Used 2012 Daihatsu Terios Crossover SUV Review & Ratings

The Terios is a Crossover SUV, first released by Daihatsu in 1997, with their current Series Two version making its debut at the Tokyo Motor Show in late 2005, and going into full production in 2006.

The original Terios was one of Daihatsu's micro models powered by a 600 cc engine and was more of a curios than anything else. However with the global upsurge in interest in family sized SUVs, the Terios was given a total design overhaul by Daihatsu emerging from its chrysalis as a medium sized four door hatchback, capable of sitting five adults in comfort.

The 2012 Daihatsu Terios Crossover SUV now comes with a 5 liter four cylinder, 16 valve electronic fuel injection dual overhead camshaft engine producing 102 horsepower and 111 pounds of torque. The Terios is paired with a five speed short stroke manual transmission and comes with permanent four wheel drive via a lockable central differential as standard.

Comfortable to drive, with a front suspension on Macpherson struts topped up with coil springs and five ply leaf springs in the rear, the Terios' road holding abilities are formidable, largely thanks to its low center or gravity.

As far as appearance goes it has to be said that the Daihatsu Terios does look the part. Completed in a choice of vibrant metallic finishes, with two toned flared arches, the Terios bear a discreet resemblance to some of its considerably larger second cousins from Toyota such as the Highlander and RAV4 SUVs, particularly when it comes to the 'wrap around' rear quarter windows and rear screens.

As far as size is concerned, the Terios Crossover is one of the smallest around at 159.6 inches long and 66.7 inches wide with a wheelbase of 101.6 inches. However what it loses in footprint, the Daihatsu Terios gains in height, rising 66.5 inches from the ground.

That extra internal altitude means lots of headroom, and even the above average in height can be comfortable in the back row bench of the Terios for long journeys. There is also lots of leg room thanks to Daihatsu's design policy of leaving a distance of 28 inches between the front and back seats- although this accommodation comes at the expense of storage space behind the rear seats. At 28 cube there is enough space to store most normal sized items, but not too many of them. The picture changes when the back seats are folded forward with storage almost doubling.