Perodua Axia - Manual or automatic, the better pick?

The Perodua Axia was first introduced in Malaysia back in 2014, and instantly became the most affordable car that one could buy. It’s one of the best choices for new car buyers who are not looking at spending too much on their first car. The Axia’s endearing positives such as its low price, spacious cabin, and excellent fuel economy all contribute to its popularity. However, as many are aware, the Axia is available with the choice of a manual or automatic gearbox. But which one should you put your money on? Which one is the better pick? Let’s find out.

But before that, here’s a little intro to the Perodua Axia 

Built on the Global A-Segment Platform borrowed from Japanese carmaker Daihatsu, the Perodua Axia was a much better car than the model it replaced. To keep people’s interest from wandering, Perodua also gave the hatchback a facelift in 2017, which seems to have worked in its favour. As a matter of fact, Perodua sold nearly 6,000 units of the Axia just in April of this year alone - that’s way more than the Bezza or the Aruz over the same time period. Depending on the variant, the 2019 Perodua Axia price ranges between RM 22,990 and RM 40,390.

And now, let’s start with why you’re really here…

Perodua Axia manual

If you want to spend the least amount of money, your only option is the Axia Standard E trim. Coming in at around 23,000 ringgit, this base variant of the Perodua Axia should suffice if all you want from your new car is to get from point A to point B and nothing more. However, do note that the prices of the Axia manual models can climb to high as RM 35,590 for the top-spec SE trim.

Meanwhile, all variants of the Axia come equipped with the same 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine. And in the case of the stick shifts, this little mill comes paired to a 5-speed, decently calibrated manual gearbox. When petrol is added into the equation and ignited, this 998 cc unit can produce 67 hp at 6,000 rpm and 91 Nm of max torque at 4,400 rpm. One of the most important reasons to choose the Axia manual over its automatic sibling would be because of its excellent fuel economy of up to 22.5 kmpl.

While the Axia isn’t a fast car by any means, the manual variants can go faster than the automatics - some reports claiming a terminal velocity of around 160 kmph or so. Of course, trying to go that fast in a small hatchback with 14-inch wheels and 820 kg body mass isn’t advisable for obvious reasons. As far as the 5-speed gearbox and its operation are concerned, there are no issues to report as such. The light yet fairly decent clutch matches well with the crisp and positive action of the stick.

If you’re someone who likes to shift his/her own gears but don’t mind spending some extra cash, the RM 32,590 Standard G variant is the pick of the bunch. Axia specs sheet features 14-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry & go, power-retractable wing mirrors, rear wiper with defogger, better and more practical interior, an audio system with USB and four speakers, central locking, driver’s seat height adjust, a multi-info driver’s display, rear parking sensors, and ABS with EBD. All trims get dual front airbags, projector headlamps, and power windows as standard.

Perodua Axia automatic

Prices for the Perodua Axia with the automatic transmission range from between RM 34,390 (Standard G) to RM 40,390 (Advance). The most obvious reason to go with the Axia automatic is that it’s available with an automatic gearbox, duh. It’s a simple, old-school 4-speed unit but Perodua has retrofitted the automatic variants of the Axia with an Eco Mode selector. With the powertrain remaining the same, the Axia automatic can return up to 21.6 kmpl (compared to the manual’s 22.5 kmpl figure).

Despite not being as frugal as the Axia manual, the automatic models are far from thirsty. They also come with all the added advantage than an automatic transmission offers. With that being said, the Axia automatic has a slightly lower top speed of around 155 kmph. Of course, most buyers in this segment aren’t looking for a rocket ship, anyway. Here as well, the best value-for-money choice remains the Standard G trim - costing less than 2,000 ringgit over its manual counterpart.

In conclusion, the Perodua Axia automatic (in the Standard G trim) comes out as the most logical and all things considered, the better pick of the whole bunch.