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Daihatsu wants a new customer. A customer just as price sensitive as before, but younger, more active and more style-aware – and the product Daihatsu is trying to tempt them with is this, the Materia. It’s a mini-MPV but is styled to look more like an armoured car (or possibly a Royal Mail van).

Mind you, this is not actually a new model. In Japan the Materia is sold as the comically named Daihatsu Coo and as the Toyota bB (with an expanded engine range and the option of four-wheel dr...Read the full article

Interesting that we have the test of this car (the Materia) ands the Fiat 500 in the same week. It raises an interesting clash of styles and motoring philosophy. The Fiat would seem to be for those who have a wish (and attitude) to dance their way through the city (and life), while the Materia (with its armored car looks) would probably be attractive to those intent on bludgeoning their way around (but cannot afford an SUV).

Its Rome on a sunny June day - the Fiat 500 and Vespa scooters are in harmony passing a city water-font - their occupants and riders smile and wave at each other and agree to meet for an authentic espresso.

A Materia driver scowls at the world on his way to Starbucks....

I love the look of the outside of this car, but inside they have far too much grey plastic that looks from the photo's as if it will mark easily. A trait that most small Japanese cars seem to have. Why do they do this?

I wish them success with it though, as they have really  tried hard to make it stand out.

 I love the Materia, it looks great to me. Daihatsus are just mini Toyotas and that's a good thing.

It's great to have so much diversity in small car design, in the left corner you have the Fiat 500 harking back to models gone by, then you have the equally impressive plough your own furrow Materia, that to my eyes looks just as good.

It is far more difficult for a company like Daihatsu to make a design statement, than it is for Fiat who have made aliving out of cracking small cars.

I am sure the Materia will be a success.