REVIEW: 2022 Perodua Alza AV – the very best household automotive under 100k in Malaysia, not simply amongst 7-seater MPVs

The new Perodua Alza is the very best household automotive priced under RM100k. And past, however we’ll keep on with the spherical quantity. Not simply the very best inexpensive MPV in Malaysia, however the very best household automotive, interval. Hear us out.

Perodua has been doling out hit after hit of late, upping the ante in relation to what we will anticipate for X sum of money. The volley of blows began with the Ativa in early 2021 – the small SUV noticed the native debut of the Daihatsu New Global Architecture (DNGA) platform, Turbo-CVT powertrain, Stage 2 autonomous driving and Matrix LED headlamps, amongst different options.

The market chief then updated the Myvi late last year, fortifying Malaysia’s best-selling automotive with a number of the options that debut within the Ativa. Already miles forward of rival Protons within the security division, the Myvi is now provided with Superior Security Help (ASA) in all variants, and the AV will get the Ativa’s Adaptive Cruise Management (ACC) and Lane Preserve Management (LKC) as effectively. The D-CVT introduced refinement, efficiency and financial system advantages to the G3.

That 1.5L NR engine and D-CVT combo powers the brand new Alza, which turbo engine apart, will get all of the gear discovered within the Ativa, after which some. The second-generation Alza is the very best outfitted Perodua to this point, and it’s astonishing what we’re getting for the cash, which is from RM62,500 to RM75,500 for the AV you see right here.

No holding again the package

Toyota Malaysia could have its personal model of the Alza known as the Veloz, which is the luxurious sister of the new Toyota Avanza in Indonesia. For this technology, the Alza was merged with the Avanza and Daihatsu Xenia, making it 4 variations of the identical MPV. All sit on the DNGA platform, which additionally underpins the Ativa-Rocky–Raize SUV triplets.

The Veloz might be priced round RM95k, which signifies that the hole between it and the highest Alza – each made in the identical Perodua manufacturing facility – is RM20k, a reasonably large premium for automobiles under RM100k. Whereas the variations between Perodua and Toyota MPVs are deeper in comparison with the Aruz–Rush, together with a 30 mm larger floor clearance for the Veloz, we nonetheless anticipated extra. In different phrases, we didn’t anticipate the Alza to be so well-kitted subsequent to the “large brother”.

As talked about, the Alza combines the powertrain of the Myvi with all of the package of the Ativa, with the bonus of some new-to-Perodua options. Six airbags and ASA are normal from the bottom mannequin (no compromise in relation to security), and there’s additionally the digital meter panel, ACC + LKC (this pack all the time comes with BSM and RCTA) and the Lexus-level Adaptive Driving Beam LED headlamps.

The Alza goes additional with some new-to-brand options, such because the digital parking brake (EPB) with auto brake maintain (necessitates rear disc brakes), a 360-degree panoramic view monitor and a brand new infotainment system that appears higher and has Android Auto and the just-approved Apple CarPlay. Brake maintain makes each day city driving a lot simpler and the PVM has a nifty steering button to manually flip it on. The ACC now has low velocity comply with or visitors jam help.

This degree of package is approach past what non-national B-segment sedans and hatchbacks supply for the cash. Proton? The bottom X50 goes for RM86,300 and has simply 4 airbags. Need AEB? P1’s least expensive automotive with ADAS is the X50 Flagship, yours for RM113,300.

If you wish to go deeper, the next-generation Vios, which has just been revealed in Thailand, lastly will get on DNGA and receives ASA (branded as Toyota Security Sense, however with out ACC). The brand new Toyota’s steering wheel and meter panel are the precise gadgets used within the Ativa/Alza; ditto the minor cabin switches. So, we’re primarily getting the group’s next-gen B-segment stuff prematurely through Perodua.

The identical may be stated of the Veloz, after all, however at RM95k, it’s much less of a worth proposition. Face and experience peak apart, key variations embrace LED DRLs (you’ll need to GearUp within the Alza for DRLs, an overwhelming majority are going for it), 17-inch wheels (an inch up), black roof/roof rails, Toyota’s head unit (wi-fi AA and CP), auto air-con (however with out P2-style reminiscence) ambient lighting and a Qi wi-fi charger. We’ve detailed the variations in a separate post here.

Whichever approach you take a look at it, the Alza is loads of trendy automotive for the cash.

Household first

You’re right here as a result of you’ve got a household, proper? The Alza’s rear quarters is the place it units itself aside from passenger automobiles or small SUVs within the worth bracket. It’s actually plush right here in comparison with the Honda Metropolis, Toyota Vios, Proton X50 and Perodua’s personal Ativa.

