Daihatsu Terios: Which Version Should You Buy?
The Daihatsu Terios version to choose depends chiefly on whether you value lower weight, stronger performance, AWD, an Automatic gearbox, or the broader specification of the later 1.5 models. The first-generation SUV 5-doors, produced from July 1997 through December 2005, offers 0.7 MT, 0.7 AT, and 1.3 MT or 1.3 AT versions with outputs from 60 hp to 140 hp.
The Daihatsu Terios version to choose depends chiefly on whether you value lower weight, stronger performance, AWD, an Automatic gearbox, or the broader specification of the later 1.5 models. The first-generation SUV 5-doors, produced from July 1997 through December 2005, offers 0.7 MT, 0.7 AT, and 1.3 MT or 1.3 AT versions with outputs from 60 hp to 140 hp. The second-generation SUV 5-doors ran from January 2006 through January 2009, followed by its restyling from January 2009; every listed version uses a 1495 cc Gasoline engine producing 105 hp and 140 Nm. Across the supplied catalogue there are three entries—first generation, second generation, and second-generation restyling—but the restyling belongs within the second generation rather than representing a separate generation.
Daihatsu Terios generations: what changed?
The first generation covers July 1997 to December 2005 and has 16 catalogue modifications, of which 12 are shown in the supplied data. All have an SUV 5-doors body. The available engine sizes shown here are 659 cc, 1296 cc, and 1298 cc. Outputs range from 60 hp and 84 Nm to 140 hp and 177 Nm. Buyers can find Manual or Automatic gearboxes and RWD or AWD, although the exact combinations depend on the engine specification. Ground clearance is either 175 mm or 190 mm, while the fuel tank holds 46 litres.
The second generation covers January 2006 to January 2009 and has four versions. Its SUV 5-doors range is much more uniform: every version has a naturally aspirated 1495 cc Gasoline inline four-cylinder engine, rated at 105 hp at 6000 rpm and 140 Nm at 4400 rpm. The choices are 1.5 MT or 1.5 AT, each with either RWD or AWD. These vehicles have 200 mm of ground clearance and a 50-litre tank.
The second-generation restyling starts in January 2009 and also has four versions in an SUV 5-doors body. It retains the same 1495 cc engine, 105 hp output, 140 Nm torque, transmission choices, and RWD or AWD alternatives. Compared with the earlier second generation, stated clearance rises by 1 mm to 201 mm. The catalogue gives a common kerb weight of 1150 kg for all four restyled versions, while measured fuel-consumption figures are not provided.
Daihatsu Terios engine specs and version comparison
Repeated version names identify different drive configurations or engine specifications, so each one is distinguished below by generation, power, and drive.
| Generation and exact version | Power | Torque | Displacement | Fuel | Cylinders and layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First generation 0.7 MT, 60 hp AWD | 60 hp | 84 Nm | 659 cc | Gasoline | 3, Inline | Turbo | 5-speed Manual | AWD |
| First generation 0.7 AT, 60 hp AWD | 60 hp | 84 Nm | 659 cc | Gasoline | 3, Inline | Turbo | 4-speed Automatic | AWD |
| First generation 0.7 MT, 60 hp RWD | 60 hp | 84 Nm | 659 cc | Gasoline | 3, Inline | Turbo | 5-speed Manual | RWD |
| First generation 0.7 AT, 60 hp RWD | 60 hp | 84 Nm | 659 cc | Gasoline | 3, Inline | Turbo | 4-speed Automatic | RWD |
| First generation 0.7 MT, 64 hp AWD | 64 hp | 107 Nm | 659 cc | Gasoline | 3, Inline | Turbo | 5-speed Manual | AWD |
| First generation 0.7 AT, 64 hp AWD | 64 hp | 107 Nm | 659 cc | Gasoline | 3, Inline | Turbo | 4-speed Automatic | AWD |
| First generation 1.3 MT, 86 hp RWD | 86 hp | 120 Nm | 1298 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | 5-speed Manual | RWD |
| First generation 1.3 AT, 86 hp RWD | 86 hp | 120 Nm | 1298 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | 4-speed Automatic | RWD |
| First generation 1.3 MT, 140 hp AWD | 140 hp | 177 Nm | 1296 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | Turbo | 5-speed Manual | AWD |
| First generation 1.3 MT, 140 hp RWD | 140 hp | 177 Nm | 1298 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | Turbo | 5-speed Manual | RWD |
