Daihatsu Materia: Which Version Should You Buy?
The Daihatsu Materia was produced from 2006 to 2013 in one generation and one Mini 5-doors body style. Choosing among its four listed versions mainly means deciding between the 1.3 MT and the more powerful 1.5-litre engine, then choosing FWD or AWD and Manual or Automatic transmission.
The Daihatsu Materia was produced from 2006 to 2013 in one generation and one Mini 5-doors body style. Choosing among its four listed versions mainly means deciding between the 1.3 MT and the more powerful 1.5-litre engine, then choosing FWD or AWD and Manual or Automatic transmission. The 1.5 MT FWD has the strongest performance figures, reaching 100 km/h in 10.8 seconds and 170 km/h, while the 1.3 MT records the lowest combined fuel consumption at 6.5 l/100 km. The 1.5 MT AWD adds AWD but is 65 kg heavier than the 1.5 MT FWD, and the 1.5 AT offers an Automatic gearbox at the cost of slower acceleration and higher fuel consumption.
Daihatsu Materia generations compared
There is only one Daihatsu Materia generation in the supplied data, so there are no generation-to-generation engine, performance, economy, or dimensional changes to compare. The 1 generation ran from 2006 to 2013 as a Mini 5-doors and contains four versions. All four were listed for the same production period, making the choice a direct comparison among powertrains rather than between different model eras.
Daihatsu Materia engine and gearbox specs
The 1.3 MT uses a 1,298 cc Gasoline engine producing 91 hp and 120 Nm. Its power output equals approximately 70.1 hp per litre. Each 1.5-litre version uses a 1,495 cc Gasoline engine with 103 hp and 132 Nm, equivalent to approximately 68.9 hp per litre. Therefore, the 1.3 MT has slightly higher specific output, but every 1.5-litre version provides 12 hp and 12 Nm more.
All engines are naturally aspirated, with 4 Inline cylinders, 4 valves per cylinder, front transverse placement, and distributed multi-point injection. The exact drivetrain combination is what separates versions sharing the 1.5 MT name.
| Version | Power | Torque | Displacement | Fuel | Cylinders | Layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3 MT | 91 hp | 120 Nm | 1,298 cc | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | No | 5-speed Manual | FWD |
| 1.5 MT, FWD | 103 hp | 132 Nm | 1,495 cc | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | No | 5-speed Manual | FWD |
| 1.5 MT, AWD | 103 hp | 132 Nm | 1,495 cc | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | No | 5-speed Manual | AWD |
| 1.5 AT | 103 hp | 132 Nm | 1,495 cc | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | No | 4-speed Automatic | FWD |
The two entries named 1.5 MT have identical engine outputs but different drive systems. In this article they are identified as 1.5 MT, FWD and 1.5 MT, AWD only to distinguish the database’s identically named versions; their exact version name remains 1.5 MT.
Daihatsu Materia performance and fuel economy
The 1.5 MT FWD is the performance choice. Its 10.8-second acceleration time from 0 to 100 km/h is 0.7 seconds quicker than the 1.3 MT, 1.1 seconds quicker than the 1.5 MT AWD, and 2.9 seconds quicker than the 1.5 AT. Its 170 km/h maximum speed is also the highest listed figure.
The 1.3 MT is the economy choice on the combined cycle. It uses 6.5 l/100 km combined, which is 0.7 l/100 km less than either 1.5 MT version and 1.2 l/100 km less than the 1.5 AT. It also has the lowest highway figure at 5.7 l/100 km. In city use, its 8.2 l/100 km result is 0.1 l/100 km below the 1.5 MT FWD, 0.6 below the 1.5 AT, and 0.7 below the 1.5 MT AWD.
| Version | 0–100 km/h | Top speed | City consumption | Highway consumption | Combined consumption |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3 MT | 11.5 s | 169 km/h | 8.2 l/100 km | 5.7 l/100 km | 6.5 l/100 km |
| 1.5 MT, FWD | 10.8 s | 170 km/h | 8.3 l/100 km | 6.6 l/100 km | 7.2 l/100 km |
| 1.5 MT, AWD | 11.9 s | 168 km/h | 8.9 l/100 km | 6.1 l/100 km | 7.2 l/100 km |
| 1.5 AT | 13.7 s | 164 km/h | 8.8 l/100 km | 7.1 l/100 km | 7.7 l/100 km |
The FWD and AWD versions named 1.5 MT have the same 7.2 l/100 km combined figure, but their cycle results differ. The AWD version uses 0.6 l/100 km more in the city and 0.5 l/100 km less on the highway than the FWD version.
