Review: 2023 Perodua Axia 1.0 AV - A pretty high bar for entry-level cars in Malaysia
CY Foong · Feb 24, 2023 10:00 AM
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For nearly 30 years, Perodua is seen by many Malaysians as a name they can truly trust when it comes to making a car. From its humble roots with the little Kancil to the all-new Alza, Malaysia’s second carmaker deserves its “Building cars, people first” tagline.
Though Perodua has a near monopoly on the entry-level car segment in Malaysia, nothing else comes quite as close to bringing as much value to the table. The Kancil, Viva, and the first-generation Axia didn’t quite stir up enthusiasts’ hearts but they made a profound impact on the general public that want to experience their first new car ownership.
However, the all-new D74A 2023 Perodua Axia offers more than just the same basic mode of transport as its predecessors as evidenced by the higher starting price. The top-of-the-range AV variant as tested here is priced at just under RM 50,000 (RM 49,500) but before we jump right into the whole price debacle, let’s see if the all-new Axia deserves its place as a true-blue people’s car.
When the all-new Axia was previewed to the media a week before its public launch, I was almost immediately hooked on its looks. Comparing it to its predecessor is like apples and oranges, or a Smeg cooler and a Haier minibar.
Yet, to call the older Perodua Axia awkward looking is a bit of a disservice considering what it replaced when it was launched nearly a decade ago. The Perodua Viva had a JDM-style tall-boy design and the original Axia was essentially a direct replacement, so the tall design stayed.
For the all-new Axia, it seems the designers took a bit of inspiration from the third-generation Myvi and the Ativa. The result is something that looks appealing even for an entry-level hatchback.
The X-shape front grille combined with the LED headlights and DRLs give an aggressive stance that seems to be a Perodua feature. Some might find this a bit too much but most buyers could be immediately drawn to it.
Note the absence of a rear defogger on the windshield
However, it seems that the front is clearly given more priority than the rest of the exterior design. While there are some slashes towards the rear C-pillar, the rest of the car looks empty, naked even. The rear taillight design is no longer transparent like the higher variants of the previous Axia, possibly to hide the fact that the taillights are halogen bulbs while there are barely any trim pieces in the back.
A potential aftermarket upgrade candidate?
Perhaps this is intentional as Perodua probably knew that most buyers of the all-new Axia would likely accessorise them with aftermarket decals. Even the 14-inch wheels on the highest AV variant have the same standard design as the lower variants.
Maybe the Gear Up bodykit package could spruce things up a bit but for those who cannot wait for that, they could hop on over to their favourite aftermarket shop or even swap it for a Toyota Agya front.
Being the highest trim of the Axia, the AV variant comes with fabric and leather combination seat upholstery but unlike its predecessor, the interior trims are mostly the same throughout the entire Axia range.
Still, the semi-bucket front seats are very comfortable not just for an entry-level car as it’s easily one of the most supportive ones we ever sat on. The addition of a tilt-adjusting steering wheel also helps in getting into a natural driving position easily.
Adjustable steering isn’t standard on all variants of the Axia, mind you. The base G variant doesn't come with it but still kudos to Perodua for finally adding an essential but sometimes overlooked feature on its entry model.
Besides, you wouldn’t even notice that the all-new Axia lacks a centre armrest since the position of the gearknob is placed very high. That’s very much a boon in terms of driving ergonomics with the controls for adjusting the air-condition also placed very well within reach.
Though the all-new Axia appears more grown up in some features, there is still plenty of evidence that this is remains an entry-level model for the masses. Hard plastics are found all over the car but let’s not be too hard (sorry) on it as the interior is still well put together and appears sturdy.
If you’re expecting the 9-inch infotainment touchscreen to come with some car connectivity, it’s only Perodua’s proprietary SmartLink connectivity, which is only compatible with Android devices. There’s no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto support from the factory like the Alza but that can be an easy aftermarket fix.
Aside from the 9-inch touchscreen, the 7-inch TFT multi-info display is only available on the top-of-the-range AV variant along with the Perodua Smart Drive Assist (PSDA) ADAS suite and 6 airbags. Lesser variants get a standard Bluetooth radio, standard analogue gauges, and 2 airbags. Also, stability control is standard on all variants.
While there can be plenty of praise for the front occupants, rear occupants can feel a little bit cramped especially if the driver has long limbs or has a taller stature. I’m 173 cm and with the driver’s position set to my height, there’s enough legroom but rear headroom is a bit more compromised.
The D74A Axia is 15 mm shorter than its predecessor but it is also 45 mm wider so there is actually a lot more space inside the all-new Axia.
This spaciousness gives the all-new Axia some advantage for those who wish to turn it into an e-hailing car. Rear boot space is increased by 47 mm over its predecessor while also being deeper. Perodua claims it can fit up to 4 suitcases at ease and looking at the amount of space, a weekend trip with 3 of your best mates or family members seems doable.
Three's definitely a crowd if you're packing something long in the Axia
However, the Axia doesn’t have split folding rear seats and to free up more room for longer cargo, the whole rear seat would have to be folded down. For an entry-level car, that’s not much of a concern as even the previous-gen Axia only has single bench folding rear seats.
