The Toyota Duet was conceptualized with the aim to providing families with a practical and economical car. The Duet debuted in Japan in 1998. It was among the earlier cars designed and produced by the marriage between Daihatsu and Toyota. Toyota sold the compact four door car in Japan, as the Duet, while Daihatsu did the same in Europe with the brand name Sirion. The Duet continued to be in production until 2004 when it was replaced by the now common Toyota Passo.
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| Toyota Duet |
Design
The Duet and Sirion are strikingly similar when it comes to design. The front features a low slung oval shaped grille is separated into two by a thick chrome strip. The strip continued to the fenders past the front door and ends at the rear doors. The oval shaped headlamps features separate clusters for the indicators and main beam headlamps. The short front and rear overhangs give the Duet compact proportions.
Large windows allow in plenty of light giving occupants a sense of roominess.
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| 1998 version |
At D-pillar is a small rear window which adds a striking design touch while improving visibility for the driver. The large rear windshield features an integrated brake light. Below it is the chrome boot lid which hides the rear reverse camera.
The rear lamps feature separated clusters for brake, reverse and indicator lights. In 2001, the design was updated to feature redesigned headlamps and grille. The rear lights were also slightly tweaked to match with the redesigned headlamps. A rear spoiler and front fog lights were also introduced to the 2001 Duet.
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| Current generation Toyota Passo |
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| Toyota Passo |
Performance
Underneath the cars short bonnet is a choice of two petrol engines. There was a 1.0 litre 3-cylinder with 40 kW (54 hp) and a 1.3 litre 4-cylinder 64 kW (86 hp) unit (shared with the Toyota Vitz). Both were available with either a 5-speed manual or automatic gearbox. Power is sent to the front wheels. When the Duet was updated in 2001 the 1.3 litre models power output increased to 76 kW (102 hp). Both engines can accelerate the Duet from 0 to 100 km/h in under 9.6 seconds. Top speed is pegged at 179 km/h while fuel consumption averages between 4.5- to 5-litres per 100 km covered.
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| Daihatsu Sirion |
Interior
The interior features a minimalistic look and room for up to five occupants. The cockpit features a compact steering with three instrument dials located behind it. Two large knobs for the A/C control are located at arm’s reach from the steering wheel.
Numerous storage arears are spread across the interior. The seats provide firm support to all occupants while the rear seats offer plenty of legroom. The 2001 version features a redesigned cockpit with a luxurious touch thanks to the striking wood like dashboard panels. The boot offers plenty of storage space and can be increased by folding the rear seats.
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| Interior |
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| Rear design |
Verdict
Although the Toyota Duet is no longer in production it will be remembered as a great compact car with plenty of features and practicality. The Duet compact dimensions and looks made a lady’s favourite back in the day. The replacement, the Toyota Passo, has continued to enjoy successive sales and is now on its second generation.
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