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

Sanjay · Mar 3, 2021 08:10 PM

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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?

With 3 choices, what is the best variant of the Perodua Ativa for you? 01

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

With 3 choices, what is the best variant of the Perodua Ativa for you? 02

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.

With 3 choices, what is the best variant of the Perodua Ativa for you? 03

Maximum boot space is 369 litres. Does it come with a spare wheel though?

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

With 3 choices, what is the best variant of the Perodua Ativa for you? 04

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

With 3 choices, what is the best variant of the Perodua Ativa for you? 05

Peep the digital instrument cluster!

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. 

With 3 choices, what is the best variant of the Perodua Ativa for you? 06

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

With 3 choices, what is the best variant of the Perodua Ativa for you? 07

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). 

With 3 choices, what is the best variant of the Perodua Ativa for you? 08

There's also 60:40 split-folding rear seats

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?

With 3 choices, what is the best variant of the Perodua Ativa for you? 09

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

Perodua Ativa powertrain
Powertrain

1KR-VET 

1.0-litre, turbocharged three-cylinder

98 PS / 140 Nm

Dual-Mode CVT (D-CVT)

Claimed fuel efficiency: 5.29 litres / 100 km

With 3 choices, what is the best variant of the Perodua Ativa for you? 10

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?

With 3 choices, what is the best variant of the Perodua Ativa for you? 11

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

Conclusion - great value for money

With 3 choices, what is the best variant of the Perodua Ativa for you? 12

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?

With 3 choices, what is the best variant of the Perodua Ativa for you? 13

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.

 

Sanjay

Senior Writer

With humble beginnings collecting diecast models and spending hours virtually tuning dream cars on the computer, his love of cars has delightfully transformed into a career. Sanjay enjoys how the same passion for cars transcends boundaries and brings people together.

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