Daihatsu Materia (2007) CAR review

This looks like a Japanese-market mini or a US Scion...

Bingo! That's exactly what the Materia is. It's sold in Japan as both a Toyota and Daihatsu, and it's not even new to mainland Europe, where it's been sold for a while. But the UK importer has finally seen fit to bring the distinctively boxy mini over here to take advantage of the growing trend for a) small cars and b) edgily designed models. And this certainly doesn't look like your average Renault Modus - it's more of a Honda Element at the budget end of the market. There's only one spec of Materia on sale at £10,995, but you can order an auto gearbox for £800 more. We drove the manual - and you can click 'Next' to see if it's as good as it looks...

Good-looking, you say? Come on. Just look at that podgy derriere!

You're right, the Materia is an opinion divider. Slammed Californian mean machine, or squat and butch Postman Patmobile? You can make your own mind up on that one, but suffice to say we think it's a distinctive, daring alternative to its heartland rivals, the Renault Modus and Vauxhall Meriva. And one handy byproduct of those upright looks is a surprising amount of interior space. Even though the bluff aerodynamics do attract some surprisingly loud splatting from any unfortunate flies headbanging the near-vertical windscreen. You'll be filling up the screenwash a lot on this one...