this car was tuned for uneven and difficult terrain, as a comfortable cruise reveals a stiff-feeling chassis - something that disappears the minute slight roughness starts to show in the ground. Obviously, do not expect the comfort of a Lexus, but then again, don't expect an uncomfortable ride either.

An upslope isn't exactly the Terios' best friend. It moans and groans like a kid being forced-fed his or her greens, but thank god our unit came with Automatic gear. For Manual gear enthusiasts, there is the Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), activated when you hit the brake pedal twice.


Why buy?

You don't need to be an off-road aficionado to appreciate the Terios. One does not need to go off road or into swamps to enjoy the benefits of a 4WD. The monsoon rains prove fitting enough.

The engine might not be its best feature, but driving and maneuvering it brings us back to the time of rough, hardy off-roaders, which reminds us of that fishing tackle and cooler box-full of beer.

By the way, before returning the Terios back to it's showroom, we gave it a wash™using those rain puddles™