Perodua Myvi - Automatic or manual?

The Perodua Myvi has been one of the best success stories in the Malaysia automotive landscape. Initially launched in 2005, the first generation of the Myvi was the result of Perodua’s partnership with Japanese marques Daihatsu and Toyota. Soon after its debut, the B-segment hatchback quickly rose in popularity among the masses as it was not only well-priced, but it also offered plenty of interior space and everyday practicality. It was succeeded by the second-generation model in 2011, which too was replaced by the current and outgoing third-gen Myvi in late 2017.

The new Perodua Myvi brought along several exciting improvements over its precursors, which not only made it even more attractive to buyers but also helped boost sales. At this point, it would come as no surprise to anyone to know that the Perodua Myvi is the best-selling car in the country,

and has sold well over a million units. Just like its predecessors, however, the new Myvi is sold with a choice of two petrol engines and two transmission options; there’s the convenience of an automatic or the affordability of the manual. So, which one would it be and most importantly, which gearbox should you pick to go along with the Perodua Myvi? Let’s find out.

Perodua Myvi Manual

In all, there are five different variants of the Perodua Myvi on sale in Malaysia. However, if you want it with a manual gearbox, the RM 42,790 entry-level G trim is your only bet. This one comes with a 1.3-litre 1NR-VE four-cylinder motor that puts out 94hp at 6,000 rpm and 121Nm of maximum torque at 4,000 rpm. Meanwhile, transmission duties are taken care of by a 5-speed manual transmission which sends the naturally-aspirated engine’s grunt to the front tyres.

While none of the variants of the Perodua Myvi are particularly renowned for their spirited performance, those with the 1.3-litre unit are unsurprisingly the slowest. And even though the base G trim of the Myvi has the lowest kerb weight and a decently frugal powerplant, it doesn’t come fitted with the brand’s ‘Eco Idle’ engine stop/start technology and thus can only achieve 20.5 kmpl on a combined cycle.

Being at the bottom of the pecking order also means that the Perodua Myvi G (with the manual gearbox) doesn’t get much in the way of fancy and modern features. However, that being said, the standard safety kit includes the likes of Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRC), Emergency stop signal (ESS),

reverse parking sensors, rear ISOFIX anchor points and four airbags (front & side). Other equipment comes in the form of 14-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlamps, acoustic front windshield, electrically-operated wing mirrors with integrated turn indicators, smart entry with push-button engine start, adjustable steering wheel, seat-height adjustment for the driver, split-folding rear seats, and a four-speaker audio system with USB connectivity.

However, if you don’t want to deal with the hassle of changing the gears manually, you could spend some more moolah and go for one of the automatic variants of the Myvi. And of course, the higher trims also offer more bells & whistles.

Perodua Myvi Automatic

Starting at RM 44,590, the base automatic variant of the new Perodua Myvi is identical to the entry-level manual in almost every way. So you won’t be getting any additional features on the inside or the outside. However, the biggest difference is obviously the inclusion of a torque converter automatic transmission - which in the Myvi is a 4-speed unit. It’s surely an old-school transmission, but Perodua engineers have tinkered with it to make it as efficient and smooth as possible.

For that little added convenience, you do sacrifice a little on the fuel efficiency front, but the loss is really negligible -- 20.1 kmpl instead of the manual’s 20.5 kmpl. If you can extend your budget by an extra RM 2,000, you’ll get the keys to the range-topping X variant of the Myvi (with the 1.3-litre engine). It features Perodua’s ‘Eco Idle’ system, which in turn improves on the Myvi’s mileage -- going up from a healthy 20.1 kmpl to a really impressive 21.1 kmpl.

The X variant also gets some shiny chrome accents on the exterior and the interior, plus there are now front fog lamps, power-folding wing mirrors, better quality fabric upholstery for the seats, leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel, Bluetooth telephony, front parking sensors and Hill Start Assist (HSA).

On the other hand, if you’re craving for more power and have the necessary budget, the Myvi with the 1.5-litre 2NR-VE engine and in the top-of-the-range AV trim will suit you just fine. Coming in at RM 54,090, this variant of the Myvi pushes out 106hp at 6,000 rpm and 136Nm of peak torque at 4,200 rpm from its naturally-aspirated four-popper. While fuel economy takes a bit of a hit, it’s still rated at a respectable 20.1 kmpl. Meanwhile, the larger motor also helps propel this 1,015 kilogram hatchback to 100 kmph in 10 seconds and to a top speed of nearly 175 kmph.

It isn’t just better performance either, because the Perodua Myvi AV automatic comes with updated equipment as well. You now get stylish 15-inch alloy wheels, sporty front & side skirts with a rear spoiler, two-tone rear bumper, fancier instrument cluster, leather seating upholstery, built-in toll reader, reversing camera, and a touch-multimedia head unit with navigation and 'Smart Link' connectivity for Android devices.

The Myvi AV automatic further gets six airbags (front, side & curtain) and also features the brand’s Advanced Safety Assist (A.S.A) package. The latter boosts the Myvi’s safety rating by adding Pre-Collision Warning (PCW), Pre-Collision Braking (PCB), Front Departure Alert (FDA) and Pedal Misoperation Control (PMC).

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