Daihatsu Sirion News

Cheaper Toyotas ahoy! Isn't it time that Toyota brought back its famous Daihatsu brand back to Australia?

In fact we don't deserve any decent car. As a nation we deserve nothing more than the Daihatsu Sirion.That snoresome 1.0-litre device should be reactivated for a nation of inept milksops who have lamely allowed government to treat them like revenue raising milch cows. Nor, on the whole, can Australians – to use the indelible expression of a certain V8 supercar pilot and trainer of advanced road techniques – “drive a greasy stick up a dead dog’s arse”.Spending several days in Sicily to drive this latest example of Marinello magnificence and a few more around Modena in Italy’s north messing about in Maseratis has served to reinforce two things: such pedigree beasts are completely wasted in our country; and how rubbish we’ve become.“The police are aware of our presence and there is a speed limit here,” a Fazza official reminded us. “We would say only to drive safely and be conscious of the conditions.”But while the driving conditions in Sicily are as ordinary as in most Australian states, the locals can and do drive safely on the open road at a rate that would cause the sanctimonious twerps who bill themselves as safety experts in this country to have a fit of vapours. The bureaucrats listened to by government here wouldn’t last a minutes over there.That’s not to say it’s a free-for-all. Due caution is taken in urban areas and as the occasion demands. It helps that Europeans are taught to drive. They learn all sorts of useful things, such as that blocking the fast lane is actually pretty moronic.Having had to do more to get a license than fill out a form, pay a fee and demonstrate the ability to reverse park enhances life on the road more than anyone who has had the misfortune of knowing only Australian driving could understand.Another refreshing contrast, especially in Italy, is that the sight of something a bit special on the road occasions not middle digits raised and barked abuse, but unfettered joy. There’s a mutual respect among road users.By dismal contrast we’ve accepted a state of affairs in which we can drive legally at a rate that’s slower than in Dad’s day, despite cars that, while faster, are incomparably safer.We meekly accept without a word of protest fixed speed cameras despite overwhelming evidence that these do absolutely nothing to contain the road toll and the sure knowledge that they raise hundreds of millions of dollars. And then we obediently vote the very same crowd back in.  Perhaps worse than being such authority worshipping jellyfish, few of us take responsibility for ourselves and those who drive with us by seeking the expert tuition that driving any sort of vehicle by definition requires. We don’t hafta so we’re not gunna.Actually, even the Sirion is too good for us.  

Industry figures released this week show the real boom in the market has been in four-cylinder cars valued at less than $25,000.Known as the light car segment, sales in the division are up 22.7 per cent for the year to date on last year, while the large car segment is down the same figure. Last month light cars were up by 31.4 per cent on August last year.Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries chief executive Peter Sturrock says this trend has increased over the past couple of years, with a recent acceleration put down to high petrol prices."Well, quite simply because they are more fuel efficient, small and less expensive to purchase in the first place and they're less expensive to run," Sturrock says.A total of 10,806 light cars were sold last month and 77,650 sold this year, which is 14,346 more than last year. Leading the line-up is the Toyota Yaris, with a starting price of $14,990, which recorded 2673 sales in August, taking the total to 18,064 for the year to date.Added to this figure are the remaining 304 Echos that Toyota has sold this year, before the nameplate was changed to be consistent with the Yaris badging used in Europe.Hyundai's small Getz, named Australia's Best Small Car for 2005 by Australia's auto clubs, has also achieved an increase in sales, with 1738 models sold last month, and 13,863 for the year, an 18.4 per cent improvement over the same period last year.Getz prices start at $13,990 and stretch to $18,380. The cheapest car on the market, the Holden Barina, starting at $13,490, has the third highest sales for the segment, with 1091 sales in August and 9567 for the year to date.The Barina is followed by the Suzuki Swift, Honda Jazz and Kia Rio, all recording between 5500 and 6800 sales each for the year-to-date and just under 100 sales in August.Sturrock says while fuel prices are contributing to a shift to these cars, good value at a low price is also converting buyers."The small cars now are very well equipped," he says. "Some years ago they were the basic models, but now they're well equipped with safety and anti-theft, occupant protection, airbags and ABS, and