Buy or Hold: Wait for Perodua Ativa or buy Proton X50?

Last year, the Malaysian automotive market witnessed a lot of hype and craze for Proton’s latest model, the X50. The SUV remained the talk of the town the whole year and grabbed a bag full of orders at the time of launch. But, there was also a Perodua model that stayed on top of the awaited models list in 2020, and that was the D55L, reportedly called ‘Ativa’. 

Perodua has recently opened the ordering books of the SUV, revealed its estimated prices and some key specifications and the internet is going crazy. On a comparable note, we can say that if the last year was characterized by the X50, then this year, the upcoming Ativa would be the show-stealer. 

The battle between the two models is heating up locally, many are wondering if the Perodua Ativa will be a direct competitor to the Proton X50 or not. Well, it is not wrong to say that this is not a fair comparison as the price range of the two models differs significantly. The Perodua SUV is priced between RM 62,500 and RM 73,400, while the Proton X50 price starts at RM 79,200 and goes all the way to RM 1,03,300. So, technically they have different target markets and are not relevant for comparison. 

However, for the customers who look around all popular options available in the broad segment, we bring a comparison of the Perodua Ativa and the Proton X50 that might help them in deciding whether they should wait for the 2021 Perodua Ativa launch or buy X50.

Dimensions

Size-wise, the Proton X50 is longer, wider, and taller than the Perodua Ativa; the wheelbase of the Proton SUV is also larger. The Ativa's smaller size puts it closer to the A-segment SUV rather than the B segment where the X50 exists. But despite the smaller size, the boot space in the Ativa is 39 litres more than the X50. Check out their dimensions in the following table.

Specifications	Proton X50	Perodua Ativa
Length	4,330 mm	3995 mm
Width	1,800 mm	1695 mm
Height	1,609 mm	1620 mm
Wheelbase	2,600 mm	2525 mm
Boot space	330 litres	369 litres

Note: Perodua Ativa specs are based on the donor Daihatsu Rocky.

Engine

In terms of mechanical setup, both SUVs feature turbo engines, but their capacities differ. The Proton X50 is powered by a 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine generating 150 PS and 226 Nm, while the Ativa gets the juices from a tiny 1.0-litre three-pot mill churning out 98 PS and 140 Nm. But despite the smaller engine and less output numbers, the Ativa shines here with an impressive fuel economy of 18.9 kmpl.

Specifications	Proton X50	Perodua Ativa
Engine	1.5-litre 3-cylinder Turbo Direct Injection	1.0-litre Turbo DOHC 3 Cylinder
Maximum power	177 PS	98 PS
Peak torque	255 Nm	140 Nm
Transmission	7-speed DCT	CVT
0-100 kmph	7.9 seconds	9.6 seconds (estimated)
Fuel economy	15.63 kmpl	18.9 kmpl

Safety

On the safety front, the Perodua Ativa steals public attention as it gets tip-top safety bits at a more affordable price. The Ativa specs sheet includes the following:

• Advanced Safety Assist 3.0 - Lane departure warning, lane departure prevention, adaptive cruise control, lane keep control, and a blind-spot monitor
• Parking assist - Front and rear corner sensors, reverse camera, and rear cross-traffic alert
• Headlamp assist - Auto high beam and adaptive driving beam
• Passive safety bits - Six airbags, ABS, EBD, BA, vehicle stability control, emergency stop signal, hill hold assist, and ISOFIX child seat anchors.

The Proton X50 specs sheet also has the same features and a few additional ones, but for that, you need to spend more than RM 100,000. Moreover, the maximum number of airbags available with Proton SUV is only four.

Interior

The Proton X50 has a big and upmarket cabin amazingly packed with a glut of hi-tech features, including a 10.25-inch infotainment system with Voice command, navigation, online weather forecast, and Joox music streaming, 7.0-inch digital instrument display, auto air-conditioning with rear AC vents, N95 cabin filter, Proton Link App compatibility, Panoramic sunroof and so on.

On contrary, the Perodua Ativa has a utilitarian interior with appointments like a 9-inch floating infotainment display and a 7-inch TFT multi-info display. Other features are yet to be disclosed by the automaker. So on this front, the Proton SUV looks more promising than Perodua.

Verdict

Undoubtedly, the Perodua Ativa seems amazing with SUV styling, great fuel economy, sufficient power, and safety features never seen before in a car priced less than RM 80,000. However, if you want a bigger SUV, more upmarket cabin, and more power, then the X50 could be a better pick for you. 

Also read: Proton X50: Same price, other options