Top 5 cars of the decade - Malaysia

During 2010-2020, the automobile industry in Malaysia grew at a tremendous rate. There’s been an increasing demand in almost all the segments which, in turn, led to the launch of a plethora of new vehicles, both good and bad. So, with the commencement of 2020, we thought to shuffle through the pages of history and share with you guys a list of top 5 cars of the decade.

Proton X70

Proton is one of the largest car manufacturers in Malaysia and it has been in this business for many years now. It knows the local market inside out but for some unknown reason didn’t have any SUV in its product catalogue. That changed in late 2018 when Proton launched its first-ever SUV in Malaysia - the X70. It was also the first car to roll out under Proton-Geely partnership. Proton X70 gained a lot of popularity during its initial stages thanks to Proton’s brilliant marketing strategy. Of course, it wasn’t just the marketing that helped the X70 to gather all the attention, it was indeed an SUV well put together.

Proton X70 specs sheet tells it is available in 4 trims that range from RM 99,800 to RM 123,800. All the variants share the same 1.8-litre turbocharged petrol engine that churns out 183 PS of max power and 285 Nm of peak torque. The transmission here is a 6-speed automatic with manual mode. The X70 comes with a spacious cabin with comfortable seating and an extensive list of interior features like an 8-in display, voice command support, GKUI infotainment system powered by Android, fully-digital multi-info display, and much more. For a first SUV, Proton did a really great job with the X70. No wonder it is bringing in good sales figures for the company.

Toyota Innova

Toyota Innova has been in the global market for well over a decade now and over its period of existence, it has set new benchmarks for the other brands to follow and (try to) beat. And that's why it is considered to be one of the best MUVs or MPVs available in the country right now. It comes in 3 variants - 2.0E AT, 2.0G AT, and 2.0X AT - that start at RM 115,280 and end at RM 132,400. They share the same 2.0-litre petrol engine that produces 139 PS of max power and 183 Nm of torque.

One of Innova’s key highlights is its spacious and comfortable interior. Space management in this MUV is brilliant. Also, features like LED cabin illumination, Optitron Meter with MID, optional 2nd-row captain seats, etc. make the cabin a better place to be in. Toyota has also done a great job with the exterior. And if you want even a sportier stance you can go ahead with the Innova X. And since it’s a Toyota, safety has to be top-notch; 7 airbags, Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control, Blind Spot Monitor, etc. make the Innova a 5-star ASEAN NCAP safety rated vehicle.

Perodua Axia

For just RM 24,090, Perodua Axia is the most affordable hatchback available in the country today and, perhaps, it has been savouring this title ever since it was first launched back in 2014. And it’s not just Axia’s affordable price tag that’s responsible for its popularity amongst the people, it is also the design, looks, and interior space. For a car of its size, Perodua Axia, surprisingly, provides a generous interior space with comfortable seats.

In its latest avatar, which was launched in September 2019, Perodua Axia has become one of the safest cars of its segment thanks to the inclusion of two new safety features - Advanced Safety Assist (A.S.A) 2.0 and Vehicle Stability Control. The former includes Pre-Collision Warning, Front Departure Alert along with Pedal Misoperation Control, and pedestrian detection. Perodua also made certain design changes and added a few more interior features. Available in 6 different trims, with one specially dedicated towards styling (STYLE AT), Perodua Axia price range tops out at RM 43,190. As for the engine, it is a 1.0-litre petrol unit that produces 67 bhp and 91 Nm of torque is very fuel-efficient with a claimed fuel economy of 22.5 kmpl for the MT and 21.6 kmpl for the AT.

Honda City

Honda City has been into production for many decades now and in its entire lifetime so far, it has won the hearts of millions of people all around the world. For most of the Malaysians, Honda City has been their first sedan which not only provided sporty and stylish looks but also a comfortable and somewhat luxurious interior. Considering the growing popularity of City, Honda also launched a hybrid variant.

Talking about variants, Honda City is available in 4 different trims including the hybrid model. Its price starts at RM 73,836 and it gives you 5 different colour options - Silver Metalic, White Orchid Pearl, Crystal Black Pearl, Red Pearl and Steel Metallic. Honda City specs list a 1.5-litre engine that produces 120 PS and 145 Nm of torque. These figures are slightly different for the hybrid model. Currently, Honda City is in its fifth-generation and soon we’ll be getting the new sixth-generation 2020 Honda City which has already been revealed in Thailand.

Ford Ranger

When it comes to pickup trucks, the first name that rings in our minds is the Ford Ranger. And why shouldn’t it be? Ford has decades of experience in manufacturing pickup trucks and the Ranger is one of Ford's best ones to come out. No wonder it is considered to be the king of pickup trucks. Available in 8 different variants, Ford Ranger has a plethora of features to offer - single cab, double cab, manual transmission, automatic transmission, 4x2, 4x4, and much more.

Ford Ranger also has a capacious interior cabin with more than enough room for everybody onboard. Ford has also worked in making Ranger’s interior as technologically sound as possible; we have features like 8-in touchscreen display, voice recognition, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, AppLink, and whatnot. When it comes to performance, the Ranger is equipped with Ford’s latest 2.0-litre bi-turbo engine which produces 213 PS and 500 Nm and is mated to an advanced 10-speed automatic gearbox. Ford Ranger price starts at RM 90,888 and goes up to RM 144,888. If you’re interested, there’s also a more feature-loaded, performance-oriented, more off-road capable Ford Ranger Raptor for RM 199,888.

And that was the last name in our list of top 5 cars of the decade.

Also Read: Top 5 hatchbacks of the decade - Malaysia