We say Nice little car for budget wallets or first-timers for town use.Performance The Charade’s 1.0-litre engine has a paltry 58bhp but it works hard and has fire in its belly. High gearing allows the car to hold its own on the motorway and nudge 100mph.Emissions Average CO2 emissions are at just 127g/km which is impressive. The Charade range is frugal as well, averaging 53mpg on the road.Driving The Charade drives well in town and parks with unsurprising ease. Suspension is soft, however, and there's not a lot of grip so it’s not good on twisty roads.Feel Noise from the road and engines is fairly well suppressed – soft suspension is OK for long drives.Space Surprisingly spacious for its size so four adults will be OK and while the boot is tiny at 157 litres the rear seats split and fold to extend storage.Equipment Aircon, electric front windows and locking, CD player are standard among a generous standard specification.Price Cheap, cheap, cheap. Running costs should be good - 60mpg – but the Charade will offer only middling residuals at best.Quality The little Daihatsu’s interior materials are on the cheap side but it looks OK and the engines will be reliable.Safety Two airbags, ABS with brakeforce distribution as standard on the Charade only. This is cheap motoringPros Extremely cheap, pugnacious little engine, good in town, good kit.Cons Noisy, looks cheap, motorway driving a stretch.Alternatives Fiat Panda, Kia Picanto, Ford Ka
