2023 Perodua Ativa 1.0L TURBO AV (Metallic) Review

As competition in Malaysia's B-segment SUV market becomes increasingly intense, consumers are demanding higher overall performance from vehicles—they want enough space to meet family travel needs, while also expecting rich configurations and fuel efficiency. The 2023 Perodua Ativa 1.0L TURBO AV (Metallic), as a popular contender in this segment, has further enhanced its intelligent safety features in this facelift, while maintaining its consistent cost-effectiveness. The core purpose of this test drive is to verify its actual performance in daily commuting and family travel scenarios and see whether this car can truly meet the core needs of the majority of users.

From the exterior perspective, the 2023 Ativa AV continues its youthful design style, with overall smooth and dynamic lines. The front features a large-sized blacked-out grille, paired with sharp LED headlight groups on both sides for high recognizability. The silver skid plate decoration under the front bumper adds a touch of rugged SUV character. On the side, the 17-inch alloy wheels have a simple design, and with a minimum ground clearance of 200mm, its off-road capability stands out in the same class. At the rear, the LED taillight group adopts a through-type design, creating an eye-catching visual effect when lit; the rear bumper is also equipped with a silver skid plate, echoing the front design. Overall, while the design is not overly stunning, it is harmonious and visually appealing, aligning with mainstream aesthetics.

Sitting inside the car, the interior layout is clear and straightforward, with black as the main color tone, complemented by silver trim in certain areas to add a touch of refinement. The center console is equipped with a 9-inch LCD touchscreen, which offers smooth operation and supports Bluetooth, USB, and other connection options; below it, some physical buttons are retained for easier blind operation while driving. The instrument panel features a fully digital TFT display with switchable modes that can clearly present information such as speed, fuel consumption, and safety assistance. As for materials, the top of the center console is made of hard plastic, but areas frequently touched, such as the door armrests and seats, are wrapped in soft materials, providing a fairly comfortable touch. In terms of configuration, the car comes standard with keyless entry/start, a multifunction steering wheel, manual adjustment for the front seats, and rear air conditioning vents, among other practical features. Notably, the front seats are equipped with memory-function digital control manual air conditioning, while the rear seats support 40:60 split folding and reclining functions, allowing flexible expansion of trunk space for convenient daily cargo storage.

In terms of space performance, the vehicle dimensions of 4065mm×1710mm×1635mm and a wheelbase of 2525mm are average within the B-segment SUV category. The front row offers spacious seating, with a 175cm-tall occupant still having a one-fist clearance for headroom after adjusting their seating position. The rear legroom provides roughly two fists and headroom offers one fist, making it moderately adequate to meet everyday family travel needs. For storage space, the front door panels can accommodate two water bottles, the center armrest box and glove compartment offer moderate capacity, and there are also two USB ports and one 220V/230V power socket in the front, convenient for charging electronic devices. The trunk provides a regular capacity of 303 liters, and folding the rear seats extends it to an even larger space, making it easy to store large items such as strollers and luggage.

Powertrain: It is equipped with a 1.0L three-cylinder turbocharged engine, with a maximum power of 98PS and a peak torque of 140N·m, paired with a CVT transmission. During actual driving, the power response is quite eager in the initial acceleration phase, providing a decent acceleration feel with a light tap on the gas pedal. Mid-range acceleration is steady, and while overtaking in city traffic, the transmission quickly downshifts with deeper throttle input, delivering linear power output that basically meets daily commuting needs. However, during high-speed driving, the power seems slightly lacking in the late acceleration stage. When the speed exceeds 100km/h and trying to accelerate further, the power reserve feels strained. There are two driving modes available: Normal and Sport. In Sport mode, the throttle response is more sensitive, but the overall difference is not particularly significant.

Handling: The steering wheel offers moderate resistance with minimal dead space, and the feedback feels reasonably precise. The suspension system adopts a front MacPherson independent suspension and a rear double-link independent suspension, tuned towards comfort. When driving over speed bumps or uneven roads, the suspension does a good job of filtering out most vibrations, and passengers inside the car won’t feel significant bumps. However, when cornering quickly, the body has noticeable roll, and the support is average, making it more suitable for smooth driving. The braking performance is fairly standard, with a moderate brake pedal travel and linear release of braking force, providing a reassuring experience for everyday driving. In terms of fuel consumption, the official combined fuel consumption is 5.3L/100km. During actual test drives, city driving fuel consumption is about 6.5L/100km, and highway driving is approximately 5.8L/100km. Overall, it matches expectations, with fuel economy at an upper-middle level among same-class vehicles.

Safety features are a major highlight of this car, coming standard with 6 safety airbags (front dual airbags, side airbags, front and rear curtain airbags), ABS, vehicle stability control, lane change assist, lane departure warning, active braking, forward collision warning, and a series of other safety assistance features. During actual driving, the lane departure warning system is responsive and promptly gives an alert when the vehicle unintentionally deviates from the lane. The active braking system is also quick to intervene when encountering obstacles ahead, effectively improving driving safety.

In summary, the 2023 Perodua Ativa 1.0L TURBO AV's core strengths lie in its comprehensive safety features, practical interior space, and economical fuel consumption. Compared to competitors in the same class, its safety configuration is leading, but its price remains relatively affordable, making its cost-performance ratio outstanding. However, the three-cylinder engine's high-speed acceleration performance is average, and there is an abundance of hard plastic materials in the interior, which are its shortcomings.

This car is well-suited for families who value safety features and seek economic practicality, especially for those whose daily needs are primarily urban commuting and short trips. It doesn’t have any particularly outstanding drawbacks, and its overall performance is quite balanced, making it well-suited to meet the core needs of family users. If you are looking for an affordable, well-equipped, and fuel-efficient B-segment SUV, the Ativa AV is worth considering.