they often have Electronic Stability Control."Features in this segment on cars such as the Yaris and Getz include front airbags, an MP3 compatible CD system, airconditioning, power windows, central locking and ABS. Some even come with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and anti-skid technology.Holden's Barina offers airconditioning as standard, a feature that has to be bought as an option in the $34,990 base model VE Commodore Omega. The Hyundai Getz also offers a five-year/130,000km warranty.Toyota spokesman, Mike Breen, says this segment also offers a good alternative to second-hand cars."With the options that you can get on a brand new car, plus the new car warranty, it's quite appealing, especially to younger people," he says. And it seems a wide variety of buyers are purchasing these light cars, from students through to families and retirees.Hyundai spokesman Richard Power says its small cars, the Getz and Accent, are finding a market among a variety of drivers."We get quite a few young people buying it as their first new car and there's loyalty from senior motorists, who don't need a big car any more and are very attracted by the long warranty," he says. Overall, the car market has dropped by 3.4per cent on last year, with 642,383 vehicles sold, a decrease of 22,513 vehicles. August was also down from 2005 by 4516 vehicles.In the small car segment, sales are up 3 per cent year-to-date, with the Toyota Corolla the segment leader with 4147 sales in August and 31,705 Corollas sold this year. But small car sales also experienced a slight drop last month, down 1.3 per cent or 244 vehicles.Sturrock says that although the large car segment is down by 26,461 vehicles, it is still an important part of the market."It has reduced over time from what it was to where it is today," he says. "But it's still about 25 per cent of the passenger car market. You see very strong interest in the new Holden Commodore and the new Toyota Camry, there's been an excellent reaction."WHAT'S SELLINGToyota Yaris 18,368Hyundai Getz 13,863Holden Barina 9567Suzuki Swift 6703Honda Jazz 5936Kia Rio 5579Ford Fiesta 4407Mazda2 3934Hyundai Accent 3593Mitsubishi Colt 1516VW Polo 1337Peugoet 206 1071Citroen C3 486Proton Savvy 357smart fortwo 326Renault Clio 173Citroen C2 139smart forfour 132Fiat Punto 113Daihatsu Sirion 40Proton Satria 9Suzuki Ignis 1*Source: VFacts (light car sales 2006 to end August)Note: Yaris sales includes 304 Echo salesTHE CHEAPIESHolden Barina from $13,490Hyundai Getz from $13,990Proton Savvy from $13,990Toyota Yaris from $14,990Hyundai Accent from $15,990Mitsubishi Colt from $15,990Suzuki Swift from $15,990Ford Fiesta from $15,990Honda Jazz from $15,990Kia Rio from $15,990Mazda2 from $16,335Peugeot 206 from $16,990VW Polo from $16,990

It is pitching the boxy new funkster straight at twentysomething women who want a lifestyle car that's compact, easy to park, economical and a bit of fun. No one is saying it, but Daihatsu hopes the car will take over from the Hyundai Excel, which became a favourite car for thousands of young Australian women. Daihatsu says the Sirion, born-again after seven years as the brand's best seller in Australia, will take the action right up to rivals, including the Toyota Echo and Suzuki Swift. It has even teamed with Portmans, a youth-focused clothing brand, to push the message to women with a range of joint promotions. "Our primary target is 20 to 30-year-old women. Women 45-plus are the secondary target," marketing manager for Daihatsu in Australia Adam Gowans says. "Our tag for the car is 'Uncramp your style'." So it's not for blokes, though Daihatsu thinks it will attract some men aged 20-30 who want the flexibility of a baby box at a value price. The new Sirion is priced from $15,490 and has made important moves everywhere, from a bigger body to a 1.3-litre four-cylinder engine and twin airbags. It still looks like a Sirion, but park it side by side with the old car – as we did this week – and you see one is the past and the other the future. The new model has a longer, taller, wider body that translates into a much bigger cabin. It looks more substantial. Distinctive styling, from giant headlamps to pumped-out guards, will help it stand out. The price is not as sharp as some of its rivals, but Sirion is a five-door hatch in a class in which budget specials all have three. DAIHATSU points to everything from standard aircon and CD sound to electric windows and mirrors as reasons for the $15,490 starting price. It also says quality is up in every area and the vital measure of its youth appeal – the number of storage nooks – hits an even dozen. The Sirion ends Daihatsu's emphasis on three-cylinder motors, a company signature since the original Charade. It has switched to a bigger four from the Toyota Echo. Toyota owns Daihatsu and is moving to bring the brand forward in Australia and around the world. The engine comes with 64kW and 120Nm for solid sprinting ability and fuel economy as low