Contrary to popular belief, the Perodua Ativa was jointly designed with Daihatsu and Toyota in Japan and is not simply a rebadged Daihatsu Rocky or Toyota Raize.
We recently got to drive the Perodua Ativa AV – the highest spec variant – and we were impressed not only with the design, but the driving experience too.
In true Perodua fashion, the Ativa AV is good value for money; it is fully equipped with features such as adaptive cruise control, lane centering assist, blind spot monitoring assist and rear cross traffic alert that would normally only be available in a vehicle with a higher price.
On the outside, the compact SUV has a sleek, subtly powerful look that definitely made it an attraction to onlookers; we are certain we turned a few heads in passing. It’s definitely an attention-grabber, whether you like its appearance or not.
On the inside, the cabin has a modern, high-tech look, and even though it was mostly hard plastics, it somehow managed to look classier than previous Perodua models.
The huge media console and brightly-lit digital instrument cluster were the first to catch our attention as soon as we entered the car.
Its large screens, especially the big speedometer, made it much easier to see all the pertinent information even while driving, without taking our eyes off the road, and allowing us to focus on driving.
The reverse camera was also impressive, as it was very clear and the wide-angle view made reverse parking so much easier; it was even better than our own mid-range Japanese brand car.
Looking at it, you wouldn’t think the interior would be spacious as it’s only slightly bigger than a Myvi with some added height, but looks can be deceptive.
Seats were comfortable and spacious – the rear seats could fit two child safety seats on the right and left, and still have space for an average sized person to sit comfortably in the middle.
There was also sufficient storage, with cup holders in the centre armrest, and a retractable cup holder under the right air-conditioning vent which we especially liked for its convenient position.
The car’s height made us think of the iconic Kembara, but driving it was an altogether different experience. The high seating position gave a good view of the road and surroundings, making the vehicle seem bigger than it actually was from the inside, and also more secure.
Some useful features included the Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keep Assist which sets off an alarm if you stray from your lane without signalling, making sure you always keep to your lane.
This feature is usually only available in higher end cars, so it’s refreshing that Perodua would include it in a car more attainable to the general public.
The drive was mostly smooth, with the car going over bumps effortlessly, but we thought the engine seemed a bit rough on acceleration.
Barely any wind noise came into the cabin at highway speeds, making it mostly a silent ride, but we found during idling or at lower speeds the engine could get a bit noisy.
This is probably due to the characteristics of the three-cylinder engine which is known to sound rough, and isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
We were pleasantly surprised, as we have not encountered a Perodua with a drive this smooth and we didn’t expect it to be this enjoyable.
It’s a great car for both city driving and highway driving; we remained comfortable even cruising at highway speeds, even forgetting it was just a 1.0L vehicle.
However, the one thing we found fault with was the brakes – it was a bit slow to respond, probably because of its high position, so it took some getting used to for us to properly gauge when to step on the brake to avoid jerking the car.
The last time we were this satisfied with a Perodua was with our own old Kelisa, and any Kelisa driver would know that this is an impressive feat.
After a few days of driving the Perodua Ativa AV, we can honestly say that this nippy yet strong car is a worthy contender among its peers.
Since its launch in March, Perodua has sold almost 9,000 units of the Ativa, which makes up over 20% of its overall sales to date.
Those who book an Ativa would have to wait between two and four months depending on their desired colour and variant.
The Ativa could be the future of Perodua: it might not take over the Myvi’s popularity, but it definitely signifies progress and the way forward.
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