All-new 2023 D74A Perodua Axia vs Toyota Agya, Daihatsu Ayla: Do Malaysians get the best?
Sanjay · Feb 16, 2023 09:30 AM
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This week, our part of the world scored a triple whammy of new cars: Indonesia kicked things off with the all-new 2023 Toyota Agya, then Malaysia launched the 2023 D74APerodua Axia, before passing the baton back to Indonesia for the unveiling of the 2023 Daihatsu Ayla.
Inseperable as the trio are, the three of them are all-new models, sharing the same Daihatsu New Global Architecture (DNGA) platform, general look, and some performance metrics – how do they stack up?
Although all three cars look similar (no surprises there), the Toyota manages to differentiate itself more from the other two thanks to its family face up front.
Meanwhile the Agya and Axia look pretty dang similar. The Daihatsu earns a spunkier grille and a slightly different daytime running light (DRL) area, and that's about it from the front. It even shares the same wheels as the Axia!
Features, all three of them get LED headlights and DRLs. Round the back, the changes are a little less apparent between the Agya and the Axia; it's the Ayla that mixes things up with the faux, if slightly gaudy, inserts on the boot.
Agya GR Sport
As far as kit count goes, the Toyota Agya is the top trump, coming with its very own GR Sport variant. This brings with it a mother of all chin splitters, snazzier wheels, and dual-tone paint.
If you're wondering if we can match with the GearUp array...yes, but for now most of the complements are focused on the interior. As for a new-gen Axia Style, it's probably wise to not hold your breath.
Interior: Barebones to packed full
Practically indinguishtable by overall shape, the triple-A hatchbacks each have their own differentiating touches. Sportiest points unsurprisingly goes to the Agya – at least one variant comes with paddle shifters behind the tiller.
The Daihatsu meanwhile looks to be a little more basic than either of its platform mates. At first glance, what's similar is the 7-inch floating infotainment head unit (at least it comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay) and the digital air-cond controls, but it's devoid of any steering wheel buttons, let alone a digital instrument cluster.
In this regard, it's clear to see the Axia is leagues ahead of the rest of them, though we lack Android Auto and CarPlay.
Performance: 1.0L vs 1.2L
The Indonesian-market twins benefit from a slightly larger engine selection than ours, with the Agya and Ayla both getting a 1.2-litre naturally-aspirated mill under the hood. Additionally for the Ayla, there's a 1.0-litre VVT-i engine too.
Specifics of the 1.2-litre three-potters were not shared yet, but it's not offbeat to say that it should mirror what's in the Rocky/Raize: 88 PS and 113 Nm. As for the 1.0-litre in Indonesia, the output hasn't been revealed.
But the 1.0-litre is the sole engine we'll get here, with 68 PS and 91 Nm. All cars benefit from the D-CVT automatic transmission.
Note that the Agya GR Sport also get retuned steering and suspension to go with better tyres too, to lean into its sportier nature.
Safety: Axia wins this, no contest
Perhaps to no contest, really. Not only is stability control now standard on all variants of this new A-segment hatchback, but the top-spec variant offers 6 airbags.
Moreover, the top-spec Axia 1.0 AV also offers the Perodua Smart Drive Assist (PSDA) ADAS suite, including Auto High Beam (AHB), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Departure Prevention (LDP), Blind Spot Monitor (BSM), as well as Pre-Collision Warning (PCW), Pre-Collision Braking (PCB), Front Departure Alert (FDA), and Pedal Misoperation Control (PMC).
For the Agya and Ayla, their safety array includes varying numbers of airbags, hill-start assist, and vehicle stability control.
Conclusion: Axia 2-0 Ayla, Agya
The last time we did this, the Axia won, and this round it's the same result. At least on paper, our dainty D74A Axia has the most complete chops: sure it loses out on Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and even has less power than it's Indonesian cousins, but we come back with a more fulfilling safety suite.
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.
