Today we present to you an owner’s review of the Daihatsu Copen. This is the first generation of Copen which was launched in 2012. It is a two-seater, convertible Kei car equipped with a 660cc turbocharged engine producing around 67 hp and 110 nm of torque. This engine is configured with a 5-speed manual transmission while a 4-speed auto is also offered. The owner shares his experience with this mini sports car in this review and briefs us about its quirks and features.
Purchase Decision
The owner was out in the market with a certain budget and wanted a fun car to drive. In his budget, he did not have many options as similar cars like the Honda S660 and newer models were way more expensive. He found this Copen in pretty good shape with only 30,000 kilometers of mileage. He bought the car for PKR 1.5 million.
Features
The main highlight of this Copen is its electronic convertible roof which was a major feature in its purchase decision. Besides that, it has all the standard features, including power steering, power windows, ABS brakes, a stereo system, semi-bucket seats, projection headlamps, and heated seats. “These features are very impressive for a car this old and in this budget”, the owner states.
Drive
As per the owner, the performance is excellent as this is turbocharged. The acceleration is good due to its small size, and with the roof down, the driving experience is very fun. Suspension is soft and does not bother on rough roads, but maneuverability on speed breakers becomes tricky due to the tight ground clearance. Handling and road grip is impressive, and its aerodynamic structure makes it very stable at high speeds.
Fuel Average
Fuel economy is good as, at the end of the day; it is still a Kei car disguised in a sporty structure. According to the owner, it easily does 12 to 13 km/l within the city on everyday driving, which can even go up to 15 km/l if driven with a light foot.
Maintenance
The owner changes the oil every 3000 kilometers, and periodic maintenance costs around 10,000 rupees, which is higher. As for spare parts, used parts are available in local markets but are relatively expensive. For example, a used intercooler costs over 30,000 rupees, and the ABS comes in at just around 1 Lakh rupees which is very expensive.
