With 3 choices, what is the best variant of the Perodua Ativa for you?

The Malaysian car market welcomed a new competitor today in the form of the much talked-about 2021 Perodua Ativa. It's finally here, and boy is it feature-packed with eyebrow-raising price tags. 

Also read: Launched in Malaysia, the 2021 Perodua Ativa: Priced from RM 62k, 1.0L Turbo, 98 PS/140 Nm

We'll say this - it's the good kind of eyebrow-raising, especially when prices start from RM 61,500. Oh, and did we mention Pre-Collision Braking (PCB) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is standard across the range?

Across the board, the Ativa undercuts the Proton X50's starting prices - but how much of it is good value? Which variant - at least on paper - is the best buy? These are questions you'll undoubtedly ask, so we'll answer them for you in this article.

Base X variant is worth a mention

The base variant of the Ativa (1.0 X) is definitely worth a second look. There's a few niceties in terms of LED headlights with automatic high beams (AHB), keyless entry with push start, as well as a 4.2-inch multi-info display nestled between its analogue instrument gauges.

However, it truly shines in terms of safety - there's 6 airbags, and it also comes with Perodua's Advanced Safety Assist (ASA) 3.0 ADAS suite encapsulating these features:

• Pre-Collision Braking (PCB)
• Pre-Collision Warning (PCW)
• Pedal Misoperation Control (PMC)
• Front Departure Alert (FDA)
• Lane Departure Warning (LDW)

H variant adds on creature comforts

In the H variant, you'll get LED front fog lamps, sequential turn signals, and also upsized 17-inch wheels

The interior benefits from extra kit too - you'll now get a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system (there's phone mirroring, but not Android Auto and Apple CarPlay sadly), a snazzy 7-inch fully-digital instrument cluster, a multi-function steering wheel, and a set of USB ports for rear-seat occupants. 

Safety-wise, the H variant adds on front parking sensors, a reverse camera, and adaptive headlights (Adaptive Driving Beam), making it the cheapest new car in Malaysia to do so. 

Also read: Adaptive LED headlights on the Perodua Ativa (D55L); cheapest new car to offer this feature!

Range-topping features in the AV

The cream of the crop then is the range-topping AV. It retains equipment found in the H variant, but adds on dual-tone body colour options, leather seats, and 6 speakers (up from 4 in the rest of the range). 

The headline-grabbing point with the AV variant is the bevy of semi-autonomous driving assistance features it gets:

• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
• Lane Keep Control (LKC)
• Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Traffic Alert (BSM, RCTA)

Also read: Perodua Ativa (D55L) with full ASA 3.0, brace yourselves for dumb owners testing its limits

What's the same among them?

Powering the Daihatsu New Global Architecture (DNGA)-based SUV is this engine:

Also, note that the Ativa's D-CVT differs from Toyota or Lexus' Direct-Shift CVT. More is explained here. 

Also read: Perodua Ativa's (D55L) CVT to be better than Proton's. What's the D in D-CVT?

Braking is handled by a pair of ventilated discs in front, and a set of drums behind. 

Conclusion - great value for money

Any which way it's cut, it's apparent that Perodua's knocked it right out of the park in terms of pricing. It's great that the base variant isn't depressingly kosong, but if you want something a little less spartan, something a bit more modern, we'd suggest you to spring for the H or even the AV variants.

Also read: Quick review: 2021 Perodua D55L – The best Perodua to date?

But therein also lies the inevitable question: is it even in the same segment as the Proton X50? Technically, it is, and you can pitch them together as my colleague Shaun shows here.