Viva Perodua!

PERODUA, the second national car, appears to have the knack for building cars that Malaysians want. Sensing that the Kancil was getting too long in the tooth, it has just launched a bolder entry- level compact car with three engine options under the one-litre capacity and has given it a rousingly-apt name; the Viva. It chose Viva because in the original Latin, it is used as an exclamation to indicate salutation and applause.

Indeed, there's much to applaud Perodua. Not only it daringly discontinued the Kelisa line for this entrant, but it also priced it above the Kancil. This ensures that the Kancil remains affordably priced, while remaining the mainstay of the entry-level segment.

Indeed, the Viva's specifications make it more expensive than the Kancil and just a little cheaper than the MyVi. This top-of-the- range one-litre manual transmission variant - the Viva SXi - has been specified with features one would rightly expect in sedans twice more expensive.

An interesting feature announced during its launch was that this Viva has 90% local content. Now that would raise the heckles of a few skeptics but consider this; manufacturing in this age of globalisation means sourcing for parts from all corners of the globe, putting it together in the cheapest-wage location and sticking a label on it to show its hybrid origin. Going by that measure, we can proudly say the Perodua Viva is put together in the Perodua plant in the town of Ulu Choh in the district of Rawang in the state of Selangor and is made, therefore, in Malaysia!

Styling * Sandwiched between the MyVi and the Kancil, one can immediately trace the outline of the Viva to fathom its progeny. It has enough visible `hand-me-down' traits from the MyVi and the Avanza that it's been dubbed the `Baby Avanza'. Then again, it has plenty of `pass-me- up' cues from the Kancil that it has also earned the sobriquet of `Kancil's Big Brother'. Perodua has also picked up from the parts bin of the Kenari (the tall vertical tail lights) and the Avanza (the rear fold- up door), which are tried-and-tested features that enhance the Viva's posterior. And as if the pearl white test- drive unit wasn't visible enough, Perodua went overboard with the windshield decals and Viva motifs stuck in the most prominent of places.

MB rating: ****

Interior * The cockpit area is very much a step up from the Kancil. Thoughtful touches like cupholders that can actually keep a coffee cup in place, coin slots and a utility box offer convenient storage spaces that make stashing away little knick-knacks away from prying eyes a doddle. You can adjust the wing mirrors remotely from inside and the power wind-up applies to all four windows. Perodua's generosity extends to the electrically-operated, retractable wing mirrors, which even the top-of- the-range Avanza does not have! A buzzer alarm sounds if the front lights are switched on when the key is removed from the ignition.

MB rating: ****

Engine & performance * The engine for all three variants (660cc, 850cc and 1,000cc) incorporates Dynamic Variable Valve Timing (DVVT) and Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI), which results in improved performance with economic fuel consumption. The manual version uses a five-speed transmission, which is quite handy when there is a need to shift down smartly in overtaking maneuvers or when power is needed. This manual transmission XSi is best for those wanting spirited performance. On the highway, it can comfortably be pushed to 145kmph.

MB rating: ****

Ride & handling * The Viva may still have some way to go in terms of cushioning and pampering but what it has is indeed several steps up from the Kancil or the Kelisa. There are MacPherson struts in the front with stabilizer. In the rear, it has torsion beams with trailing arms which appear to be the preferred combination being employed widely now. Combined, it does well to handle all, save for the most bone-jarring ruts, that our roads can contrive to offer.

Noise intrusion is a little better than the Kancil but the familiar `Daihatsu roar' is audible when you engage too low a gear for some spirited overtaking. Fully loaded, the Viva stays snug on the road with much of the bodyroll cut out.

MB rating: *** 1/2

Safety * This Viva scores highly in the safety department. Begin with the two airbags up front. It then goes on to offer anti-lock braking as well as electronic brake distribution. All passengers - front and rear - get seatbelts; of course it is left for them; especially the rear-seaters, to actually make it to be of any use! The steering wheel is designed to collapse on frontal impact. There are impact-absorbing honeycomb pads lining the upper corner of the roof for protection from a collapsing A- pillar - which saves nasty injuries to the head.

MB rating: ****

Value for money * The Viva, of course, has to stand up to scrutiny against the likes of the Naza Sutera or the Hyundai Atos. Its pricing puts it neatly in between the two with the question of parts pricing firmly in its favour. In the fuel consumption stakes, the DVVT feature gives it the edge over its rivals. A full tank will set you back just under RM70. Having filled it for just under RM55 (just under 29 litres) recently, the XSi did more than 400km on a combination of highway and village roads.

MB rating: ****

Conclusion * When the MyVi was launched, Perodua had to fend off some brickbats as they were swamped by the demand. Taking that lesson on board, Perodua has made sure it built up a head of steam worth 2,000 Vivas on the day of the launch. The discontinued Kelisa line has the potential to roll out up to 8,000 Vivas a month. The company conservatively estimates it will sell at least 6,500 units a month.

It is a pity that the Kelisa has been abandoned, but keeping it alive would pose Perodua the dilemma of offering two products in the same segment. The Viva, by all accounts, is indeed a worthy replacement.

THE BARE FACTS

* PERODUA VIVA 1.0 PREMIUM SXI (MANUAL)

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: 3 cylinder DOHC 12V with DVVT

Displacement : 989cc

Bore*stroke : 72mm*81mm

Power : 45kW/61.2bhp@6,000rpm

Torque : 90Nm@3,600rpm

Suspension (front) : MacPherson strut with coil spring

Suspension (rear): Torsion beam with coil spring

Tyres : 165/55R14

Length/Width/Height : 3,575mm/1,475mm/1,530mm

Wheelbase : 2,390mm

Weight : 755-800kg

Fuel tank capacity : 36 litres

Price (solid) : RM40,800 (on-the-road inc insurance)

Price (metallic) : RM41,100 (on-the-road inc insurance)

OVERALL RATING ****

RATING KEY

***** To die for

**** Impressive, but...

*** Good but can improve

** Just OK

* Passable