Review: First impression of D74A 2023 Perodua Axia - New gold standard for entry-level cars in Malaysia

When it comes to entry-level cars, Perodua is no doubt the expert in cars that serve the people. The all-new D74A 2023 Perodua Axia is no exception but at the same time it has provided a pretty high benchmark for Malaysia’s most affordable car.

For now, the car is still kept partially under wrap, and will only be unveiled on 14-February.

Estimated price for 2023 Perodua Axia:

• 1.0 G - RM 38,600
• 1.0 X - RM 40,000
• 1.0 SE - RM 44,000
• 1.0 AV - RM 49,500

With 4 variants offered, (estimated) prices have gone up to 13% for the all-new D74A Axia compared to its predecessor. While things seem exciting on paper with an abundance of features, it’s the drive that shows how far things have grown in the 8 years since the first Axia was launched.

At the heart of it is the D-CVT automatic transmission that is similar to the Myvi facelift but with a different calibration to suit the naturally-aspirated 1.0-litre 1KR-VE 3-cylinder engine (68 PS/91 Nm). While the newer transmission is a lot smoother than the previous 4-speed automatic, it isn’t all smooth sailing. Literally.

Also read: 2022 Perodua Myvi facelift's D-CVT - How much better is it than the 4AT?

During our short 8 km drive near KLIA 2, we noticed that the gear change isn’t as smooth as you would expect from a CVT. This is also seen on the Myvi facelift but it is certainly not to a point where it is uncomfortably jerky.

Meanwhile, the 3-pot engine which is carried over from the previous-gen Axia also feels more refined when at speeds of up to 80-90 km/h. Quiet even.

Gun the engine though and you will hear loud thrumming from the engine throughout the cabin but that might be a small compromise considering the D74A Axia is an entry-level new car in Malaysia.

Beyond engine and gearbox refinement, however, the D74A Axia is excellent to drive. For the first time in an entry Perodua model, there is tilt-adjusting steering and the driving position is much better than the older Axia.

Also read: It's 2023 and the next-gen D74A Perodua Axia should come with adjustable steering

The D74A Axia’s gear knob position is also placed higher than the previous generation so you won’t feel the awkwardness of the gear knob being too low.

Driving at highway speeds, the D74A Axia is also very capable if you don’t mind the loud cabin noise. It’s also much more stable compared to the last generation and that’s largely thanks to the lower height.

More importantly, the DNGA platform also gives the D74A Axia another trump card over its predecessor and even its bigger brother, the Myvi. It’s more comfortable to be in with the suspension being quite supple even as we go through some minor undulations on the road, unlike the Myvi which felt harsh even over rumble strips.

Also read: Review: New 2022 Perodua Myvi is better than ever, but the Iriz still wins at one thing

Overall, the all-new D74A Perodua Axia isn’t just a head above its predecessor, it is streets ahead of anything else in its price range. This 10-minute drive might even be convincing enough for this writer to add himself to the booking orders. We'll have another chance for a longer review after the D74A 2023 Perodua Axia's launch on 14-Feb 2023.

Also read: 2023 Perodua Axia: Almost all outstanding bookings for 2022 model converted to new D74A model