Photo of a Daihatsu Materia

Daihatsu Materia

The UK 1.5: a 3.80 m box whose seats fold into a double bed.12

Researched November 2, 2026 from 27 sources

Also called

  • Sushi-BoxGerman launch coverage used this label for its boxy microvan shape.1
  • Marmite carA reviewer's label for styling that split opinion.3

At a glance

0100200
89.7–147.5 hpPower
07.515
8.9–13.7 s0–100 km/h
0100200
164–200 km/hTop speed
0150300
120–190 N·mTorque
07501,500
1,025–1,035 kgWeight

The coral arc spans the family, from its mildest version to its wildest.128111315

Engine
Petrol I4: 1.3 L K3-VE, 1.5 L 3SZ-VE; 1.5 L turbo in South Africa113
Layout
Front engine, FWD; optional 4WD in Japan and Europe513
Gearbox
5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic; Coo uses a 4-speed automatic914
Built at
Daihatsu Head Plant, Ikeda, Osaka, Japan13

The story

Built for families, the Materia used the Big Cabin Concept to maximize space. The 1.5 manual paired a 3.80 m body with a 2.54 m wheelbase and a 181–619 L luggage bay.45

2006: D-Compact Wagon debuts at Geneva · Coo launches in Japan on May 8 · Materia's European premiere at Paris20062007: UK launch: 1.5 and two gearboxes20072008: White X brings 17-inch wheels20082009: South Africa gets the Materia Turbo20092010: The UK's last Materias20102011: Germany has 140 Materias left20112013: Japanese Coo sales end in January2013 Daihatsu Pyzar / Gran Move (G300): 1996–2002G300Toyota bB (first generation) (XP30): 2000–2005XP30Daihatsu YRV (M200): 2000–2005M200Daihatsu D-Compact Wagon: 2006 (prototype)Daihatsu Materia / Coo (M400): 2006–2012 (production)M400 1995200020052010201520202025
GenerationsBefore and afterMilestones1568132122
Show the numbers
YearWhat happened
1996–2002Daihatsu Pyzar / Gran Move (G300)
2000–2005Toyota bB (first generation) (XP30)
2000–2005Daihatsu YRV (M200)
2006 (prototype)Daihatsu D-Compact Wagon
2006–2012 (production)Daihatsu Materia / Coo (M400)
2006D-Compact Wagon debuts at Geneva
2006Coo launches in Japan on May 8
2006Materia's European premiere at Paris
2007UK launch: 1.5 and two gearboxes
2008White X brings 17-inch wheels
2009South Africa gets the Materia Turbo
2010The UK's last Materias
2011Germany has 140 Materias left
2013Japanese Coo sales end in January
  1. 2006

    D-Compact Wagon debuts at Geneva

    The D-Compact Wagon prototype previewed the Materia at Geneva; by the autumn Paris show, the production car had its final name.16

  2. 2006

    Coo launches in Japan on May 8

    The Coo arrived in Japan on May 8. It seated five adults and gave 2WD versions a rear bench with 240 mm of sliding travel.7

  3. 2006

    Materia's European premiere at Paris

    The Materia appeared at Paris in September, with European showroom sales scheduled for early 2007.48

  4. 2007

    UK launch: 1.5 and two gearboxes

    April brought a single-trim UK range with a 1.5-liter petrol engine and a choice of five-speed manual or four-speed automatic.29

  5. 2008

    White X brings 17-inch wheels

    White X paired white paint, lowered suspension and 17-inch wheels with heated leather seats; VSC stability control was standard.10

  6. 2009

    South Africa gets the Materia Turbo

    The 1.5 Turbo reached South Africa with 147.5 hp, 190 Nm and a claimed 8.9-second 0–100 km/h time; initially, just 40 cars were available.11

  7. 2010

    The UK's last Materias

    The final UK Materias sold in 2010 as Daihatsu announced its planned withdrawal from Europe.9

  8. 2011

    Germany has 140 Materias left

    In March, Germany had 140 Materias left to sell; production for that market had stopped in July 2010.12

  9. 2013

    Japanese Coo sales end in January

    Coo sales in Japan ended in January, after the Materia had left the UK and reached final stocks in Germany.91213

Every generation

Power over the years

From 91 hp to 148 hp in 3 years.

