Road Tests: Daihatsu Extol 1.3

Being serious automotive journalists we only see the practicalities of CVs, no matter what their structural make-up, so there’s absolutely no reason for any adverse comment on our test vehicle…oh come on, who are we kidding? There’s no way you can ignore the fact that the Daihatsu Extol is, well, tiny. But it does serve a purpose and deserves a thorough testing, so it’s balaclavas out and down to business. The Extol was launched in 2004 to replace Daihatsu’s Hi-jet microvan; it’s designed for self-employed tradesmen, florists, and anyone else who needs an unobtrusive load carrier on a budget.

What you get for your money - £6,995 to be precise – is an extremely compact front-wheel-drive panel van that makes maximum use of its minimum size. Power comes from a 16-valve 1.3-litre petrol unit producing 84hp at 6,000rpm and 121Nm at 4,400rpm. You also get central locking, CD-player, driver and passenger airbags and twin sliding load doors. Unlike traditional microvans this Daihatsu carries its occupants behind the front wheels, giving the bonnet an added crumple space which can only enhance safety in such a small vehicle. This layout also helps it look more purposeful due to the slanting bonnet, avoiding the slab front that typified the Hi-jet. As far as direct rivals go, there’s little to compare with on size and price apart from the outgoing Suzuki Carry £6,895. To make up the numbers we’ve included comparison figures from a couple of alternative contenders that are slightly down and slightly up on load volume – the Ford Fiesta van (1.0m3) and Citroën Berlingo (2.7m3).

It’s been a while since we tested anything with a petrol engine, and a laden run around the Kent test route reminded us why. The Extol produced 37.3mpg, which for a vehicle of this size and weight is well below (diesel) standard. The Suzuki (also petrol) was even thirstier, at 33.7mpg, while the common-rail competition proved their worth: the Ford Fiesta van with a strong 58mpg and the Citroën Berlingo with 44.1mpg. Running unladen the Extol managed a thriftier 43.7mpg compared with the Suzuki’s 41.6mpg, but once again the diesels shone through, with 62.2mpg for the Ford and 46.8mpg for the Citroën. The whole point of the Extol is the Tardis-like load qualities that hide behind that dinky exterior. On the payload front, 615kg is a respectable figure for such a compact vehicle. Getting that load in is simple enough thanks to dual side-sliding doors, though the rear has a hatch instead of two swing doors. Load volume is 2.2m3, again packing a lot of punch for such a small vehicle. There’s no bulkhead, but considering its urban aspirations and the need to gain quick access that’s no bad thing. Underneath the flat load area (which rests on metal supports), there’s a hidden space which would be ideal for valuables. Warranty is three years/60,000 miles with service intervals at 9,000 miles. That’s down on some of the competition but better than the Suzuki’s 6,000 miles.