The brand new Alza is 4,425 mm lengthy and 1,730 mm huge, which signifies that its footprint is 205 mm longer and 35 mm wider than the original JDM-based model, even when the two,750 mm wheelbase is unchanged. The bigger physique yields extra inside room for each people and cargo – inside size with the second row seats pushed furthest again is 2,765 mm, which is a big 115 mm greater than earlier than. The 35 mm further width of the physique totally interprets to inside width, too.

The previous Alza was barely there as a three-row MPV and had solely 83 litres of boot area with all seats raised. Now, it’s a usable 137 litres (+54L, good for a few duffel luggage). With the third row bench folded (50:50), cargo area is now 498 litres, an enormous 150L enchancment.

Used purely as a two-row automotive (Perodua says 40% of previous Alza homeowners did so), legroom may be very beneficiant when the center row is pushed furthest again (you possibly can even cross your legs), and toes can tuck underneath the entrance seats simply, even when the entrance chairs are at their lowest place.

Couple this with a variety of backrest recline, a fold down centre armrest and a three-speed blower, that is nearly as good because it will get for rear lodging under RM100k. There are two USB chargers behind the entrance centre console, plus a single cupholder there. Talking of drinks, there are useful cupholders on the rear doorways (arm degree, acceptable for decent drinks) and a row of them within the bin under.

The GearUp fake leather-based seat covers you see right here have extra seatback pockets in varied sizes. They look like designed for a cellphone, an iPad and a laptop computer/journal.

That is earlier than we even issue within the bonus over selecting an MPV over a B-sedan/hatch – the third row. It’s comparatively nice again right here – there’s sufficient knee and headroom for this 175 cm author and my toes can slot in underneath the center row, which is vital. Often, youngsters might be relegated to the third row when there are further adults to hold, and so they’ll be superb right here – it’s not claustrophobic and there’s even a USB charging port and extra cupholders.

Capability is one factor, entry is one other. It was a deliberate resolution by Perodua to maintain the Alza’s floor clearance to a car-like 160 mm (Malaysian-spec Veloz 190 mm, Indonesian-spec Veloz and Mitsubishi Xpander 205 mm, Aruz/Rush 220 mm) and it pays off within the ease of entry. There’s no have to climb into the Alza, and if in case you have aged mother and father or passengers who’re much less cell, this can be a robust level. Entry to the third row can also be very simple due to the one-movement tumble fold operate.

I see loads of sense within the Alza being a household automotive if in case you have two youngsters (I don’t, however my mother and father beloved the area), versus a B-segment passenger automotive (image a toddler seat, a stroller and every week’s value of groceries). It’s like a Myvi with further legroom and an enormous boot, with a bonus row of seats for the mother and father/in-laws. Prolonged household outing apart, this can be a spacious five-seater that’s as simple to drive as a B-hatchback as a result of its stance.

Glad driver, completely happy household

So, we’ve established that the Alza is a superb household automotive, however you – the driving force – will not be forgotten. In any case, completely happy driver, completely happy household, proper?

The Alza’s cockpit is a nice place to be working in. The above-mentioned low floor clearance may be very obvious if you’re coming from the Ativa, as I did. You possibly can actually really feel these few centimetres when getting out of the automotive, when your leg touches the bottom. The “common automotive really feel” continues with the standard dashboard structure, versus the MPV-style central meter place of the previous Alza.

The driving force’s seat is comfy for lengthy distances, being not too onerous and well-bolstered. The leather-fabric combo is good too – the quilt sample isn’t too loud, and the accents match the deep crimson/brownish trim on the dashboard. I desire the common AV seats over the GearUp PVC covers – the latter feels a bit “puffy” and its brighter crimson doesn’t match the sprint.

A lot is manufactured from Peroduas not having telescopic steering. Attain adjustment is all the time good to have, however within the Ativa and now the Alza, I’ve no issues to find a very good driving place, not like within the Axia/Bezza. Maybe I’m of median peak, however one ought to all the time strive a automotive out for dimension. I additionally like that the Alza’s seat goes low sufficient, and also you don’t really feel such as you’re “sitting on the automotive” as you do in a Myvi G3.

Many components are from the Ativa. The sharp and customisable digital meter panel, the steering wheel (boss and backside spoke design modified), the AC management panel with two reminiscence positions, and the minor switches might be acquainted to homeowners of the SUV, however the Alza AV’s head unit is an improved one.

The 9.0-inch touchscreen (dimension unchanged) has a slimmer bezel, a full row of mounted buttons, prettier tiled residence display and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a primary for Perodua. With the latter, you possibly can view and entry navigation, music and messaging apps on the automotive’s display – goodbye suction cellphone holders. Notice that this new head unit is unique to the AV – the H makes use of the identical one from the Ativa whereas the X has no touchscreen.

