Perodua Myvi: Which variant to buy?

Competing against the likes of the Proton Iriz, the Perodua Myvi is a car that requires no introduction in Malaysia. Since its launch in 2005, Perodua has sold well over a million Myvis, and its popularity shows no sign of fade. The B-segment stalwart entered its third generation in 2017, and it was given a thorough overhaul to help strengthen its hold in the market. Unlike its forerunner, the third-gen Myvi is fully Malaysian. The popular local marque sells up to five different variants of the new Myvi in the country - priced from between RM 42,790 to RM 54,090. With that being noted, which one should you park in your driveway? But first, let’s catch you up on some of the basics of this hatchback…

Basic introduction

The 2019 Perodua Myvi is a subcompact hatchback and as such, measures in at 3,895 mm in length, 1,735 mm in width, 1,515 mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2,500 mm. And compared to its predecessor, the new model sits lower to the ground, and is longer, wider and boasts an extended wheelbase. It also gets more space in the boot, which has grown by 70 litres - now measuring 277 litres. The Myvi tips the scales at just north of 1,000 kilograms and is fitted with MacPherson struts and a semi-independent Torsion beam setup.

Perodua offers the new Myvi with either a 1.3-litre or 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine - both are paired to a 4-speed automatic transmission, except for the base 1.3 G variant. That one can be had with a 5-speed manual as well. The smaller of the two engines produces 94 hp and 121 Nm of torque, while the 1.5-litre mill develops 106 hp with 140 Nm of maximum torque for company, and is good for 20.1 kmpl (automatic), though the 1.3-litre unit is capable of 21.1 kmpl (automatic). Neither variants are particularly quick off the mark, but with the more powerful motor under the hood, the Myvi can get past 100 kmph in around 10 seconds. Meanwhile, the top speed hovers near the 175 kmph mark.

In terms of its styling, the Perodua Myvi looks its best when viewed from the front or at a front-third angle. That way, you can appreciate the car’s taut bonnet, sleek headlamps, deep-chin bumper with a front splitter and stylish fog lamps, sporty side skirts, flared wheel arches, and the five-spoke, two-tone alloy wheels. Unfortunately, the rear of the Myvi looks awkward and ungainly - in spite of having a roof-mounted spoiler, sharp-looking part-LED tail lamps, and a sporty bumper. However, despite looking better than its vanilla predecessor, the new Myvi’s design is still lacking that verve and zest that you’d expect from a car at its price point. One of the biggest strengths of the Myvi is its spacious and roomy cabin. It can quite easily seat five adults, and there isn’t much of a sacrifice made when it comes to the headroom or legroom. Of course, there are cheaper materials in this interior, though they aren’t too nasty. Furthermore, Perodua had mentioned that it has improved the new Myvi’s noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels over its precursor, which is a great thing.

So, of all the variants of the new Myvi, which one should you pick?

The most sensible variants

If peak performance isn’t a priority, and you don’t mind losing some extra goodies, the RM 46,590 1.3L X variant makes good financial sense. It’s the top trim with the 1.3-litre engine, and will get you features such as LED headlamps, front fog lights, 14-inch alloy wheels, chrome exterior garnish, remote keyless entry with push-button start, engine auto stop-start, adjustable driver’s seat and steering column, four-speaker audio system with support for USB and Bluetooth, leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel, and all-round parking sensors. You will also get various safety equipment like four airbags, ABS with EBD and brake assist, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Hill Start Assist (HSA), Traction Control (TRC), and rear ISOFIX anchor points.

On the other hand, if you need your Myvi with all the safety gadgets and conveniences that Perodua has at its disposal, then you need to cough up RM 54,090 for the fully-loaded 1.5L AV trim. With this one, you get features such as larger 15-inch alloy wheels, front & side skirts with a rear spoiler, two-tone rear bumper, security window tint, leather seat upholstery, built-in toll reader, touchscreen head unit with ‘Smart Link’ connectivity for Android devices and navigation system, and a reversing camera. For the extra dough that you spent, you benefit from Perodua’s Advanced Safety Assist (ASA) package. This ropes in Pre-Collision Warning (PCW), Pre-Collision Braking (PCB), Front Departure Alert (FDA), and Pedal Misoperation Control (PMC). Of course, you also get six airbags now, instead of the four on lower trims. However, all variants of the 2019 Perodua Myvi sport a 5-star ASEAN NCAP crash safety rating.