Driving in Costa Rica is an unforgettable experience. Every time drivers get behind the wheel of their vehicles in Costa Rica, they know that some sort of adventure will follow. For commuters, delivery drivers and others for whom driving in Costa Rica is part of how they make a living, road traffic adventures are more haphazard than fun. For tourists and visitors, however, exploring parts of Costa Rica on four wheels can be an exciting undertaking.

The key to enjoying the driving experience in Costa Rica is to choose the right rental vehicle. Earlier this year, popular automotive blog Jalopnik asked readers to help them pick a rental car suitable for exploring the backroads of the Caribbean region of Costa Rica, and one of the vehicles that received many votes in that regard is the Daihatsu Terios Bego.

Author Bernardo Monte reviewed and test-drove the Daihatsu Terios Bego for The Costa Rica Star in early 2012, and he found it to be a great vehicle for driving in Costa Rica. Below you will find some portions of his review that support the idea of renting a Daihatsu Terios Bego, a small SUV, for your next visit to our country:

Potholes, traffic jams and fuel prices on the rise are a constant reminder that the choice we make could have a profound effect on our experience of driving in Costa Rica. So, why the Bego? Let’s look at it for a second. It’s no bigger than a king sized bed, it’s got a small 1.5 liter engine and resembles an oversized hatchback more than an SUV.

The Bego suspension is rock hard; you can actually feel every single bump on the road, a cool sensation when you are in a race car in La Guacima and not in driving down the twisting rocky roads on your way to La Fortuna and the Arenal Volcano. Wind noise, even with the windows up and full A/C, is pretty loud and you’ll be lucky to push it past ninety on the highway. Still, this is a reliable car road trippers. The comfort and power might not be there, but its small size, great range and simple engine make it reliable, fun to use and, most importantly, versatile for both urban and long range driving.

A DVVT 1.5 liter engine powers the Daihatsu Terios Bego, producing about one hundred horsepower, just enough for this car. Load it to the brim with cargo or heavy passengers and you must be patient. Buyers can choose from the 2WD or 4WD versions, ABS or no ABS, and dual airbags or “I hate my co-driver so he gets none;” that’s pretty much it. My advice: go for the top of the line range, you’ll be grateful once you use the ABS and test that locking center differential.

This car is as cheap to run as a Toyota Yaris or its cousin the Daihatsu Charade. Don’t expect a Land Rover Defender but this car can handle most of the irregular terrain one can find while driving up and down Costa Rica. I’ve crossed rivers, handled rocky terrain and traversed through mud with relative ease. Don’t think you’re doing the Camel Trophy and you’ll be all right. I hope. I have gone to Quepos, Parrita, Cuidad Neily, Palmar Norte, San Gerardo de Dota, Arenal, Nosara, Coco Beach, Jaco, Poas, Puerto Viejo, Siquirres, Orosi, Turrialba, Malpaís, Santa Teresa and Montezuma, so far, in my Terios.