One other little luxurious is the EPB with auto brake maintain. Brake maintain, which may solely be provided together with EPB, makes driving in jams bodily a lot simpler. If genie provides me one Alza characteristic for the Ativa, it’ll be this.

Generally, it’s superb how a little bit of color can completely remodel an inside. The X50 Flagship’s red dash top is an instance, and take a look at this previous-gen HR-V’s wine red cabin. Of all of the AV-exclusive gadgets, the dual-tone cockpit is likely to be best and least expensive to implement, nevertheless it makes an enormous distinction – in comparison with the H, the AV’s dashboard feels extra particular, extra premium even.

In fact, it’s simply an phantasm of premium. It is a RM75k MPV and onerous plastics are solely to be anticipated, besides, Perodua went additional than it wanted to. Look carefully and also you’ll discover that the feel of the sprint prime has a singular grain to it, a cross hatch sample much like Saffiano leather-based – zoom into the picture under (the one with my pockets) to see what I imply.

It’s good that the crimson/brown sprint part “flows” into the door panels, and there’s even a diamond motif on the finish of it. The AV’s normal part-leather seats sport the identical brownish tone and its quilted centre part matches the diamond theme as effectively. Collectively, all these little touches uplift an in any other case standard sprint design. At night time, the array of lights on the meter panel and a full complement of steering buttons (zero blanks!) provides off a fully-loaded, high-tech really feel. This one isn’t an phantasm.

Good because the cockpit is, there are a couple of query marks. I discover that there’s no pure place to position my cellphone within the AV. The massive void on the base of the centre stack within the X/H is sealed up within the range-topper, with slots both aspect of the transmission tunnel as replacements. However that is fairly a stretch.

To me a minimum of, there’s ample area for a cellphone slot on the centre console, the place the Veloz has its wi-fi charger, however P2 elected to position a card slot right here. The AV’s centre bin can also be fairly small, however a minimum of its armrest lid feels nicer than the Ativa’s “tender” materials, which is sticky and under no circumstances comfortable. By the way in which, the X and H get a distinct centre console structure, one with a “valley” to deal with the guide handbrake.

Talking of empty areas, there’s extra of it on the centre stack. It’s definitely tall sufficient for 3 storeys of controls, however just one degree is totally occupied. The huge area underneath the AC panel homes simply the push begin button and seatbelt reminder, drowned in piano black trim. A lidded cubby would have neatly crammed up the area and added performance.

The Alza’s rear view mirror has a considerably compressed view that isn’t very pure, and the guide anti-glare tab didn’t work correctly on our tester (improper angle).

A balanced drive

The brand new Alza is a totally nice drive, and it achieves this niceness not by wowing in any specific division, however by being well-balanced. I can’t consider something to complain about, actually.

We’ll begin by addressing the most well-liked query – is it underpowered? Actually, I don’t know why persons are even asking this query, as Malaysians have been residing with 1.5L naturally aspirated engines for such a very long time. An NA engine of this dimension is the default for this class of MPV, in addition to B-segment sedans and hatchbacks.

But it surely’s large and heavy, proper? At 1,170 kg, the 105 hp/138 Nm Alza is barely 20 kg heavier than the highest spec Vios, which makes use of the identical Perodua-made Twin VVT-i NR engine. For further context, the sporty Mazda 3 Hatchback, which additionally comes with a 1.5L NA engine, ideas the scales at 1,368 kg, practically 200 kg extra.

In observe, the Alza accelerates superb with 4 adults and their baggage onboard. Maybe not as deceptively swift because the Ativa, however completely ample for a household MPV. Actually, I’m unsure the way it’ll fare climbing Genting seven up, however what number of precise prospects do this? And if you happen to do, I wager your expectations might be adjusted accordingly, and also you gained’t be doing it with a stopwatch.

The CVT transmits energy effectively and the Alza will get as much as desired cruising velocity with minimal fuss. Like within the Ativa, there’s guide mode with seven digital ratios (omitted within the Myvi) however by no means did I really feel the necessity to DIY, which factors to an intuitive gearbox. D-CVT is the world’s first cut up gear CVT system and you may learn extra about it here.

Additionally pointless for me personally are the drive modes, as a result of Regular is completely balanced, appropriately. You’ll positively really feel the distinction between modes – Eco makes the automotive really feel sluggish, prefer it’s towing one thing, whereas Energy holds the revs larger and for longer – you do get higher response, however the engine turns into noisy and tetchy.

