Fast Facts

Verdict:
Yet another strong contender in the small budget car market by Perodua

Comfortable and zippy and both high and low speeds, competent cabin, faster and cheaper than the auto, good equipment list

Transmission is slightly notchy, ergonomics might not suit all

And go slower: We try out the manual (and quicker) version of the Perodua Viva

By Derryn Wong

WE LIKE MANUAL transmissions, and not just because driving stick-shift makes you feel more manly (we prefer to say ‘engaging’). Their benefits are manifold: manual transmissions don’t suck power like regular torque-converter based automatics, they’re also more fuel efficient because of this and manual transmissions are usually quicker than their automatic counterparts.

The advent of dual-clutch transmissions might spell the future end of stick shifts but they’ve got one big disadvantage: expense. Which is why is makes perfect sense for small city cars like the Perodua Viva to be fitted out with manual transmissions: the essence of a city car is compactness, fuel-efficiency and driving fun.

Stick shifts aren’t a magic bullet though and quality varies: a badly sorted one like those in some Chinese small-car offerings can make you hail the invention of torque converters. We reviewed the automatic Viva in the last Issue (CarBuyer 101) and it sure wasn’t a stick in the mud. So how does the manual Viva match up to its slush-box brethren?

For a car with a 989cc engine, the Viva has a surprising amount of go, and it’s more evident in the manual which has a 0-100 time of 12.8 seconds, compared to the auto which is a huge 2.6 seconds slower at 15.4 seconds. It goes without saying that hitting more practical speeds like 70km/h come much more quickly than you’d expect.

On another note, the Viva handles highway speeds without much problem. For cruising at 100km/h+ just leave it in fifth and the engine hums below 3000rpm without excessive clamour. For such a compact car it has great high-speed stability. It rides comfortably at both high and low speed, though wind noise at higher speeds is apparent, and it also has a tendency to roll excessively in sharp corners.
The gearbox itself shifts easily although it’s slightly notchy especially from 2nd to 3rd.

All vehicle designs are a series of compromises, but it always boosts your case if you have specialist help. The Viva is based upon Japanese small-vehicle specialist Daihatsu’s Mira and this is probably one of the major reasons for their success: it’s not for nothing that you see the Sirion-based Perodua Myvi on almost every street corner in Malaysia.

Cabin room is surprisingly generous and all occupants’ heads and feet have just enough space to roam in without feeling overly cramped. As expected from a sub $50k priced car the interior is dominated by plastic but Perodua have done well, designing the surfaces and switchgear in a balanced way: the Viva’s cabin is competent and doesn’t pretend to be more than it is.

Some minor niggles are the long gearstick, unavoidable considering the low position of the gearbox, the rather high default seating position for the driver and no option of adjusting the steering wheel. Most will find a comfortable driving position but those outside of the average may not.

The extensive equipment list makes up for this and then some, with dual airbags, ABS, EBD (electronic brakeforce distribution) and 14-inch alloy wheels just to name a few. A more well-kitted out, competently driveable and comfortable you’d be hard pressed to find for the $41,999 asking price.

NEED TO KNOW

Perodua Viva 1.0 SXi
ENGINE TYPE 989cc, 12V in-line 3
MAX POWER 60bhp at 6,000rpm
MAX TORQUE 90Nm at 3,600rpm
GEARBOX 5 speed manual
TOP SPEED 155km/h (est)
0-100KM/H 12.8 seconds
PRICE $41,999 with COE
WARRANTY 3 years / 100,000km
CONTACT Perocom Auto
TELEPHONE 6880-8101