Top 5 hatchbacks of the decade - Malaysia

In 2019, we witnessed the launch of various cars in Malaysia. Some were totally new models while others were facelifts, revamps of the previous models. Overall, we had quite a fantastic year. Now, with the beginning of 2020, we have not only entered a brand-new year but also a new decade! So we thought why not take a look back at the last decade and find out which were the top 5 hatchbacks. Well, here’s what we could think of.

Perodua Axia

There is no doubt that the Perodua Axia is one of the most popular and successful hatchbacks in Malaysia. It was launched back in 2014 replacing the Perodua Viva. And ever since, the Axia has been the most affordable car in the country. Throughout its journey, it received its first facelift in 2017 which included some design changes and inclusion of a new 1.3-litre VVT-i engine.

Perodua launched the 2019 Axia in September last year. This update came with a whole new STYLE AT variant for those who want to have a car that stands out in the crowd. Perodua also introduced two new safety features - Advanced Safety Assist (A.S.A) 2.0 and Vehicle Stability Control - that no other car in this segment offer. 2019 Perodua price starts at RM 24,090 and it is available in 6 different variants that are powered by the same 1.0-litre engine that has 67 bhp. After this update, it became quite clear that Perodua wants to keep the Axia alive for many more years to come.

Proton Iriz

Proton Iriz is another name that has been around in the Malaysia market for over half a decade now. It was first introduced in the country in 2014 and quickly became popular for its stylish looks and scored some great sales figures. Considering the growing popularity of the Iriz, Proton launched its facelift in 2017 and then in 2019. Even today, the Iriz continues to be one of the best looking cars in its segment. Features like dual-tone alloy wheels, big headlamps, LED DRLs, roof-mounted rear spoiler, and a unique rear-end look, are what help the Iriz to be different than the competition.

And it’s not just the exterior that would please you, it’s interior is good, too. Proton has also paid good attention to the safety department by adding features like side and curtain airbags, electronic stability control, traction control, etc. The new Iriz comes in two engine options - 1.3-litre with 94 hp and 120 Nm and 1.6-litre with 107 bhp and 50 Nm. There are a total of 5 variants of the car available, starting at RM 36,700.

Perodua Myvi

Perodua Myvi has been in production for well over a decade. It was first launched in the country way back in 2005 and after living through all these years, its third-generation model was launched in 2017 which, of course, took the graph of the sales numbers higher. Considering that, Perodua gave the Myvi a small update in 2019.

The Myvi has been known for its spacious and comfortable interior, large boot space, and ease of driveability. And all these have been carried forward in the latest model. The 2019 Myvi is available in 5 different variants that start at RM 42,790. They offer two engine options - 1.3-litre with 95 PS / 121 Nm and 1.5-litre with 104 PS / 137 Nm. Other interesting features of the Myvi are LED headlamps, leather seats, driver seat USB support, built-in toll reader, an acoustic windshield, etc.

Perodua Myvi safety kit comes with four airbags and Perodua’s new Advanced safety assist (A.S.A) suite that includes Pre-Collision Warning (PCW), Pre-Collision Braking (PCB), Front Departure Alert (FDA), and Pedal Misoperation Control (PMC). With all these features and that price tag, no wonder Perodua has sold well over a million units of the Myvi.

Honda Jazz

Unlike the aforementioned cars, the Jazz doesn’t come from a Malaysian company but it has been around for many years now which clearly tells us that it knows our market inside out. From being the cute kid of the block to a macho handsome man, the Jazz has transformed drastically in its lifetime. You can get an idea of its popularity by the fact that early in 2019, Honda launched Jazz Mugen Special Edition in Malaysia which was limited to only 300 units. Honda has also showcased the upcoming fourth-generation 2020 Jazz at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show.

The current-gen Jazz that’s available in Malaysia has 4 variants, including a hybrid, that start at RM 70,242. It looks fantastic, has great interior space and equipment, and is also considered to be one of the safest hatchbacks present in the country, thanks to the various safety features which helped it to score an impressive 5-star ASEAN safety rating. Honda Jazz is available in five different colour schemes which include Crystal Black Pearl, Carnival Red, White Orchid Pearl, Modern Steel Metallic, and Lunar Silver Metallic.

Toyota Yaris

Did you know that Toyota Yaris was first introduced in Malaysia in 2006? Back then it was imported as a CBU. Later in 2014, a revamped version of the car was launched, coming into the country via the CBU route once again. However, the latest model of the Yaris is assembled locally and that’s one of the reasons why it has a starting price of RM 70,888.

There are 3 Toyota Yaris variants available in Malaysia and all of them are powered by the same 1.5-litre engine which churns out 107 bhp and 214 Nm of torque mated to a CVT. The Yaris offers a decent amount of interior space and comes with features like 6.8-in display for infotainment, USB, AUX and HDMI ports, Bluetooth, etc. However, it lacks rear AC vents. Apart from all that, the fact that the Yaris comes with 7 airbags as standard, is also responsible for the car’s popularity. Toyota has showcased the 2020 Yaris at the 2019 Thailand Motor Expo in December 2019 and we are also expecting to see the GR Yaris at 2020 Tokyo Auto Salon.

So, there you have it guys, the top 5 hatchbacks of the decade. If you think there should have been a different name up on that list, do let us know by dropping a comment below and for all the latest news and updates, stay tuned to Zigwheels Malaysia.

Also Read: Top 5 cars that ruled the Malaysian roads since their launch