Has Perodua got a rival for the Proton X50 and Honda HR-V?

They say they do but when you see which vehicle will be rebadged as a Perodua you might not agree.

Perodua management some months ago at the launch of the facelift Perodua Myvi hinted at the fact that a hybrid model will be launched before the end of this year, 2022. This was done as at the time the Malaysian government had just announced the generous tax incentives for electric vehicles and the attending media were questioning the Perodua management if they were ready to provide lower middle class Malaysians with an affordable electric vehicle. 

They did not mention if it will be a compact hatch or a compact SUV, but looking at the product lineup at Daihatsu (Perodua’s technology and product partner) Japan there was no full electric-powered vehicle ready for global release.

This is why Perodua management responded by saying the obvious, there was still a lack of public battery charging network and the time was not yet right as with the release of a well-priced Perodua electric vehicle would cause charging problems in small towns and along our many highways.

This is a fact and this is why right now only the rich Malaysians can afford an electric vehicle that is being sold by premium car manufacturers and even so the public charging network has its limitations. 

This is why Perodua management stressed the fact that in the future when there are more public charging points, a Perodua electric vehicle will be in their showrooms. 

This is why Perodua management confirmed that a hybrid version will be arriving before the end of 2022 and this will be the gradual move towards electrification for Perodua.

The suggested hybrid Perodua has already been spotted being tested on Malaysian roads and it is a compact Crossover that is slightly smaller than the Proton X50 and much smaller than the soon-to-arrive 2022 model Honda HR-V.

This is the Daihatsu Rocky hybrid which is named the e-SMART. This is the same base vehicle as the current Perodua ATIVA crossover. With the e-SMART powertrain, Daihatsu has a 1.2L 3-cylinder petrol engine that works as a ‘generator’ to charge a 4.3 Ah lithium-ion battery which is located under the rear seats of the Ativa. This electric motor in turn provides the driving power for the vehicle. It generates 105 brake horsepower and 170 Nm of torque. 

There is no gearbox as the 1.2L petrol-powered ‘generator’ runs when the battery needs juice and the rest of the time it is resting. This powertrain works seamlessly and the driver just works the single pedal system (Smart Pedal) to accelerate and also brake to a stop.

Daihatsu claims a 3.57 litre per 100 kilometre fuel consumption under the best conditions. This vehicle is already selling and running in Japan and the test units in Malaysia have been spotted in the city as well as on the highway. Testing is needed to ensure the battery and motor system work well in our humid conditions.

This will be Perodua’s challenger for the Proton X50 but it will not be for the Honda HR-V as the HR-V is in a higher segment in terms of size, features, and also drivetrain. 

Also read: 2022 Perodua Myvi GearUp Accessories: Detailed in pics