While the Perodua Ativa was the only choice for Malaysians looking for an entry-level SUV prior to the introduction of the Honda WR-V, buyers in neighbouring Indonesia have a bit more variety aside from the Toyota Raize and Daihatsu Rocky. Despite competition from the Kia Sonet and Nissan Magnite, the Ativa’s donor twins easily outsold them.

That is until the WR-V entered the ring and since its global debut back in November, the smallest Honda SUV has swiped the crown held by the Raize/Rocky duo and refused to let it go. According to sales data by Gaikindo, the WR-V consistently outsold the pair of Ativa twins in Indonesia during the first half of 2023 (H1 2023).

Between January and June 2023, 11,493 units of the WR-V have been sold in the archipelago compared to the Raize’s 8,815 units and the Rocky’s 2,806 units. Combined, the DNGA duo has a bit of an edge in sales (11,621 units) but that just sounds like cheating anyway.

Also read: Honda WR-V vs Toyota Raize (Perodua Ativa): Cast your votes

However, sales figures have shown that the Raize/Rocky is no longer as appealing to Indonesians as before. In June, 2,341 units of the WR-V were sold compared to 1,571 units of the Raize and a mere 388 units of the Rocky.

Also read: Latecomer Honda WR-V overtakes Perodua Ativa's Indo cousins for 40% market share of Indonesia's A-SUV market

The WR-V’s bigger 1.5-litre naturally aspirated i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine (121 PS/145 Nm) proved to be a more appealing proposition to Indonesian buyers against the pair of 3-pot powerplants offered by the Rocky/Raize – a turbocharged 1.0-litre unit (98 PS/140 Nm) and a naturally aspirated 1.2-litre engine (88 PS/113 Nm).

Also read: Review: 2023 Honda WR-V RS - The next big hit for Honda Malaysia?

This is also despite the WR-V having a higher starting price than both the Rocky and Raize. In Indonesia, the WR-V starts from IDR 269.9 million (~RM 82k), the Raize is priced from IDR 235 million (~RM 71k), and the Rocky starts from IDR 207.45 million (~RM 63k).

It’s probably unlikely for the WR-V to outsell the Ativa in Malaysia as local carmakers prove to be an unstoppable force in automotive sales here. According to the latest data by the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA), both Proton and Perodua account for 66% of the total new vehicles sold in H1 2023.

Also read: 366k new vehicles sold in Malaysia in H1 2023, Perodua and Proton hold 66% market share

The newly launched Honda WR-V is locally assembled (CKD) in Malaysia and the following are the variants and prices (OTR Peninsular Malaysia, without insurance):

• WR-V 1.5 S – RM 89,900
• WR-V 1.5 E – RM 95,900
• WR-V 1.5 V – RM 99,900
• WR-V 1.5 RS – RM 107,900

Also read: Priced from RM 90k, 2023 Honda WR-V launched in Malaysia; 1.5 NA, CVT, Sensing ADAS

Meanwhile, these are the prices for the Perodua Ativa, also OTR Peninsular Malaysia and sans insurance:

• Ativa 1.0 X – RM 62,500
• Ativa 1.0 H – RM 67,300
• Ativa 1.0 AV – RM 72,600

Also read: Review: Perodua Ativa AV – The new Malaysian highway king