Daihatsu Charade reviews

You can't go wrong with this car. It is easy and fun to drive, like being in a dodgem on steroids. Having superb Japanese engineering it is fantastically cheap to run, reliable and surprisingly powerful despite it's tiny engine. Hardly a gas guzzler, more of a sipper if anything. It's compact size and highly responsive steering makes for easy parking and manoeuvring. If you are looking for a colourful, friendly and eager to please car then this is the one for you.

I absolutely love my little car. It has always been a very reliable car and has required very little in the way of repairs in the 10 years that I have had it. I much preferred my previous charade as it was far more roomy, had 5 doors and a bigger boot but on the whole the 2 Daihatsu Charades that I have owned have been so much more reliable, trustworthy, roadworthy and fuel efficient than any of my previous cars. I would highly recommend these to anyone who wanted a small car to get around

I needed a car which was narrow enough to get into my garage, and would allow easy access for someone in a wheelchair. It's 177cm wing mirror to wing mirror. The doors open to almost 90 degrees, and the seat height is similar to a wheelchair height. It meets all my day to day driving needs, and I accept that when I have more than 4 passengers, or large bulky luggage, that I would need to hire another car, but in 9 years that has not happened.

The worst thing about Daihatsus is that they are no longer imported into Europe , so ending a 30 year spell of driving them . This little car has been excellent value for money and served us well for the 7 years since new . It's only really a 'town car' as far as the rest of the family's concerned , but more interior space than the larger Daihatsu 4 Track which we also have . Reliability has been excellent , and running costs low , but nowadays it only covers about 4,000 miles a year . The level of equipment is also good for a small , basic, car for it's year , coming with airbags , aircon , electric windows , mirrors ,and headlamp adjusters. Always much underrated by the motoring press !