as 5.8 litres/100km in official tests. There are two basic Sirion models, the SX and the Sport, but the number rises to eight with gearbox choices and optional safety packs. The Sport, from $17,990 and about 25 per cent of sales, gets alloy wheels, anti-skid brakes, a body kit, foglamps and chrome door handles. The safety pack on the SX means anti-skid brakes, side and head airbags for $1980. Daihatsu says the Sirion has always been in the top six in the light-car class and predicts sales will stay steady at 2500 cars this year. "We will be happy with the same result. Because of production restrictions, stock will be tight at first," Daihatsu Australia sales manager Andrew Phillips says. ON THE ROAD THE new Sirion is a much nicer drive. Then again, it needs to be a lot better to survive in the baby-car melee. It gets along more briskly, feels more substantial and has plenty of space. It also looks a lot funkier, inside and out, particularly with the Sport pack's alloy wheels and body kit. But it's impossible to drive the Sirion and not compare it with the Echo and the Swift. How's that? Well, the Sirion has more than a touch of Echo around the cabin, even coming with the Echo engine, and the Swift is our new benchmark in the class. It scores ahead of the Echo in some important areas, including cabin space and doors that open super-wide for easy access, and even drives a little nicer than we remember from our last run in a three-door model. But you'd expect that, because the Echo is about to get a total make-over and the new model will be in Australia in the second half of the year. Measured against the Swift, the Sirion loses. It's not as quiet, comfortable or refined, and the Japanese emphasis – against European for the Suzuki – shows in the narrower front bucket seats and cheaper-style trim. The Sirion is a traditional Japanese compact, whereas the Swift is a mini Volkswagen Golf. Still, the boxy Sirion is very practical and that will be important for people who want a practical car that's easy to park, light to drive, and doesn't need to stop too often for fuel. It's a big step forward for the Sirion, and a solid sign Daihatsu is finally moving away from silly little baby cars into something more substantial and sustainable.

The baby-car world was dominated by a single star through the 1990s.The Hyundai Excel was the benchmark for every rival – on price, style and sales – until the death of the Korean king led to a fundamental shift in the noughties.Now the lightweight division is split down the middle and there are two separate contests: one powered by price, the other by class. In the price group are people buying their first new car, usually on a tight budget with less emphasis on features, and the class group wants a compact car for city work or as a second vehicle in the family garage.The bargain-basement contenders are battling in the sub-$15,000 range, just as they did when the Excel was the pacemaker, while the starting price for seriously good babies is close to $17,000 and can run to well beyond $20,000.Toyota changed the game last year when it decided to lob its baby Echo with a sub-$15,000 bottom line including power steering and airconditioning.Although the price has crept up to $14,790, it is still the sales leader. In the first quarter of this year Echo grabbed more than 20 per cent of light-car sales, reflecting the strength of the Toyota brand...despite the design being five years old.Hyundai is still playing the price game with the boxy little Getz. It's second to the Echo in the price fight and leading the Korean contenders against a line-up which includes a broad range of imports, including the Holden-badged but Opel-designed Barina.At the top end of the business, the Japanese really are on top. The classy Mazda2 and Honda Jazz set the standard for shoppers with plenty of cash to splash, even if Ford has arrived – far too late after the loss of its top-selling Korean-made Festiva – with a European Fiesta which is the light star of 2004.The $14,490 starting price for the Fiesta is going to create plenty of action in Ford showrooms, because the blue-oval baby is a good drive and well designed. But buyers will still have to add $2000 for airconditioning – a crippling extra in such a price-sensitive arena.But that's typical of the light-car class.There is always something new, always a price leader and a class champion, and they're all elbowing for space in a bargain basement that introduces many people to their first new car.This is how the Cars Guide team rates them:1. MAZDA2Lowdown: Five-door hatch with 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 82kW and priced from $17,490.Verdict: Another direct hit by MazdaPlus: Quality and comfortMinus: Pricey for the sizeRating: 18/20The baby Mazda is one of the stars of the Japanese company's product-driven comeback.Mazda battled through the 1990s with outdated and cost-down cars that were a poor reflection of the brand's traditional strengths, but when