Perodua unveils Ativa, its most sophisticated model so far

Nearly two weeks after opening pre-orders, Malaysian automaker Perodua has finally shown its Ativa CUV to the general public. The car turned out to be a close relative of the Japan-made Daihatsu Rocky and Toyota Raize.

Ativa – which is Portuguese for ‘active’ – has its own radiator grille, bumpers and badges, but otherwise looks just like the models it is based upon. A fin-like antenna an LED headlights come as standard features, and customers may opt for a black roof to go with any of the five main exterior finishes.

The interior stays identical to the Rocky/Raize design, complete with a seven-inch dash screen, a nine-inch infotainment display with a sensor surface, and upholstery in either fabric or fake leather.

The body dimensions (L/W/H) are 4,065 mm, 1,710 mm and 1,635 mm, respectively. Theground clearance is quite good at 200 mm, while the wheelbase stays unchanged at 2,525 mm. Tires come in sizes 205/65 R16 and 205/60 R17.

Powering the ride is a platform known as DNGA-B, a simpler version of the TNGA GA-B chassis. It combines McPherson struts and disc brakes at the front axle with a semi-dependent beam axle and drum brakes at the rear. The base engine is a turbocharged three-cylinder rated at 98 PS (97 hp / 72 kW) and 104 Nm (103 lb-ft), which links to a D-CVT and FWD.

Standard features include AC, six airbags, ABS, ESP, and the entire Advanced Safety Assist (ASA 3.0) package with such highlights as ACC, AEB, BSM and others. Opting for the top spec nets you keyless entry and start, adaptive high beams, parking sensors, a reversing camera, HDMI and USB connectivity, and many other niceties.