Daihatsu's new box of tricks

What the hell is that thing you're driving?" comes the shout from across the car park.

Like the new Mitsubishi 'i'Car (reviewed opposite) it's another head-turner, but boxy rather than oval shaped.

Daihatsu's Materia is a people carrier with an unusually chunky look. The current vogue in car design is for slippery, curved shapes, which are aerodynamic but have a tendancy to look similar.

The Materia stands out because it turns its back on curves. It's a defiantly box-like MPV which looks like the result of an illicit liaison between an armoured security van and a Tonka toy.

Not everyone is going to like it but at least it makes a statement. Apart from some of the more extreme examples of SUVs from the likes of the Chrysler Group, there's very little like it on the road.

In black, with darkened windows it could be the baby brother of one of the US blingmobile SUVs so beloved of rappers and footballers.

If only the interior was as radical as the exterior, Daihatsu might have a real winner on its hands. As it is, the cabin appears to have been designed in a rather half-hearted manner with cheap, hard plastics and fabrics.

The controls have been moved to the centre of the dash, Yaris-style,and look like standard Daihatsu dials when something with a bit more funkiness is needed.

You do get blue interior night lighting on the Materia but it seems Daihatsu lacked either the vision or the resources to finish the cabin satisfactorily. Which means they have created a good car rather than a great one.

Other than its looks the real surprise about the Materia is how spacious it turns out to be. Though it's not a particularly big hunk of metal there's ample head and leg room in the back for three adults. Throw in a bit of MPV functionality and it's clear that the Materia could be a big hit on the urban school run.

It goes pretty well too with decent acceleration and light but direct steering. Only a terrible, notchy gear change blights the driving experience.

Running costs are going to be average rather than low. The Materia is reasonably economical, but it's petrol not diesel, servicing must be carried out every 9,000 miles, and insurance is group 8.

Daihatsu hasn't given the Materia a proper launch in the UK, presumably believing that the Terios SUV is going to account for the bulk of its sales here.

But I think this little MPV has the potential to do tidy business for the Japanese firm. It looks great, drives better than the Terios and is more spacious too. All it really wants is a bit more internal class and a better gear change.

At around £11,000 on the road I initially thought it might be over-priced - until I checked the prices of rival vehicles like the Renault Modus, Nissan Note, and Vauxhall Meriva.

These may have the edge on the Materia in terms of build quality but the Daihatsu is competitive in terms of space and performance. And none of its rivals are going to get people shouting across a car park to find out what it is...

FACT FILE

Model: Materia 1.5

Price: £10,995 on the road

Engine: 1,495cc, four-cylinder, petrol Power: 102bhp

Transmission: Five speed manual (automatic also available), front wheel drive

Performance: 0-62mph in 10.8 seconds Top speed: 106mph

Economy: 39.2mpg on combined cycle CO2 emissions: 169g/km

Length: 3,800mm Weight: 1,035kg

Insurance group: 8 Servicing: 9,000 miles Warranty: Three years / unlimited.

By Peter Carroll