Fast Facts

Verdict:
A budget compact hatchback that does its job well

High equipment count and revvy three-cylinder engine

Slightly boxy shape and fiddly stereo unit

Perodua’s latest compact hatchback hides an amazing breadth of talent

By Justin Lee

BUDGET CARS AS its name suggest are vehicles for those who do not have much cash to spare and need personal four-wheel mobility to get around. Even though most of the cars in this segment are generally skimpy on equipment, lacking in comfort and drivability, they fulfil their brief of being an honest means of getting around which beats taking public transport.

Perodua has been a purveyor of small, affordable cars in Malaysia since its establishment in 1993 starting with the Kancil. Its vehicles offered the country’s citizens a cheap means of possessing their own set of wheels. In recent years, it has become the country’s top selling carmaker with combined sales of its various models such as the Kancil, Kelisa, Kenari and Myvi surpassing that of national incumbent Proton.

The automaker has mixed fortunes in Singapore. The previous government backed distributor ceased operations due to the business being economically unviable. Its current distributor Perocom Auto though enthusiastic in marketing the brand and its cars has met with lukewarm buyer reception and hampered by a limited line-up. The two models sold here namely the Kelisa and Kenari have failed to make much of an impact on local sales charts unlike what is happening across the causeway.

An improvement in fortunes is hoped for with the launch of the firm’s latest Viva compact hatchback. This model comes more than a year after its debut in Malaysia and is a replacement for the long-in-the-tooth Kelisa. Available with engine capacities of 660cc, 850cc and 1000cc in its home country, only the latter is offered for sale here.

Like all Perodua models before it, the Viva is based on a Daihatsu design which in this case is the sixth generation Mira (also sold as the Charade in some parts of the world). As with all models made by the company, the Viva benefits from exterior design tweaks to give it some differentiation over the donor car.

At the front, triangular headlamps flank Perodua’s corporate grille while the rear has classy looking vertical tail lamps. Overall, it has a tall and boxy design which is softened by the slightly flared wheel arches. The Viva looks best when viewed from the front three quarter angle and at its side where it shows off a smooth silhouette. Turn indicators mounted on the side mirrors are an upmarket touch.