The new scrappage scheme and general move away from larger cars ought to be a boon for a firm like Daihatsu, which specialises in small urban vehicles.

  See more pictures of the Sirion in our gallery below.

But in the UK, the Toyota-owned brand has perhaps lacked the marketing muscle to take on the big boys in the city car stakes.

Its entry level Charade, though an enjoyable car to drive, was not a big seller and has been withdrawn from sale in this country.

That leaves the larger Sirion as Daihatsu’s entry level model, with prices ranging from £8,320 for a baseline 1.0 litre S to nearly £11,000 for a 1.5SX+.

The model on test here is the 1.0 SE+ at £9,670 on the road.

Creature comforts

That may initially seem slightly high for a one litre car – but this Sirion is very well-equipped with comfort features including air conditioning, all-electric windows, leather-trimmed steering wheel, and rear parking sensors.

There’s even an electric sunroof.

The Sirion’s looks are tidy, rather than funky, due to its angular shape. Yet this boxiness also accounts for the car’s great strength compared with most other superminis: its spaciousness.

There’s comfortably enough room for three in the back. Nor will passengers have to clamber over the front seats to get in either – all Sirions are five-door models.

Headroom is good too. The boot is not vast but again better than most budget cars. There are lots of cupholders and cubby holes for knick-knacks.

Automatic locking

I found the seats and the ride comfortable. A nice touch is the sunroof automatically closes when you lock the car, so you don’t have to worry about accidentally leaving it open when there’s rain in the air.

The next thing to consider is the engine: the Sirion comes with either a capable 88hp 1.3 litre petrol engine or a less powerful 1.0, which puts out 68hp.

So is the smaller power plant up to the job? I’d say it is. This is the same three-pot engine that can be found in the Citroen C1, Peugeot 107, and Toyota Aygo and Yaris.

It’s not the quickest for overtaking, and hills reveal its lack of torque. But it sounds throaty and eager, and will rev all the way up to 6,500rpm.

Fun to drive

It’s fun to drive for such a modest machine.

The Sirion’s wheels are pushed out to the corners to boost its handling but its upright shape is a factor here – and also contributes to wind noise at motorway speeds.

Running costs are for the most part low, though the car does needs servicing every 9,000 miles.

Annual road tax will be £35 because of its low emissions and economy of around 50mpg should be achievable.

Its key rivals include the Suzuki Splash, Vauxhall Agila, and the cheaper Fiat Panda. Honda’s Jazz is bigger and more capable – but pricier too.

Underrated

The Daihatsu also scores when it comes to warranties as it offers five years, compared with three for the others.

The Sirion is an enjoyable, underrated city car that’s equally at home on the school run – or more extended journeys.

And note that you can get alternative versions of this car in the UK badged as a Perodua Myvi or Subaru Justy.

By Peter Carroll

FACT FILE:

Model: 1.0 SE+

Price: £9,670

Engine: 998cc, three cylinders, petrol

Power: 68bhp

Transmission: Five speed manual, front wheel drive

Performance: 0-62mph in 13.9 seconds

Top speed: 99mph

Economy: 56.5mpg on combined cycle

CO2 emissions: 118g/km

Length: 3,695mm

Weight: 890kg

Insurance group: 5

Servicing: 9,000 miles

Warranty: Five years /unlimited miles