Which is what it’s not more often than not. The calm powertrain contributes tremendously to the Alza good cruising efficiency. On the freeway velocity restrict of 110 km/h, the engine is ticking at slightly below 2,000 rpm, and 90 km/h is finished at simply above 1,500 rpm. That’s a really low vary – the Ativa does 110 km/h at around 2,500 rpm, by no means thoughts the previous 4AT automobiles – and it advantages NVH and gas financial system.

Powertrain apart, the Alza has good cruising manners. There are not any irregular wind points even at speeds approach past the nationwide restrict and rolling refinement is healthier than the G3 Myvi. We did encounter some rain and may affirm that the Myvi’s wheel-well water splashing noise is absent right here.

For me, the most important shock on this pack of surprises is the Alza’s experience consolation. This might effectively be the very best driving Perodua to this point, with a secure main experience at excessive speeds (sections of the LPT to Peninsular Malaysia’s northeast may be fairly wavy, and the Alza coped with the dips effectively, with no ‘aftershocks’) and good bump absorption within the Klang Valley.

On our construction-scarred city roads, the Alza rides higher than the Ativa, which works round with extra jiggle and hop. Because the Alza rides on P2’s personal suspension tuning and experience peak, it’s a job effectively finished by our native guys and women.

The remainder of the dynamic bundle is in tandem. The steering is mild and straightforward (there’s no pretence of ‘sport’, which is nice) whereas brake really feel is miles higher than within the previous Alza, which unresponsive pedal (for a lot of the journey, earlier than it all of the sudden bites) may be categorized as harmful. Elsewhere, the Alza has good grip and well-tamed physique roll – you actually do really feel the advantage of that low GC within the bends. Toyo Proxes CR1 is a surprisingly sporty tyre selection for an MPV, too.

All the above are fused into an general driving efficiency that’s well-balanced. The brand new Alza is a lovely drive, not only for finances MPV requirements, but additionally when put next with B-segment passenger automobiles within the worth bracket.

Final however positively not least for an inexpensive household automotive is gas consumption. The current media drive to Kota Bharu wasn’t very reflective of typical utilization (we had been a bit too quick), so I took the Alza AV out for a weekend of standard motoring.

After 407 km of combined city/freeway driving, together with vital idling time throughout our photoshoot, I returned the automotive with the journey studying 15 km/l. I reached a excessive of 15.3 km/l earlier than the shoot, and reckon that 14-15 km/l must be the place it’s at for my comparatively mild proper foot. Coincidentally, 14-15 km/l is what I’m getting from my Ativa as of late.

That’s a way off the 22 km/l in what P2 calls the Malaysian Driving Cycle, which supposedly displays native situations (18.9 km/l within the extra acquainted NEDC), however claims are normally simply that – claims. In any case, 15 km/l is a really respectable return for combined driving, and an outstation journey is bound to yield larger numbers.

The perfect household automotive under RM100k?

After experiencing the brand new Alza on a protracted journey as each driver and passenger, and utilizing it in my weekend routine, I feel it’s.

In comparison with the opposite sub-RM100k three-row MPVs on sale in Malaysia, the Alza each a greater product and a greater drive, earlier than even contemplating the Perodua’s worth benefit. Should you’ve observed, there aren’t many comparisons with the unique Alza on this overview, and that’s as a result of identify apart, the D27A is worlds aside from its 13-year previous predecessor in each side.

For these procuring within the RM70k to RM100k vary, the default choices are B-segment sedans and hatchbacks from Toyota and Honda. The Vios, Yaris, Metropolis and Metropolis Hatchback had been just lately joined by nationwide SUVs within the type of the Ativa and X50. All have their deserves and are nice choices if you happen to’re utilizing them as private automobiles. At the same time as a two-child family’s sole household automotive, they’ll do the job.

Nevertheless, none does that job in addition to the Alza, which has area and flexibility on its aspect. Its rear residing quarters is the very best right here by some margin, and there’s the bonus of a 3rd row for the prolonged household. Used purely as a spacious five-seater with an enormous boot, you’re not sacrificing something in drivability and gas effectivity versus the B-sedans/hatchbacks, because the Alza is low-slung and drives effectively.

For me, the Alza’s solely downside is the “much less cool” picture of an MPV. It might be low and sporty for for its variety (of the 4 faces, I like Perodua’s design the very best; even the GearUp package appears to be like good this time) nevertheless it’s nonetheless a individuals provider on the finish of the day, and that is likely to be a deal breaker for some. If this can be a non-issue for you, and you’ve got two youngsters or extra, you owe it to your self to contemplate the Alza, even when an MPV wasn’t in your unique household automotive shortlist.

GALLERY: 2022 Perodua Alza AV with GearUp bodykit, equipment

Tags: Perodua Alza 2022