2023 Perodua Ativa 1.0L Turbo X Review

The B-Segment SUV market has consistently been a popular choice among family users and young buyers locally. This type of vehicle needs to balance space, features, and fuel efficiency. As one of the best-selling models in this segment, the redesigned 2023 Perodua Ativa 1.0L Turbo X seeks to maintain its advantages. Through a test drive, we focus on evaluating its dynamic performance, functional features, and fuel consumption data to determine if it’s still worth considering.

From the exterior, the 2023 Ativa Turbo X retains its sporty design style with compact yet rugged lines overall. The front adopts the "Dynamic Shield" design language, which is highly recognizable, with a large lower grille paired with chrome accents to enhance visual width. The LED headlight assembly features sharp styling and integrates daytime running lights, offering clear and appealing illumination when lit. The side profile features a waistline stretching from the front fender to the taillights, complemented by 16-inch alloy wheels, achieving harmonious proportions. At the rear, the LED taillights adopt a connecting design (though in reality, it’s just light strips on both sides connected), and the silver rear bumper skid plate enhances its SUV attributes. Overall, the design is appealing among peers, combining a youthful vibe without being overly flamboyant.

Inside, the interior layout is simple and practical, with the center console slightly tilted toward the driver for easier operation. In terms of materials, the upper part of the dashboard is covered with soft-touch plastic and adorned with silver trims, offering a good sense of quality for its price range. The 9-inch touchscreen infotainment display stands out visually, offering decent interface fluidity and support for Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, which are sufficient for daily use. The instrument cluster features a 7-inch TFT full digital display screen that clearly shows information like speed, fuel consumption, and driver assistance system status. As for features, keyless entry, push-start ignition, electrically folding mirrors, and rain-sensing wipers are standard, adding practicality. A thoughtful addition is the manual air conditioning system with digital controls and memory functions, eliminating the need for repeated knob adjustments when setting temperatures.

The space performance aligns with the positioning of a B-Segment SUV. The vehicle dimensions are 4065mm×1710mm×1635mm, with a wheelbase of 2525mm. The front row provides ample seating space, with a passenger of 175cm in height still having about a fist’s room overhead after adjusting the seat. Rear space is sufficiently accommodating for family users; passengers of the same height have about two fist-lengths of legroom and one fist of headroom. However, the rear floor has a slight bump in the middle, making it slightly uncomfortable for long periods for the middle seat occupant. The trunk offers a standard capacity of 303L, which can be expanded by folding down the rear seats, making it suitable for carrying strollers or luggage. Storage compartments, including door pockets, the central armrest box, and glovebox, are generously sized for everyday small items. The rear row is also equipped with air vents and two USB ports, catering to the needs of rear passengers.

In terms of power, the 1.0L three-cylinder turbocharged engine has a maximum power output of 98PS and a peak torque of 140N·m, paired with a CVT transmission. The power response during acceleration is quite immediate, offering a noticeable output with a light press on the accelerator. In urban driving, following traffic and overtaking is easy. Medium-speed acceleration between 60-100km/h is also adequate. While cruising at 120km/h on the highway, the engine operates at about 2500 rpm, and overtaking requires a deeper press on the accelerator with slightly delayed power output. However, it’s entirely sufficient for family use. There are two driving modes: Normal and Eco. In Eco mode, throttle response softens, making it ideal for daily commuting and fuel savings, while Normal mode provides more flexibility, suitable for better road conditions.

In terms of handling, the steering wheel offers good precision with minimal play, making daily driving very comfortable. The suspension system consists of a front MacPherson strut and a rear double wishbone independent suspension, tuned towards comfort. It effectively filters most vibrations when driving over speed bumps or uneven roads, avoiding a noticeable stiff feeling. During cornering, the body roll is kept within a reasonable range, and it doesn’t feel loose. The braking performance is linear, with uniform braking force delivery, providing confidence as it responds proportionally to the pressure applied. Regarding fuel consumption, we tested it on both urban and highway conditions and achieved an average fuel consumption of approximately 5.5L per 100km, which is close to the official figure of 5.3L. The fuel economy performance is excellent.

Safety features are a highlight of the Ativa Turbo X, coming standard with 6 airbags (front dual airbags, side airbags, front and rear curtain airbags), ABS, ESP, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, etc., which stand out among models in the same segment. Perodua’s Advanced Safety Assist (ASA) 3.0 system performed reliably during the test drive. It provides timely warnings and even autonomous braking when detecting vehicles or pedestrians ahead, significantly reducing accident risks.

Regarding ride comfort, the seats offer good wrap-around support, ensuring you won’t feel fatigued even on long drives. Noise control is well implemented; tire noise and wind noise are barely noticeable during urban driving. At highway speeds of 120 km/h, wind noise becomes slightly more apparent but remains acceptable. The engine start-stop system responds promptly without noticeable vibrations. The hill-start assist function is very practical when starting on slopes, eliminating concerns about rolling backward.

Overall, the core strengths of the 2023 Perodua Ativa 1.0L Turbo X lie in its balanced performance: adequate power, economical fuel consumption, rich features, and remarkable safety performance, all at a price of just RM62,500. Its cost-effectiveness is highly competitive in its class. Compared to competitors like the Honda HR-V or Toyota Corolla Cross, the Ativa has a clear price advantage while retaining comparable features. It’s suitable for families prioritizing practicality and value for money, or young professionals who have just started working. It caters well to daily commutes and family outings on weekends. If you are looking for a worry-free, fuel-efficient, and safe B-Segment SUV, the Ativa Turbo X is a great choice.