Daihatsu Copen Coupe Cabriolet (2004-2010) running costs and reliability

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Running costs rating: 2.5 out of 52.5

Written by David Ross Published: 6 June 2019

Miles per pound (mpp)

Reliable fuel consumption data for comparison purposes is not available for this model.

What is miles per pound?

Fuel economy

A more stringent standard for fuel economy (WLTP) was introduced from September 2017, and this model was not required to undergo that test. Its fuel economy measured under the previous test system was 44 - 47 mpg. However these figures are less likely to be achievable in real world driving and so should never be compared to another car's mpg which was measured under the newer, more realistic WLTP system.

View mpg & specs for any version

It’s a good choice if you’re looking to keep costs down. Not only is it cheap to buy (either new or used) but fuel economy is impressive and insurance reasonable. The biggest issue however is servicing. While Daihatsu maintenance is well priced, the original engine in the Copen needs an oil change every 3000 miles and a major service every 6000 miles.

The 1.3-litre is better with service intervals of 9000 miles – although this is still short compared to an everyday hatchback.

The Copen is very economical for a two-seat convertible and the 660cc engine averages 44mpg. However, emissions aren’t as low as you’d expect and a CO2 figure of 151g/km means it isn’t as cheap to tax as other small roadsters. The larger 1.3-litre is actually cleaner – it emits 140g/km of CO2 (so tax is lower) and returns 47mpg.

Daihatsu has a reputation for mechanical toughness. However, the quality of some of the trim isn’t as good as you’d expect from a company that’s linked to the Toyota empire.