Daihatsu Sportrak (1997)

Estimated running costs and MOT pass rates from 194 MOT tests in 2024.

Annual Cost

£2,528

£211/month

MOT Pass Rate

61%

Below Avg

Road Tax

£375

Estimated/year

Est. Insurance

Grp 12-25

1589cc Petrol

Proceed With Caution

61% pass rate, £2,528/year to run. 21 points below average.

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Petrol1589cc29 years old194 tests61k miles avg

Annual Running Costs

Fuel (Petrol, 1589cc)

~42 mpg

£1,398

Road Tax

Pre-2001 engine size rate

£375

MOT Test

£55

Predicted Repairs

Higher estimate due to low pass rate

£700

Total per year£2,528

Per month£211/mo

Per week£49/wk

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year (UK average), petrol at 174.57p a litre (GOV.UK weekly average, week of 19 October 2026), GOV.UK road tax rates and repair likelihood from MOT data. Insurance not included.

Reliability Verdict

61% MOT pass rate(Below Avg)

0%All-model avg: 82%100%

Below average reliability. Budget extra for maintenance and repairs. That's 21 points below the average of 82% across all models in our data. It falls below the Daihatsu brand average of 71%.

61% of MOT tests on Daihatsu Sportraks from 1997 ended in a pass in 2024, when they were about 27 years old. That's based on 194 tests across the UK, retests included. The average mileage recorded at those tests was 60,969 miles.

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How Does It Compare?

Rank among 1997 models296th of 306(bottom 4%)

Rank among Daihatsu models93rd of 100(bottom 8%)

vs average of all models-21%(82% avg)

vs 1997 models average-14%(75% avg)

vs Daihatsu average-10%(71% avg)

Mileage Analysis

60,969

Average miles

199,800

Expected for age

The average 1997 Daihatsu Sportrak had 60,969 miles on the clock at its 2024 MOT, which is significantly below the expected 199,800 miles for a 27-year-old car. Low-mileage examples may have spent time sitting unused, so check for issues like corroded brakes or perished rubber seals.

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Daihatsu Sportrak by Year

Year	Pass Rate	Tests	Avg Mileage
1997	61%	194	60,969 mi
1996	67%	61	55,203 mi
1995	61%	62	65,030 mi
1994	66%	62	57,863 mi
1993	63%	48	71,631 mi
1992	64%	69	53,673 mi
1990	64%	42	62,700 mi

Similar Cars to Consider

Mazda MX-5

1999 · 1600cc Petrol

£2,328/year

73%

+12%

Volkswagen Golf

1999 · 1781cc Petrol

£2,561/year

71%

+10%

Vauxhall Corsa

1999 · 1199cc Petrol

£1,810/year

89%

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Nissan Micra

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£2,183/year

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About the 1997 Daihatsu Sportrak

The 1997 Daihatsu Sportrak is a small family car. Our records list a 1589cc petrol engine, though engines vary between versions. 194 MOT tests were recorded on this model in 2024, making it a rare model on UK roads. It sits in the bottom 4% of 1997 models for MOT pass rate.

With an average of 60,969 miles recorded at its 2024 MOT tests, Daihatsu Sportrak owners tend to use this car less than the typical driver. Very low mileage could mean the car has been garaged or used only for short trips, which can cause its own issues like battery drain and moisture buildup.

1997 Daihatsu Sportrak Fuel Costs

The 1589cc petrol engine offers a reasonable balance between performance and economy. Expect around 42 mpg in mixed driving, which works out to roughly £1,398 per year with petrol at 174.57p per litre (GOV.UK weekly average, week of 19 October 2026; based on 7,400 miles per year).

What does it cost to own a 1997 Daihatsu Sportrak?

Total estimated annual running cost is £2,528 (£211/month), broken down as £1,398 fuel, £375 road tax, £55 MOT, and £700 predicted repairs. The higher repair estimate reflects the 61% MOT pass rate. Cars in this bracket tend to need work on suspension, brakes, and emissions components.

Buying a Used 1997 Daihatsu Sportrak

At 29 years old, the Daihatsu Sportrak is firmly in budget territory. Purchase prices are low, but check for rust, worn suspension bushes, and electrical gremlins. A full service history is especially valuable at this age.

Common Issues to Watch For

These are typical issues for cars of this age, fuel type and engine size, not faults recorded on this model's MOT tests. Use them as a checklist when you view one.

Rust and Corrosion

Watch out

At 10+ years, check wheel arches, sills, subframe, and brake lines for rust. Structural corrosion is an MOT failure. Prevention is far cheaper than repair.

Suspension Bushings

Watch out

Rubber suspension bushes harden and crack with age, causing knocking noises and vague handling. A full refresh costs £300-£800 depending on the car.

Higher Than Average Failure Rate

Watch out

With a 61% MOT pass rate, this model fails more often than most. Budget for unexpected repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

Service History

Low risk

Always request a full service history. Regular servicing is the single best indicator of how well a car has been maintained, regardless of mileage.

Running Costs Compared

How the 1997 Daihatsu Sportrak stacks up against similar cars for estimated annual running costs, insurance group, and tax.

Car	Pass Rate	Fuel/yr	Tax/yr	Est. Ins. Group	Total/yr
Daihatsu Sportrak(1997)	61%	£1,398	£375	Grp 12-25	£2,528
Mazda MX-5(1999)	73%	£1,398	£375	Grp 12-25	£2,328-£200
Volkswagen Golf(1999)	71%	£1,631	£375	Grp 18-32	£2,561+£33
Vauxhall Corsa(1999)	89%	£1,175	£230	Grp 5-15	£1,810-£718
Nissan Micra(1999)	70%	£1,398	£230	Grp 8-20	£2,183-£345

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year, GOV.UK average pump prices for the week of 19 October 2026, GOV.UK road tax rates and MOT data. Insurance groups are our rough estimate from engine size, not official groups. Actual costs vary by driver, location, and usage.

Questions about the 1997 Daihatsu Sportrak

Is the 1997 Daihatsu Sportrak reliable?

Below average reliability. Budget extra for maintenance and repairs. 61% of MOT tests on 1997 Daihatsu Sportraks ended in a pass, from 194 tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). That's 21 points below the average of 82% across all models in the same data.

How much does a 1997 Daihatsu Sportrak cost to run?

Our estimate is £2,528 a year (£211 a month): £1,398 fuel, £375 road tax, £55 MOT and £700 predicted repairs, based on 7,400 miles a year. Insurance is not included.

What is the MOT pass rate for a 1997 Daihatsu Sportrak?

61% of 194 MOT tests on the 1997 Daihatsu Sportrak ended in a pass (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). That ranks it 296th of 306 models first registered in 1997 (bottom 4%).

What is the average mileage for a 1997 Daihatsu Sportrak?

The average mileage recorded at MOT tests on the 1997 Daihatsu Sportrak is 60,969 miles, which is significantly below the expected 199,800 miles for a 27-year-old car. Low-mileage examples may have spent time sitting unused, so check for issues like corroded brakes or perished rubber seals.