Perodua Aruz: First impression

Perodua has finally added a new product in its portfolio for the Malaysian market. This new product is none other than the Perodua Aruz. You might have already heard about this name because it has been quite popular in the country even before the actual SUV was launched. It was at the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (KLIMS) 2018 where Perodua started giving hints that there’s a new SUV coming soon. Then, of course, we had the teasers and all. But now the all-new Aruz is finally here in the country. And here is our first impression of the latest Perodua.

Exterior

We really don’t need to tell you this as it is quite prominent that the Perodua Aruz is very similar to the latest Toyota Rush. Of course, Perodua has done a few changes to give the Aruz an identity of its own. At the front, you’ll notice an additional slat in the grille which is a bit thicker than the rest. This has been done to make the SUV a bit ‘different’ than the Rush and also to fit the company’s badge. The rest of the elements like headlights, DRLs, bumper, fog lamps, etc. are very much the same as that of the Rush.

The side profile of the Aruz is also very familiar. The tall wheel arches and 17-inch wheel size give a decent appearance to the SUV. We would have liked to see, perhaps, larger wheels to fill in the gap in the wheel arches. The roof rails add a bit of sportiness and there is a subtle character line going through the doors and reaching the tail light assembly.

Talking about the tail light assembly, there’s nothing new to write about. Perodua has taken the entire rear of the Toyota Rush and pasted it on the new Aruz. This can be looked upon as both positive and negative. The positive is that this design and style are tried and tested and therefore, there is less risk involved. The negative is that Perodua could have experimented a little bit and come out with a better overall design for the Aruz.

Interior

The story with the interior is the same as it was with the exterior. If you’d been inside a Toyota Rush then you’d feel completely at home in the cabin of the new Perodua Aruz. However, in the latter, there is more black so perhaps, it is a bit sportier here.

The interior space isn’t going to be an issue in the Aruz. There is plenty of it available for all the occupants. The second and third-row seats can be folded down as per your requirements to fit in more luggage. The multimedia system supports navigation and Smart Link only for Android devices. You also get USB and HDMI ports at the front row seats. For the comfort of the rear passengers, there are rear AC vents mounted on the ceiling.

Safety features

The all-new Perodua Aruz comes with a plethora of safety features like Hill-start Assist, ABS with EBD and BA, 6 airbags, traction control, vehicle stability control, and advanced safety assist 2.0 with pedestrian detection. These are impressive safety features that should be included in a modern-day car. Perodua is also boasting about the 5-star ASEAN NCAP safety rating that the Aruz has received. This will definitely give customers a peace of mind.

Engine

Perodua Aruz specs reveal a similar engine option that we’ve already seen in the Toyota Rush. It is a 1.5L 4-cylinder engine that produces 105PS at 6000 rpm and generates a peak torque of 136Nm at 4200 rpm. Perodua has also incorporated its ‘Eco Idle’ system that promises to enhance the fuel efficiency of the Aruz. Perodua is claiming a fuel efficiency of 15.6 kmpl with Eco-driving.

Price and availability

Perodua has launched the Aruz in two variants - X trim and AV trim. The Aruz price is set at RM 72,900 for the former variant and RM 77,900 for the latter. Perodua says that it has received over 300 bookings already and it is going to increase with time. This tells a lot about the image of the brand in the country. The new Aruz is available in five colour options. It wouldn’t we wrong to say that Perodua has played safe with its new launch. The Aruz is nothing else but a more affordable Toyota Rush.

What do you guys think about it? Let us know about your opinions in the comments below.