CO₂ output is not measured for any version. The emissions class is Euro 4 for the 1.5 MT FWD and 1.5 AT; it is not measured for the 1.3 MT and 1.5 MT AWD.
Daihatsu Materia dimensions, weight, and tank capacity
The supplied data does not provide exterior length, width, height, or wheelbase, so each of those dimensions is not measured. Every version has 150 mm of ground clearance and a 40-litre fuel tank. Wheel sizes are not measured for any version.
| Version | Kerb weight | Gross weight | Weight per horsepower | Ground clearance | Fuel tank | Wheel sizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3 MT | 1,025 kg | 1,600 kg | 11.26 kg/hp | 150 mm | 40 litres | not measured |
| 1.5 MT, FWD | 1,035 kg | 1,600 kg | 10.05 kg/hp | 150 mm | 40 litres | not measured |
| 1.5 MT, AWD | 1,100 kg | 1,630 kg | 10.68 kg/hp | 150 mm | 40 litres | not measured |
| 1.5 AT | 1,050 kg | 1,630 kg | 10.19 kg/hp | 150 mm | 40 litres | not measured |
The 1.5 MT FWD weighs only 10 kg more than the 1.3 MT while gaining 12 hp, giving it the best weight-to-power result at approximately 10.05 kg/hp. The 1.5 MT AWD is 65 kg heavier than the 1.5 MT FWD without gaining power or torque. The 1.5 AT is 15 kg heavier than the equivalent FWD manual version and has the same 103 hp output.
All versions use Independent, spring front suspension and Semi-independent, spring rear suspension. Braking hardware consists of Ventilated disc front brakes and Drum rear brakes across the range.
Daihatsu Materia reliability and problems
Reliability records and model-specific problem data are not measured in the supplied information. Maintenance costs, failure rates, repair histories, and parts prices are also not measured, so they cannot support a recommendation among the four versions. The comparison must instead rest on the recorded engine, transmission, drive, performance, economy, and weight figures.
Which Daihatsu Materia version should you buy?
Choose the 1.5 MT with FWD for the strongest numerical balance. It is the quickest version at 10.8 seconds to 100 km/h, the fastest at 170 km/h, and the best by weight per horsepower at approximately 10.05 kg/hp. Compared with the 1.3 MT, its 1,495 cc engine provides 12 hp and 12 Nm more while adding only 10 kg of kerb weight. The trade-off is combined consumption of 7.2 rather than 6.5 l/100 km.
Choose the 1.3 MT if fuel consumption matters more than maximum performance. It has the lowest city, highway, and combined consumption figures: 8.2, 5.7, and 6.5 l/100 km respectively. Despite having 12 hp less than the 1.5-litre versions, it reaches 100 km/h in 11.5 seconds and has a 169 km/h top speed—only 0.7 seconds slower and 1 km/h below the 1.5 MT FWD.
Choose the 1.5 MT with AWD specifically when AWD is the deciding requirement. It retains the 103 hp and 132 Nm output of the FWD manual version, but its kerb weight rises from 1,035 to 1,100 kg. Its 11.9-second acceleration time is 1.1 seconds slower, and its 168 km/h maximum speed is 2 km/h lower. Combined consumption remains 7.2 l/100 km, although city consumption increases from 8.3 to 8.9 l/100 km.
Choose the 1.5 AT when an Automatic gearbox is more important than acceleration or economy. It pairs the 103 hp engine with a 4-speed Automatic and FWD, but records the slowest 0–100 km/h time at 13.7 seconds, the lowest maximum speed at 164 km/h, and the highest combined consumption at 7.7 l/100 km.
On figures alone, the 1.5 MT FWD is the best all-round version, the 1.3 MT is the fuel-economy alternative, the 1.5 MT AWD is the drivetrain-led choice, and the 1.5 AT is the option for buyers who specifically want an Automatic transmission.