Video: 2021 Perodua Ativa vs Nissan Almera Turbo vs Proton Iriz Drag Race on KLIA

When they gave us a call to feature our Perodua Ativa in one of the races, I jumped onto the request. After all, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to hoon around on KLIA’s runway tarmac.

In episode 4 of Drag Series, they pitched the Perodua Ativa against the Nissan Almera Turbo and 2019 Proton Iriz (not the recently launched 2022 Proton Iriz). 3 CVTs, 2 Turbos but there can only be 1 winner.

Here are some key specs for nerds:

Facts and Figures
	Perodua Ativa 1.0T	Nissan Almera 1.0T	Proton Iriz 1.6L
Engine	1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbo		1.6-litre 4-cylinder N/A
Transmission	CVT automatic
Power	98 PS @ 6,000 rpm	100 PS @ 5,000 rpm	109 PS @ 5,750 rpm
Torque	140 Nm @ 2,400 - 4,000 rpm	152 Nm @ 2,400 – 4,000 rpm	150 Nm @ 4,000 rpm
Weight	1,035 kg	1,114 kg	1,178 kg
Power-to-Weight	94 PS/tonne	89 PS/tonne	92 PS/tonne
0 - 100 km/h (WapCar Test	13.2 seconds	12.4 seconds	11.6 seconds

To minimise driver error, AutoBuzz.my requested to not have any rev build-ups at launch. Just good ol’ fashioned pedal to the metal on go.

Off the line, the Iriz just charges ahead while the other two had to wait for the boost to build up before picking up speed. Throughout the 400-metre sprint, the Ativa and Almera were neck-to-neck while the Iriz had a comfortable lead from start to finish.

Towards the end of the race, the Almera edges out the Ativa due to the Nissan’s slippery shape (drag coefficient of 0.28).

Despite the Ativa having the best power-to-weight ratio among the trio, it still came in last. Again, this is due to its SUV aerodynamics as well as a small-capacity turbo engine which is not geared for performance. Ambient temperature also played a factor in less efficient power delivery.

Results
	Perodua Ativa 1.0T	Nissan Almera 1.0T	Proton Iriz 1.6L
0-400m time	19.27 seconds	19.07 seconds	18.5 seconds
Top Speed @ 400m	119 km/h	120 km/h	122 km/h

This drag race proves that on paper stats do not paint the full picture in the real world. This is why we have our WapCar Ratings, aimed to bring you real-world results through a series of instrumented and objective tests. All to help you find your next perfect car.

Overall, we still very much love our Perodua Ativa and thanks to AutoBuzz.my, we now know where we stand at a traffic light showdown with an Almera and Iriz.