| First generation 1.3 AT, 140 hp AWD | 140 hp | 177 Nm | 1298 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | Turbo | 4-speed Automatic | AWD |
| First generation 1.3 AT, 140 hp RWD | 140 hp | 177 Nm | 1298 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | Turbo | 4-speed Automatic | RWD |
| Second generation 1.5 MT, 105 hp RWD | 105 hp | 140 Nm | 1495 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | 5-speed Manual | RWD |
| Second generation 1.5 MT, 105 hp AWD | 105 hp | 140 Nm | 1495 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | 5-speed Manual | AWD |
| Second generation 1.5 AT, 105 hp RWD | 105 hp | 140 Nm | 1495 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | 4-speed Automatic | RWD |
| Second generation 1.5 AT, 105 hp AWD | 105 hp | 140 Nm | 1495 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | 4-speed Automatic | AWD |
| Second-generation restyling 1.5 MT, 105 hp RWD | 105 hp | 140 Nm | 1495 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | 5-speed Manual | RWD |
| Second-generation restyling 1.5 MT, 105 hp AWD | 105 hp | 140 Nm | 1495 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | 5-speed Manual | AWD |
| Second-generation restyling 1.5 AT, 105 hp RWD | 105 hp | 140 Nm | 1495 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | 4-speed Automatic | RWD |
| Second-generation restyling 1.5 AT, 105 hp AWD | 105 hp | 140 Nm | 1495 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | 4-speed Automatic | AWD |
The power-per-litre comparison separates these engines clearly. The 60 hp 659 cc engine produces about 91 hp per litre, while the 64 hp specification reaches about 97 hp per litre. The naturally aspirated 86 hp 1298 cc engine delivers about 66 hp per litre, and the 105 hp 1495 cc engine about 70 hp per litre. The first-generation 140 hp engines produce approximately 108 hp per litre, making them the strongest specific-output options in the supplied catalogue.
Daihatsu Terios performance and fuel economy
For the second generation, the 1.5 MT RWD and 1.5 AT RWD both reach 100 km/h in 11.9 seconds and have a top speed of 160 km/h. The 1.5 MT AWD and 1.5 AT AWD each require 14 seconds, making them 2.1 seconds slower to 100 km/h, while retaining the same 160 km/h maximum.
Fuel consumption differentiates these four versions more clearly. The 1.5 MT RWD records 8.8 l/100 km in the city, 6.3 l/100 km on the highway, and 7.2 l/100 km combined. The 1.5 AT RWD records 9.6, 6.3, and 7.5 l/100 km respectively. Choosing the Automatic RWD version therefore adds 0.8 l/100 km in the city and 0.3 l/100 km combined, with no measured highway difference.
The 1.5 MT AWD uses 9.5 l/100 km in the city, 6.6 l/100 km on the highway, and 7.7 l/100 km combined. The 1.5 AT AWD records 9.7, 6.6, and 7.7 l/100 km. Between these AWD models, the Automatic adds only 0.2 l/100 km in the city; their highway and combined figures are identical. All four second-generation versions are listed as Euro 5.
The restyled 1.5 MT RWD, 1.5 MT AWD, 1.5 AT RWD, and 1.5 AT AWD have a stated top speed of 160 km/h. Acceleration is 11.9 seconds for every version except the 1.5 MT AWD, which takes 14 seconds. City, highway, and combined fuel consumption for all four restyled versions are not measured.
Among first-generation versions with complete performance data, the 64 hp 0.7 MT AWD and 64 hp 0.7 AT AWD take 15 seconds to reach 100 km/h and reach 135 km/h. Their 60 hp equivalents take 17 seconds and reach 132 km/h, so the extra 4 hp and 23 Nm correspond to a 2-second improvement and a 3 km/h higher maximum. The 60 hp 1.3 MT AWD listed with a 1296 cc turbo engine is not present; the actual 1296 cc version is 1.3 MT with 140 hp, 177 Nm, AWD, 16.1-second acceleration, and a 145 km/h top speed.
The first-generation 1.3 AT with 140 hp and AWD takes 18.8 seconds to reach 100 km/h and reaches 140 km/h. Its measured consumption is 10.8 l/100 km in the city, 7.2 l/100 km on the highway, and 8.4 l/100 km combined. For first-generation versions without a supplied acceleration, speed, or consumption value, that parameter is not measured.
