The Sirion comes with a choice of three petrol engines, a 68bhp 1.0-litre, a 86bhp 1.3-litre and a 100bhp 1.5-litre unit. Neither the 1.0-litre or 1.3-litre is that powerful but the smaller engine is lively enough for the Sirion to keep up with town traffic. The 1.3 has more verve on faster roads, while the 1.5 litre has decent pace. You will need to work the five-speed manual gearbox hard to make rapid progress, while 1.5 buyers can opt for an automatic.

The Sirion’s ride errs on the soft side, which is a boon in town over broken surfaces. However, the downside is that the tall sides make for too much body roll in corners. There is also a shortage of grip, which means extra caution is needed in sharp bends. Steering is light.

The 1.0-litre engine is loud when revved hard; the 1.3 and 1.5 are quieter. The gearshift is heavy, but the Sirion’s cabin is relatively peaceful at higher speeds because engine noise takes a back seat, and wind and road noise are both reasonably subdued.

The little Daihatsu offers good value for money. It’s cheap to buy, although anything more than a small discount is unlikely. Running costs won’t break the bank either. The 1.0-litre manages 56.5mpg on average, the 1.3 returns 48.7mpg and the 1.5 45.6mpg. Insurance groups are also low, although the Sirion will only be worth about 40% of what you paid after three years.

Daihatsu’s three-year warranty with unlimited mileage is offered on the Sirion. However, we’re confident that you’ll find little use for it because the brand’s mechanical reliability is excellent. Everything is sturdily constructed, too, although some of the materials appear to be built for durability rather than to be appealing.

Twin front and side airbags are fitted as standard, along with anti-lock brakes. Curtain airbags aren’t an option. The Sirion is too new to have been tested in our Security Supertest. However, there are no deadlocks to deter entry.

The Sirion's dash is both stylish and easy to use, with a clean, simple design. It’s easy to find a good driving position, despite a steering wheel that moves only for height, and there’s good all-round visibility. The seat can be adjusted for height in SE-spec models only.

The Sirion's tall body means there's excellent headroom for those in the front, while the large glass area gives the impression of a bigger car. There’s also more room in the back than many rivals, with plenty of head- and legroom for two six-footers. The boot isn’t huge, but it’s well shaped and, unlike in most rivals, the 60/40 split rear seats fold and cantilever downwards in one easy action to leave a totally flat load bay fit for larger items.

The Sirion’s standard equipment is generous compared with many more expensive rivals. Entry-level S cars are equipped with power steering, air-con, four electric windows, remote central locking and a CD player. SE models have alloy wheels, reversing sensors, metallic paint and electric door mirrors. The SX boasts stability control, more aggressive styling and air-con.