050100150 200620082010 hp 2006 · 91 hp · Coo 1.3, Japan (92 PS)2006 · 107 hp · Coo 1.5, Japan (109 PS)2007 · 90 hp · Materia 1.3, Germany (91 PS)2007 · 102 hp · Materia 1.5, Germany (103 PS)2009 · 148 hp · Materia Turbo, South Africa (110 kW) 148 hp Materia Turbo, South Africa (110… 91 hp Coo 1.3, Japan (92 PS)
1711
Show the numbers
YearHorsepowerModel
200691Coo 1.3, Japan (92 PS)
2006107Coo 1.5, Japan (109 PS)
200790Materia 1.3, Germany (91 PS)
2007102Materia 1.5, Germany (103 PS)
2009148Materia Turbo, South Africa (110 kW)

Versions

11 versions worth knowing, with their power.

  • Standard

    1.3 (Germany)

    2007–2010

    90 hp
  • Standard

    1.5 (UK)

    2007–2010

    103 hp
  • Standard

    1.5 (Germany)

    2007–2010

    102 hp
  • Standard

    Funk

  • Standard

    Coo CS

    2006–2008

    91 hp
  • Coo CL

    Standard

    Coo CL

    2006–2013

    91 hp
  • Coo CX

    Standard

    Coo CX

    2006–2013

  • Standard

    Coo CX-Limited

    2006–2008

  • Special

    White X

    2008

    102 hp
  • Special

    Black Edition

    2009

    102 hp
  • Limited

    Turbo (South Africa)

    2009

    148 hp

How to spot one

Look for

  • Blocky hood, squared wheel arches and an upright tail.18
  • UK cars combine a bodykit with dark rear privacy glass.216
  • Japanese Coo models have vertical grooves across the grille and front bumper.7

Year by year

  1. October 2008, France

    The new 1.3 kept the 1.5's appearance and equipment, so its arrival brings no distinct exterior cue.8

  2. October 2008, Coo

    The range contracts to CL and CX; the earlier CX-Limited's rear spoiler and discharge lights are trim-specific clues.14

Don’t confuse it with

  • Toyota bB (second generation)

    The body is shared, but the Materia has a wider, shallower grille and a different turn-signal layout.13

  • Subaru Dex

    Subaru badges and rear trim, a chrome grille and vertically stacked turn signals and fog lamps identify the Dex.19

  • Nissan Cube

    The Cube's rear door is hinged at the side.20

Against its rivals

  • Materia vs Nissan Cube

    Used-test rating

    Materia3 points/5
    Nissan Cube3.5 points/5
    20

Prices

Price when newAuction sale
$0$10K$20K$30K 2010201520202025 2007 · $18,837 · Germany base 1.3; approx. €1=$1.302007 · $20,137 · Germany base 1.5; approx. €1=$1.302007 · $21,437 · Germany 1.5 Eco 4WD; ~€1=$1.302007 · $21,398 · Germany 1.5 auto; approx. €1=$1.30 2007 · £10,995 on-the-road. · UK base, 2007 model year; approx. £1=$2 2025 · $1,040 · 2008 1.5 manual, 112,920; hammer (~$1.30/£), Ewbank's2026 · $1,066 · 2008 1.5 manual, 139,400 mi (~$1.30/£), Auction $1.1K Auction, 2026
122627
Show the numbers
YearPriceAmountDetail
2007Launch price$21,990UK base, 2007 model year; approx. £1=$2
2007Price when new$18,837Germany base 1.3; approx. €1=$1.30
2007Price when new$20,137Germany base 1.5; approx. €1=$1.30
2007Price when new$21,437Germany 1.5 Eco 4WD; ~€1=$1.30
2007Price when new$21,398Germany 1.5 auto; approx. €1=$1.30
2025Auction sale$1,0402008 1.5 manual, 112,920; hammer (~$1.30/£), Ewbank's
2026Auction sale$1,0662008 1.5 manual, 139,400 mi (~$1.30/£), Auction

The rest of the story is in the app

The full file tells why each version matters, the legend behind the car and what to check before buying one.