Daihatsu Terios dimensions, weight, clearance, and tank capacity
Exterior length, width, and height are not measured in the supplied data, so no Daihatsu Terios dimensions or length figures can be stated here. Wheel sizes are also not measured for any listed version.
The first-generation 0.7 MT and 0.7 AT AWD versions with 60 hp or 64 hp have a kerb weight of 960 kg and a gross weight of 1350 kg. At 60 hp, that equals 16 kg per hp; at 64 hp, it falls to 15 kg per hp. These versions have 175 mm of ground clearance and a 46-litre tank.
The first-generation 1.3 MT with 140 hp, 1296 cc, and AWD has a kerb weight of 1040 kg and gross weight of 1550 kg, giving about 7.4 kg per hp. It has 190 mm of clearance and a 46-litre tank. Kerb weight is not measured for the other shown first-generation 1.3 versions; gross weight is also not measured for several of them. Their stated clearance is 190 mm and tank capacity is 46 litres.
In the second generation, the 1.5 MT RWD and 1.5 AT RWD weigh 1140 kg, or about 10.9 kg per hp. The 1.5 MT AWD and 1.5 AT AWD weigh 1200 kg, or about 11.4 kg per hp. AWD therefore adds 60 kg in this generation. Every version has a gross weight of 1720 kg, ground clearance of 200 mm, and a 50-litre tank.
All restyled 1.5 versions have a kerb weight of 1150 kg, approximately 11 kg per hp, along with a gross weight of 1720 kg, 201 mm of clearance, and a 50-litre tank. Relative to the pre-restyling RWD versions, the listed kerb weight rises by 10 kg; relative to the pre-restyling AWD versions, it falls by 50 kg.
Which Daihatsu Terios version should you buy?
For the best measured fuel economy, the second-generation 1.5 MT with 105 hp and RWD is the strongest choice. Its 7.2 l/100 km combined figure is 0.3 l/100 km below the 1.5 AT RWD and 0.5 l/100 km below either AWD version. It also has the lowest second-generation kerb weight at 1140 kg and matches the quickest listed second-generation acceleration time of 11.9 seconds.
For AWD with a Manual gearbox, compare two distinct priorities. The second-generation 1.5 MT AWD provides 105 hp, 140 Nm, 200 mm clearance, 7.7 l/100 km combined consumption, and 14-second acceleration. The restyled 1.5 MT AWD adds 1 mm of stated clearance and reduces listed kerb weight by 50 kg, but its fuel consumption is not measured and its acceleration remains 14 seconds.
For AWD with an Automatic gearbox, the pre-restyling 1.5 AT AWD is the easier specification to compare because it has complete economy data: 9.7 l/100 km city, 6.6 l/100 km highway, and 7.7 l/100 km combined. The restyled 1.5 AT AWD has the same 105 hp, 140 Nm, four-speed Automatic, 160 km/h top speed, and 11.9-second acceleration, plus 201 mm clearance; its consumption is not measured.
For maximum catalogue power, choose a first-generation 1.3 MT or 1.3 AT with 140 hp and 177 Nm. These versions have 35 hp and 37 Nm more than a second-generation 1.5, despite their smaller 1296 cc or 1298 cc displacement. However, performance varies by exact configuration, and several first-generation figures are not measured. The 140 hp 1.3 MT AWD with a measured 1040 kg kerb weight offers the best documented weight-to-power ratio at about 7.4 kg per hp.
For the lightest documented Terios, the first-generation 0.7 MT and 0.7 AT AWD versions weigh 960 kg. The 64 hp specifications are preferable to the otherwise comparable 60 hp versions on measured output: they add 4 hp and 23 Nm without an increase in listed kerb weight, while reducing the measured 0–100 km/h time from 17 to 15 seconds.
No supplied figures establish purchase prices, seven-seat capacity, reliability, problems, engine-number location, or availability for sale. Those questions cannot decide the comparison here. On the measured catalogue evidence alone, the 1.5 MT RWD is the efficiency-led choice, the 1.5 AT AWD is the best-documented automatic AWD choice, the 64 hp 0.7 versions improve on the 60 hp alternatives without a stated weight penalty, and the 140 hp first-generation 1.3 versions are the choices for maximum power.