One of the most anticipated models to arrive this year, the 2021 Perodua Ativa, was launched last week. It comes in 3 variants – X, H, and AV, priced from RM 61,500 to RM 72,000.

Also read: With 3 choices, what is the best variant of the Perodua Ativa for you?

We just got our hands on the range-topping Perodua Ativa AV for our usual instrumented testing and review, so do stay tuned for those. If you're also looking to upgrade your car for an Ativa, you can try out our handy tool on your car's trade-in value.

In the meantime, here’s a quick round up of its pros and cons.

Pros

• Great powertrain combo
• Well-judged suspension
• Generous standard safety features across the range

Cons

• Vibration at idle
• No telescopic adjustment
• No Android Auto/Apple Carplay

Pros – Great powertrain combo

The 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged engine makes 98 PS/140 Nm and while it may seem underwhelming on paper, it’s perfectly adequate for daily driving. Maximum torque comes in at a relatively low 2,400 rpm, which makes getting up to speed an ease.

Power delivery is rather linear for a turbocharged unit as it doesn’t catch the driver off guard with a sudden boost of acceleration. This is complemented by one of the better CVTs out there. The transmission responds intuitively to throttle inputs and works quite well with the engine.

Pros – Well-judged suspension

The Perodua Ativa receives Malaysia-specific suspension tuning, as the Japanese market Daihatsu Rocky has a softer suspension set-up. Combine the newly-developed DNGA platform with the revised suspension, the Ativa rides and handles unlike any other current Perodua models.

Also read: Quick review: 2021 Perodua D55L – The best Perodua to date?

Gone is the brittleness commonly associated with Peroduas. Instead, the Ativa absorbs road imperfections with poise and composure. Body roll is noticeable but well-managed.

Pros – Generous standard safety features across the range

In terms of safety, all variants of the 2021 Perodua Ativa are fitted with the Advanced Safety Assist ADAS suite, encompassing features like Pre-Collision Braking (PCB), Pre-Collision Warning (PCW), Pedal Misoperation Control (PMC), Front Departure Alert (FDA), and Lane Departure Warning (LDW).

The range-topping AV variant adds Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Keep Control (LKC), Blind Spot Monitor (BSM), and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA). These are on top of the Adaptive Driving Beam (adaptive headlights).

This makes the Perodua Ativa the cheapest car with ACC. As far as safety features go, the Perodua Ativa has them in spades.

Cons – Vibration at idle

As most of us know, 3-cylinder engines are inherently unbalanced and tends to emit more vibrations than say, a 4-cylinder engine. The Ativa’s engine is relatively refined on the move but the vibrations can be felt at idle and when crawling in traffic.

The cabin isn’t as well isolated from the vibration as the Proton X50, which is still the benchmark in terms of vibration damping from a 3-cylinder engine this side of RM 100k.

That being said, we found the idle vibration in the Ativa to be acceptable and reckon it shouldn't be bothersome to most buyers in this segment.

Cons – No telescopic adjustment

While the lack of telescopic adjustment on the steering wheel may not be an issue for smaller individuals, taller ones will find the driving position to be slightly compromised.

The seating position is on the higher side which improves visibility but again, a larger range of adjustments will help individuals of all sizes to get comfortable.

Cons – No Android Auto/Apple CarPlay

Regardless of variants, the Perodua Ativa does not come with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto connectivity and relies on SmartLink instead. It’s a shame because this would’ve been a perfect opportunity for Perodua to one-up Proton.

The convenience afforded by Android Auto/Apple CarPlay is virtually second to none; using the steering mounted switches to control the playlist, voice assistant to replay messages, etc. On the other hand, SmartLink is merely a screen mirroring function.

Also read: Why your next car should come with Android Auto or Apple CarPlay

Conclusion

The Perodua Ativa has a great powertrain combo for daily driving, a well-tuned suspension to cater to our tastes and roads, and generous safety features across the board.

However, it still can’t escape from the characteristic 3-cylinder vibration and there’s no reach adjustment on the steering wheel. Also, the inclusion of Apple CarPlay/Android Auto would’ve made the Ativa even more appealing.

Despite its flaws, the Perodua Ativa remains the most impressively equipped car in its price range and is the most affordable SUV on the market right now. We expect it to sell by the bucketload.