2023 Perodua Ativa Ativa 1.0L TURBO AV (Special Metallic) Review

Nowadays, the competition in Malaysia's B-Segment SUV market is increasingly fierce. Consumers want a compact and agile body for urban commuting while expecting spacious interiors and comprehensive features to meet family needs. As a popular contender in this segment, the 2023 Perodua Ativa 1.0L TURBO AV (Special Metallic) version continues to capture the attention of young families and practical buyers with its refined details, enhanced safety features, and affordable pricing. This time, we've got the actual car to see how it performs in daily usage scenarios and whether it can strike the perfect balance between features, space, and fuel efficiency.

In terms of appearance, the 2023 Ativa maintains its previous sporty style. The trapezoidal front grille with its large dimensions is paired with blacked-out horizontal trims, offering high recognition. The Special Metallic paint on this special edition exhibits a delicate metallic sheen under the sunlight, making it look more premium compared to standard paint finishes. The vehicle's body lines are sharp, and the waistline that extends from the front fenders to the rear gives the side profile a more elongated appearance. The 17-inch alloy wheels have a clean and neat design, matching the overall vehicle style. At the rear, the LED taillights adopt a through-type design, creating a striking visual effect when lit up. The silver skid plate under the rear bumper adds a touch of SUV ruggedness. The lighting system comes standard with LED headlights, daytime running lights, and front fog lights, while the automatic headlight function can switch promptly when entering or exiting tunnels, offering good practicality.

Stepping inside, the interior layout emphasizes simplicity and practicality. The dashboard is wrapped in soft-touch materials, which feel more premium than those in vehicles of the same price range. A 9-inch touchscreen is located at the center and offers decent operation fluency, supporting Bluetooth connectivity and smartphone mirroring, though the interface design appears somewhat basic. The instrument panel is a 10.25-inch full LCD TFT screen that displays information like fuel consumption, speed, and the statuses of safety systems. It offers sufficient clarity and even changes background colors when switching driving modes, adding a bit of ceremony. The AV version boasts several highlights in terms of features: keyless entry and start, a multifunctional steering wheel, wireless charging for front-row smartphones (hidden under the center console), rear air conditioning vents, and a 220V power socket — all of which enhance convenience in daily use. The seats are made of fabric material, and the front seats provide good support, ensuring comfort even during long drives. The rear seats support a 40:60 split-folding design and adjustable backrest angles. When folded, the trunk space can expand from the standard 303L to a larger capacity, making it handy for transporting luggage or large items.

In terms of space performance, the Ativa has a wheelbase of 2525mm, which is at the mainstream level for B-Segment SUVs. The front-row seating area is spacious, leaving a fist of headroom for passengers of 175cm after adjusting the seat. The rear-row space is a pleasant surprise; passengers of the same height sitting in the back have two fists of legroom remaining and one fist of headroom, ensuring it doesn’t feel cramped even with five occupants. The storage space has been designed thoughtfully. The door panel storage bins can fit two large bottles of water, and the central armrest box and glove compartment offer enough capacity for daily use. The front-row cup holders feature retractable limiters, securely accommodating cups of various sizes. In its standard state, the trunk can fit two 20-inch suitcases along with some scattered items, making it sufficient for short family trips.

In terms of powertrain, the Ativa is equipped with a 1.0L three-cylinder turbocharged engine, delivering a maximum power of 98PS and a peak torque of 140N·m, paired with a CVT transmission. During actual driving, the power response in the initial acceleration phase is quite active, and with a light press on the accelerator, you can feel obvious thrust. It is very nimble for urban commuting, whether following other cars or overtaking. When driving at medium to high speeds, the turbo kicks in after the RPM exceeds 2000, and the power delivery remains smooth. Acceleration up to a speed of 80km/h is linear, which is suitable for daily commuting. However, beyond 100km/h, its acceleration ability appears slightly limited, requiring a deeper press on the accelerator to achieve noticeable speed increases. There are three driving modes to choose from: ECO, Normal, and Sport. In ECO mode, the throttle response is slower, making it suitable for users who are focused on fuel efficiency; in Sport mode, the throttle sensitivity is increased, and the power output is more direct, suitable for occasional spirited driving situations.

In terms of handling, the Ativa's steering accuracy is commendable with minimal play, making it very nimble for U-turns or parking in urban areas. The chassis features a front MacPherson strut and rear double-wishbone independent suspension, and its tuning leans towards comfort. When passing over speed bumps or bumpy roads, the suspension filters out most of the small vibrations, ensuring that passengers in the car do not feel significant jolts. When cornering, the body roll is well controlled, without feeling overly loose, providing sufficient confidence. The brake pedal offers a linear feel, the braking force is released evenly, and in emergency braking situations, the car maintains a stable posture without significant nose-diving.

Fuel economy is a significant advantage of the Ativa, with an official combined fuel consumption of 5.3L/100km. In our test drive, which included 50km in congested urban roads and 50km on suburban highways, the actual measured fuel consumption was about 5.8L/100km. Considering the use of air conditioning and frequent stops and starts during real-world driving, this result is very close to the official figure, which can save a lot on fuel costs for family users.

In terms of safety features, the AV version can be described as a "top contender" among models in the same price range, coming standard with 6 airbags (dual front airbags, side airbags, and front/rear curtain airbags), ESC (Electronic Stability Control), Blind Spot Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Autonomous Emergency Braking, and Forward Collision Warning systems. During the test drive, the Lane Departure Warning system alerted when the vehicle veered off the lane, and the Autonomous Emergency Braking system automatically intervened when an obstacle was detected ahead and the driver did not react promptly. These features significantly reduce accident risks. Additionally, the front and rear parking sensors and reversing camera make parking much easier.

In terms of ride comfort, the Ativa's noise control is average. During low-speed urban driving, the cabin remains relatively quiet, but at speeds above 80km/h, wind and tire noise gradually become noticeable, though still within an acceptable range. The seat comfort is good, and the rear seat backrests are adjustable, allowing passengers to find a more comfortable posture for long-distance travel. The air conditioning system features manual controls with digital display and memory functions, cools down quickly, and the rear air conditioning vents allow rear passengers to feel the cooling effect faster.

In summary, the core strengths of the 2023 Perodua Ativa 1.0L TURBO AV (Special Metallic) lie in its comprehensive safety features, practical space performance, and excellent fuel efficiency. Compared to other models like the Honda HR-V or Toyota Corolla Cross in the same class, the Ativa is more affordable while still offering comparable safety features and space, making it highly cost-effective. It is suitable for family users who value practicality and safety. It can comfortably handle daily commutes and short weekend trips with the family. If your budget is in the range of RM70,000 to RM80,000 and you’re looking for an SUV with comprehensive features, low fuel consumption, and ample space, the Ativa is worthy of consideration.