Daihatsu?s tidy little motor

Daihatsu?s latest van offering is the super-compact Extol.

Priced at ?6,995 (ex vat), the 1.3 litre, 93mph-capable Extol is billed as an eventual replacement for the successful Hijet micro-van ? a What Van? award-winner for 11 successive years.

Daihatsu says its primary target for the model are multi-drop delivery operators plus city-centre businesses who will appreciate the Extol?s compact external dimensions and a class-beating 8.8m kerb-to-kerb turning circle.

Large sliding doors on both sides plus a high-opening top-hinged tailgate enable easy cargo access ? especially in tight spaces such as narrow back streets. The flat steel load floor is vinyl-covered and also features a substantial storage space underneath, meaning bulky tools can be kept out of site for added security.

Cargo dimensions are 1,700mm load length, 1,175mm load height from floor to roof, with 1,330mm width. Excluding the underfloor storage space, the cargo capacity is 2.2 cubic meters.

Also included are driver and passenger airbags, power steering, central locking and radio/CD player, plus a three-year/60,000 mile warranty.