Performance – Pretty basic but bearable
The all-new Axia retains the same tried-and-tested 1.0-litre 1KR-VE 3-cylinder engine as its predecessor. Making 68 PS and 91 Nm, the naturally-aspirated 3-pot is irrelevant when it comes to its performance capabilities.
In our 0-100 km/h test, the all-new Axia achieved so in 14.76 seconds which isn’t fast at all but it is faster than the previous Axia which was 17.2 seconds. In the real world though, the in-gear acceleration is decent enough for the car to pick up speed.
The ageing 4-speed automatic transmission on the predecessor is replaced by a D-CVT automatic gearbox that is also on the Myvi facelift but recalibrated to suit the 1.0-litre unit. Still, my thoughts on the D-CVT not being as smooth as any conventional CVT gearbox stays.
Though we have more time spent on the Axia than just a few minutes around Sepang like the last time, the transmission’s not-so-smooth experience is more evident when you’re trying to gain some speed.
Granted, this is not a car you would want to push to the limit mainly because it’s not what this powertrain is designed for. In uphill conditions, the engine would struggle a bit and would sometimes rev too hard just to keep the little car going.
Overtaking in one takes a bit of precaution too especially when facing the usual drivers that constantly hang on the fast lane because the acceleration is just not that up to snuff. But once you get up to speed and start to cruise, the all-new Axia starts to shed off a bit of that underpowered base car syndrome.
Ride and handling – Pretty exceptional
The D74A Perodua Axia is the third Perodua model to be built under the DNGA platform after the Ativa and Alza. It is also the second smallest model to be built with the platform behind Daihatsu’s range of kei cars.
Compared to the last generation Axia, the new one not only feels more comfortable but I think that it also bested the larger Myvi. Even over the uneven and bumpy roads that dot around KL, the D74A Axia’s suspension easily soaks them up that you might want to do a double take to make sure that it’s wearing a Perodua logo.
The steering on the new Axia is also less vague compared to its predecessor and that’s thanks to the addition of an enhanced electric power steering (EPS) system. It is also lighter and more responsive which means making tight turns and parallel parking feels so much easier compared to the previous generation.
Introduce the Axia to a corner and the hatchback feels very stable with minimal flex and not that obvious of a body roll. Even rear occupants would not feel easily carsick when going up one of the many mountain retreats in Pahang.
While it is an easy rider around the city, the Axia turns into a surprisingly capable cruiser on the highway. The engine’s vibrations are barely noticeable even if you leave it idle though it is unavoidable given there’s a 3-pot unit under the hood.
2023 D74A Perodua Axia sound test
Speed
Reading (dB)
0 km/h
45
60 km/h
63
90 km/h
71
110 km/h
73
Perodua claims to have added more sound-absorbing material on the all-new Axia but the loud noise coming from the engine, transmission, and wind combined is a lot more apparent at higher speeds. Our trusty sound decibel meter recorded 73 dB at 110 km/h which is 1 dB higher than the previous-gen Axia.
Regardless of the measurement, the all-new Axia still feels smooth on the road. It’s easily the most comfortable Perodua we've ever driven and that makes it a gold standard on its own.
Fuel consumption - Pretty economical
After driving for around 100 km in the Perodua Axia 1.0 AV through 80% highway and 20% city driving, we achieved 6.1 L/100 km. It's a slight improvement over the predecessor's which we managed 6.5 L/100 km but if you want to match Perodua's claimed 3.6 L/100 km figure, you would have to spend most of your journey on the left lane.
Price – Pretty penny for your thoughts?
Now that we’ve come this far, it’s time to talk about the price of the all-new Axia. During its media preview, Perodua said that it doesn’t want to be known as a brand with cheap or affordable cars. Instead, it billed itself as a provider of “price-optimised” cars.
Prices for the all-new Axia start from RM 38,600 and stretches all the way to RM 49,500 for this high-spec AV variant.
It might be a bitter pill to swallow for some buyers to accept that they’re spending so much money for an Axia but things have certainly changed in the past 9 years since the original Axia was launched.
There are many factors considered when cars are being developed and for entry-level ones, price is the biggest consideration along with customers’ demands. As the year advances, tastes and demands also change with buyers wanting more features but also expecting prices to remain low.
All these new additional features for occupants’ safety and convenience along with a new platform would add cost during production. In the end, I find it not just surprising that the all-new Axia is a massive improvement but also amazed at how the team packaged everything and keep it under RM 50,000.
After all that is said and done, the D74A 2023 Perodua Axia is truly a landmark of a car and just shows how far the industry has gone in the past ten years. When the first Axia replaced the Viva, we all thought that the bar for entry-level cars in Malaysia was already quite high.
9 years later and with over 500,000 units sold, Perodua seems to not only hopped over the bar set by the first Axia but in the case of its all-new successor, it took that same bar, loaded it into a cannon and shot it as far as it could go while doing somersaults.
That might be a complicated analogy for a simple car like the Perodua Axia but this is more than just a spiritual successor to the original Malaysian people’s car. It’s an exemplary revolution of an entry-level car that goes beyond just providing the necessary needs of one’s own transport.
Traded advertising for a career that fits his passion for cars. Enjoys spotting cars during his free time and has a soft spot for Japanese Kei cars but drives a thirsty manual sedan.