it got serious – with Ford funding – it cranked out the classy Mazda6, RX-8 and Mazda3.The smallest of the crop is the Mazda2, but it has the condensed strengths from the same design team and gene pool.That means it looks good, drives well and is built to class-leader quality.2. HONDA JAZZLowdown: Five-door hatch with 1.3-litre (61kW) or 1.5-litre (81kW) four-cylinder engine, priced from $15,990Verdict: Stylish and practical but harsh ridePlus: Good looks, versatile cabinMinus: Bouncy rideRating: 17/20The Jazz outsold the Mazda2 by 1280 in the first four months of 2004, and that comes down to price and funky looks.It's really a 21st-century Civic, as compact as the original and just as trendy for young buyers.Honda was smart to start with a 1.3-litre motor below $16,000, but doesn't scrimp on the cabin. It's comfortable for four and the seats fold to carry almost any load.People who want the best go straight to the punchy VTi-S with all the fruit for $22,490.3. FORD FIESTALowdown: Three-door and five-door hatch powered by a 74kW 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, from $14,490Verdict: Perky and enjoyablePlus: Goes well, roomy insideMinus: Cheap-ish plastics, finishRating: 16/20Ford went backwards with the Ka, which didn't have the space or automatic to compete, but it now has the right sales ingredients.The Fiesta is a star in Europe and way better than the long-dead Festiva, a Korean version of the previous Mazda 121.It drives well, has plenty of space and is good value, thanks partly to the strength of the Australian dollar.The Fiesta just edges the Toyota Echo and the Hyundai Getz out of the final medal spot in the light-car class.HYUNDAI GETZ 16/20Price: From $13,490Engines: 1.3-litre (60kW) and 1.5-litre (74kW)Body styles: Three-door hatch and five-door hatchNot an Excel, but still packed with Hyundai strengths.TOYOTA ECHO 16/20Price: From $14,740Engines: 1.3-litre (63kW) and 1.5-litre (80kW)Body styles: Three-door hatch and five-door sedan.Shows age inside, but Toyota has done well to keep the price sharp.HOLDEN BARINA 16/20Price: From $15,990Engines: 1.4-litre (66kW) and 1.8-litre (92kW)Body styles: Three-door and five-doorLooks good and drives well, with bonus deal adding appeal. CITROEN C3 14/20Price: From $19,990Engines: 1.4-litre (57kW) and 1.6-litre (83kW)Body styles: Five-door hatchOne of the funkiest babies on sale in Australia. The engine is dozy and there are some quality niggles.RENAULT CLIO 14/20Price: From $19,990Engines: 1.4-litre (72kW), 1.6-litre (79kW) and 2.0-litre (124kW)Body styles: sedan and hatchNot as trendy as the bigger Megane with the J.Lo rump, but still a solid effort from the French brand.VOLKSWAGEN POLO 14/20Price: From $19,990Engines: 1.4-litre (55kW)Body styles: hatchToo costly by far. The Polo is a nice car but smaller than many rivals, and Volkswagen doesn't do enough in Australia to compensate.PEUGEOT 206 13/20Price: From $19,990Engines: 1.4-litre, 1.6-litre (80kW) and 1.8-litre (100kW and 130kW)Body styles: hatchLIKE the C3, the Peugeot is too much and too little. The price is too high and the cabin too cramped.SMART FORTWO 13/20Price: From $21,900Engines: 0.7-litre (45kW)Body styles: Two-door coupeThe smallest and trendiest of the light cars is a phonebox-on-wheels that will only be bought by the trendiest shoppers.DAEWOO KALOS 12/20Price: From $14,990Engines: 1.5-litre (62kW)Body styles: Three-door hatch, five-door sedanA good Korean effort – compact and good-looking but trails in refinement and design.MITSUBISHI MIRAGE 12/20Price: From $15,990Engines: 1.5-litre (69kW)Body styles: Three-door hatchMitsubishi has kept the price competitive, the body is still stylish, and there is potential to add some Evo-style body bits.DAIHATSU SIRION 10/20Price: From $13,250Engines: 1.0-litre (40kW)Body styles: Five-door hatchbackThe Sirion is the best of the Daihatsu contenders, with a roomy cabin and passable power, but it is let down by the driving experience.DAIHATSU YRV 10/20Price: From $15,990Engines: 1.5-litre (40kW)Body styles: Five-door hatchThe funk leader in the D-brand line-up shows what's missing from the mix, with clunky controls and sub-standard driving dynamics.KIA RIO 9/20Price: From $14,990Engines: 1.5-litre (71kW)Body styles: Four-door sedan or five-door wagonThe wagon option gives it a unique selling point, but the sedan was one of the worst cars we drove last year.PROTON SATRIA 9/20Price: From $14,990Engines: 1.5-litre (64kW) and 1.8-litre (99kW)Body styles: Three-door hatch, five-door hatchAnother oldie that struggles to do anything but fill showroom space.SUZUKI IGNIS 9/20Price: From $14,990Engines: 1.3-litre (61kW) and 1.5-litre (83kW)Body styles: HatchThe baby box doesn't have enough of anything. Suzuki hasn't had enough cash to continue.DAIHATSU CHARADE 8/20Price: From $11,950Engines: 1.0-litre (40kW)Body styles: Five-door hatchThe great name is all that remains from one of the earliest bargain-basement stars. Today's Charade is cheap and unimpressive.