Like all British-market Materias, our test car came with a 1.5-litre petrol engine, mated to a five-speed manual gearbox rather than the optional four-speed auto. The 1.5 engine has variable valve timing and here develops a solid 101bhp and 97lb ft of torque.
On paper it looks like being an adequate rather than sparking performer, and that’s how it translates to the road; this is a moderately willing and averagely refined engine.
On a damp MIRA test track the manual Materia could be coaxed to 60mph in a respectable 10.4sec, which makes it faster than many of its rivals. Where it is less impressive is in its economy. We recorded no better than 35mpg even on a touring run, while its official CO2 output of 169g/km is above the 150-ish class average.
The Materia does at least stop quite well, reaching a standstill in only 60.1 metres from 70mph on our damp test track.
Although the Materia is based on Daihatsu’s latest Sirion supermini and, in part, Toyota’s Yaris, it doesn’t drive like Toyota’s rather dynamic hatchback. This is a softer, less nimble car than the Toyota.
It’s unfortunate, then, that the Materia’s softness doesn’t equate to comfort. Its ride is pliant enough to deal with the minor surface imperfections that its tyres’ sidewalls transmit to the suspension, but it should really do better. This, combined at higher speeds with its slab-like sides, makes it susceptible to being deflected by crosswinds, which can be unsettling.
It’ll be no surprise, then, that the Materia doesn't enjoy being hurried. It performs well enough in a straight line, and because it weighs little more than a tonne and has capable rubber on its 15-inch alloys, the Materia changes direction quickly.
But there’s little indication that it’s happy to do so. There is no truly dynamic car in the supermini-plus class, but a Skoda Roomster, a Vauxhall Meriva or a Nissan Note all offer more appeal for those who enjoy driving.