  • Versions

    • Why each of the 11 versions matters
  • Legend

    • 11 stories from its legend
    • “Clarkson's Ascari A10 loophole”
    • “138 hp, but no manual for the YRV Turbo”
  • Generations

    • The story of each of the 6 generations
  • Market

    • 6 things to check before buying one
Read the full file in SPOT

SPOT is free on iPhone. Full car files come with SPOT Plus.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to the source it rests on.

See all 27 sources
  1. Daihatsu Materia - AUTO BILD autobild.de
  2. Is it a Materia world? | Car Reviews | by Car Enthusiast carenthusiast.com
  3. Daihatsu Materia: 25,618 miles | Auto Express autoexpress.co.uk
  4. Daihatsu to Exhibit New Compact Car Materia and World Premiere Concept Car at Paris Motor Show 2006|News|DAIHATSU daihatsu.com
  5. Daihatsu Materia 1.5 (01/07 - 09/10): Technische Daten, Bilder, Preise | ADAC adac.de
  6. Daihatsu to Exhibit New Terios and Unveil D-Compact Wagon for the First Time at the 76th Geneva International Motor Show|News|DAIHATSU daihatsu.com
  7. Daihatsu Launches New Compact Passenger Car COO|News|DAIHATSU daihatsu.com
  8. Daihatsu Materia — Wikipédia fr.wikipedia.org
  9. Daihatsu Materia (2007-2010) — New Car Net newcarnet.co.uk
  10. Sondermodell Daihatsu Materia White X - AUTO BILD autobild.de
  11. Materia up on street cred - CAR Magazine carmag.co.za
  12. Noch 140 Daihatsu Materia erhältlich - Auto-Medienportal auto-medienportal.net
  13. Toyota bB - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  14. クー 2006年~2011年モデルのWEBカタログ【ダイハツ公式】U-CATCH u-catch.daihatsu.co.jp
  15. Autozine - Autotest: Daihatsu Materia autozine.nl
  16. Daihatsu Materia MPV review (2007-2010) | Auto Express autoexpress.co.uk
  17. Daihatsu Materia: Sondermodell "Black Edition" | heise autos heise.de
  18. The box that rocks | Motoring | The Guardian theguardian.com
  19. スバルの新型コンパクトカー「DEX(デックス)」発売 【ニュース】 - webCG webcg.net
  20. Daihatsu Materia, Nissan Cube: Gebrauchtwagen-Test - AUTO BILD autobild.de
  21. Daihatsu Pyzar - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  22. Daihatsu YRV - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  23. Top Gear: Series 10, Episode 9 topgearbox.com
  24. Toyota Launches Fully Redesigned bB | Toyota Motor Corporation Official Global Website global.toyota
  25. Autozine - Betrouwbaarheid Daihatsu Materia autozine.nl
  26. LOT:4005 | 2008 (08) Daihatsu Materia 1.5 5 door Hatchback MPV Petr... ewbankauctions.co.uk
  27. FP08 GFJ | 2008 Daihatsu Materia - Free History Check | UKCarData.co.uk ukcardata.co.uk
  • autobild.de
  • carenthusiast.com
  • autoexpress.co.uk
  • daihatsu.com
  • adac.de
  • fr.wikipedia.org
  • newcarnet.co.uk
  • carmag.co.za
  • auto-medienportal.net
  • en.wikipedia.org
  • u-catch.daihatsu.co.jp
  • autozine.nl
  • heise.de
  • theguardian.com

Photo credits