Perodua Aruz 2021 Review

In Malaysia's B-Segment SUV market, seven-seater models have always been a popular choice among family users—offering both fuel efficiency for daily commuting and the ability to handle occasional multi-passenger outings. The 2021 Perodua Aruz 1.5 AV, as the seven-seater SUV under the brand, enters the market with balanced features and an affordable price point. Its core selling points include the standard Advanced Safety Assist (ASA) active safety system across the range, 220mm high ground clearance, and a versatile seven-seat configuration. This time, we conducted a comprehensive test on the Aruz 1.5 AV to evaluate its real-world performance in urban commuting and family travel scenarios, to see if it truly lives up to being a "practical choice" in its class.

Starting with the exterior, the design of the Aruz 1.5 AV leans towards a rugged style. The front features a large-sized grille paired with chrome trim and LED headlights on both sides, offering high recognizability. The side profile of the body is straight, with a waistline extending from the front fender to the rear that adds depth to the design. The 17-inch alloy wheels have a simple style, matching its family-oriented positioning. At the rear, the LED taillights are horizontally laid out and connected by a chrome strip, giving an overall stable visual effect. Notably, the Aruz 1.5 AV boasts a minimum ground clearance of 220mm, which is higher than some models in its class, providing better assurance when dealing with light off-road conditions or waterlogged urban roads.

Inside the cabin, the Aruz 1.5 AV's interior is primarily black, complemented by silver trim, and its overall texture aligns with its price positioning. The dashboard layout is simple, with a 7-inch touchscreen located centrally, supporting Bluetooth connectivity and USB input. The operational smoothness is decent. The instrument panel features an electronically illuminated analog design, offering clear displays for RPM, speed, and fuel consumption information. In terms of features, the Aruz 1.5 AV comes standard with keyless entry, push-button start, manual front air conditioning (with digital controls and memory function), rear air conditioning vents, and a six-speaker audio system, providing all the essential convenience features for daily use.

Space performance is one of the Aruz 1.5 AV's core strengths. The vehicle dimensions are 4435mm×1695mm×1740mm, with a wheelbase of 2685mm, which falls within the mainstream range for B-Segment SUVs. The front seats support manual adjustments, and a passenger standing 175cm tall can enjoy ample headroom and legroom. The second-row seats feature a 60:40 split design, supporting one-touch folding and manual reclining. The legroom is above average for its class, and the floor's central bulge is not prominent, ensuring that seating three passengers won't feel overly cramped. The third-row seats are split 50:50, suitable for children or smaller-framed adults. Long-distance travel may feel slightly tight, but it works perfectly well for short trips. The trunk capacity is 213 liters in the seven-seat configuration, sufficient to fit a few carry-on suitcases. Folding down the third-row seats significantly expands the cargo space, accommodating larger items.

In terms of power, the Aruz 1.5 AV is equipped with a 1.5L naturally aspirated engine, delivering a maximum power of 103PS/6000rpm and a maximum torque of 136Nm/4200rpm, paired with a 4AT gearbox and rear-wheel drive. During actual driving, the power output is smooth at the start, suitable for city commuting. Acceleration requires revving above 3000rpm to feel a noticeable power response, and overtaking requires pressing the accelerator in advance. The gearbox shifting logic leans towards smoothness, with relatively short shift gaps, but the high RPMs during highway cruising slightly affect fuel economy. The official combined fuel consumption is 6.41L/100km. After driving 50km each in urban traffic and on the highway, our measured combined fuel consumption is approximately 6.8L/100km, which is not far from the official figure. The fuel economy performance is decent.

Regarding handling and suspension, the Aruz 1.5 AV is equipped with a front MacPherson independent suspension and a rear torsion beam semi-independent suspension. During daily driving, the suspension is tuned for comfort, filtering most small road bumps. However, when encountering speed bumps or larger potholes, rear passengers can feel noticeable jolts. The steering wheel is light, suitable for female drivers or urban parking, but the directional precision is average and feels slightly vague during high-speed driving. Thanks to the rear-wheel drive, the Aruz 1.5 AV performs adequately in cornering stability, with minimal body roll, but it is not suitable for aggressive driving. The braking performance is moderate, the brake pedal feedback is clear, and the vehicle's posture remains stable during emergency braking.

Safety features are a major highlight of the Aruz 1.5 AV, as the whole series comes standard with the ASA active safety system, which includes Forward Collision Warning, Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning, and Pedal Misoperation Control. During testing, the Forward Collision Warning system could detect vehicles ahead in a timely manner. The Automatic Emergency Braking effectively avoids collisions at speeds below 30km/h, providing good prevention against low-speed rear-end collisions during city commuting. Additionally, the Aruz 1.5 AV is equipped with 6 airbags, ABS (Anti-lock Braking System), Vehicle Stability Control, front and rear parking sensors, and a reverse camera as standard, placing its safety configurations at a leading level in its class.

In terms of riding comfort, the noise control performance of the Aruz 1.5 AV is average. When the speed exceeds 80km/h, wind and road noise become noticeably audible inside the car, affecting the riding experience. The seats are made of fabric material with average wrapping, but the soft padding ensures that long rides are not overly fatiguing. The presence of rear air-conditioning vents effectively improves passenger comfort in the rear seats, especially in the hot climate of Malaysia.

In conclusion, the 2021 Perodua Aruz 1.5 AV's core advantages lie in its fully standardized active safety system, flexible seven-seat configuration, high ground clearance, and affordable pricing (RM 77,900). Compared to models in the same class, the Aruz 1.5 AV boasts more comprehensive safety features and a more practical seven-seat layout, making it ideal for family users. However, it also has some drawbacks, such as the smoothness and fuel efficiency of the 4AT gearbox being slightly inferior to a CVT, its power performance being average, and noise control needing improvement.

In summary, the 2021 Perodua Aruz 1.5 AV is a practical seven-seater family SUV that is suitable for families prioritizing safety features, space usability, and fuel efficiency. If you need an SUV that meets daily commuting needs, occasional group outings, and has a budget within RM 80,000, the Aruz 1.5 AV is worth considering.