Daihatsu YRV Review (2001 to 2005)

Quick Summary

The Daihatsu YRV is an odd choice. It's difficult to make a case for any of the new models, and anything but a used low-mileage Radical seems something of a wilfully abstruse selection. It's not a bad car per se, it's just that especially in a turbulent used market, your pound will buy far better. Maybe we should leave this one alone for a year or so and revisit.

Overall:

Models Covered: 5dr hatchback, 1.3 petrol [Base, Premium, Radical, Radical2, F-Speed, 4Trak, Turbo130]

YOU’RE ONLY YOUNG TWICE

Daihatsu's 'Young Recreational Vehicle' may not have had the nation scrambling for their chequebooks the first time around, but that doesn't mean it isn't a sound used purchase. With a weak reputation to fall back on, demand isn't huge, yet you're buying into a manufacturer with a superb reputation for reliability and innovation. Think of it as a cut-price Toyota Yaris and you won't be too far off the mark.
Used Daihatsu YRV for sale

History of the YRV

The YRV was introduced to the British public at the 2000 Birmingham Motor Show and was instantly viewed as just another in a long line of tiny Daihatsu oddities. The Cuore and Sirion models hadn't made much impact on domestic sales figures and although the YRV seemed an entire generation forward in terms of styling and build, few reckoned it would capture the public's imagination.And so it has proved. Two models were initially available, a standard trim base model and an upspec Premium trim level. These were followed in summer 2001 by the F-Speed which boasted a trick semi-automatic version and the 4Trak which, as its name suggests, was fitted with all-wheel drive. Perhaps realising that the aggressively priced Citroen Saxo was capturing the spoils in this market sector, Daihatsu released the Radical and Radical2 versions of the YRV, value models that lowered the entry price to YRV ownership to an accessible £7,995. All models were powered by the same 86bhp 1.3-litre engine until the YRV Turbo arrived with a 130bhp turbocharged version of that powerplant. The last YRVs were sold in 2005 once the model range had been replaced by a new Sirion.
Used Daihatsu YRV for sale

Daihatsu YRV Road Test

The 1.3-litre Toyota-sourced engine gamely tries to make a good fist of the Yaris as a driver's tool, but seems to be fighting a losing battle against a chassis that's not the most inspiring we've ever come across. The engine is loud but willing, and the YRV never feels out of its depth on major roads, and coupled to a slick manual gearchange first impressions are of enormous fun. It will sprint nicely off the line, but the ride is very crashy with firm damping meaning the tiny wheels and skinny tyres have a hard task deploying traction in corners. Punt a front wheel drive YRV into a corner and it will lurch at a rakish angle before picking an inside wheel up, power spinning away impotently until it touches terra firma again. Still, we often criticise new cars for lacking their predecessor's verve and vitality. Here's one with verve to spare. The Turbo 130 is a hoot although it would have been nice to see one with a manual gearbox rather than the sequential automatic. With a punchy engine and stiffened up suspension it makes a viable alternative to the usual VTR/VTS Citroens.
Used Daihatsu YRV for sale

Buying a Daihatsu YRV

The YRV is not known to have developed any significant faults during its existence. It will in all likelihood have transported children, so check the cabin for rips, stains and other damage wreaked by small hands. The YRV will probably have been exposed to a fair amount of city driving, so check the exterior for knocks and scrapes, and check under the bonnet for accident damage or paint overspray. If you're shopping for a 4Trak model, take a good look at the suspension, underbody and front and rear aprons for signs of damage through over zealous off-roading. You should also take a look at the front tyres as the YRV is prone to wheelspin and can chew through a set of front boots at an alarming rate especially in Turbo 130 guise.. Otherwise, the usual reminder to obtain a service history applies.
Used Daihatsu YRV for sale

Daihatsu YRV Typical Pricing

Daihatsu's sudden insistence on launching a value model so soon after the mainstream range's launch has had a curious effect on the used market dynamic. Those buyers who forked out over £10,000 for a YRV Premium in 2002 now find the car difficult to sell due to a book valuation of around £3,000, which compares unfavourably with the new sticker price of the Radical model. Therefore used Premiums are relatively easy to find as few are tempted. Check the new pricing, as Daihatsu periodically offer big cashbacks and you may be able to use these reductions to leverage a more attractive used deal for yourself. Prices of the other models have yet to settle, due in no small part to their manifest scarcity. When was the last time you spotted a YRV 4-Trak or a YRV F-Speed? They're as rare as rocking horse teeth if you'll pardon the mangled metaphor. The best bargains to be had are ex-demonstrator. F-Speed models start at £2,900 on an 01 X plate. You'll need to bend the ear of several Daihatsu dealers to turn one up, but it'll be worth the effort. Insurance ratings for the YRV consist of Group 6 for the base and Radical editions and a still very reasonable Group 7 for the others.
Used Daihatsu YRV for sale

Daihatsu YRV Parts

(Estimated prices, based on a 2001 YRV) Daihatsus are so reliable that it's hard to see how the dealers make a profit on spares that include a clutch assembly at £175, starter motors from £110, headlamps from £75 and brake pads at £24 a set. A new radiator for the YRV will be around £240, whilst an exhaust system is in the region of £275.
Used Daihatsu YRV for sale