Naza Sutera Forza 1.1 Review: In all honesty...

What we like:

Modern

pleasant looks. Noteworthy sound system and well-padded seats.  Surprisingly lively engine.

What we dislike:

Gaps in build quality are evident. Rubbery gearshift.

Powered by a 1.1-litre twincam engine that is paired to a 5-speed manual transmission, the Sutera is good for 65bhp and 88Nm of torque. Wondering how long it takes to hit 100km/h? Try 14 seconds.

BUT before you think it’s slow and crawling, I have to say the unit in the Sutera is a lively one. Well it isn’t exactly a screaming performer, but when asked to work hard, it jolly well will do so. It’s eager from the low to mid power band, but I’m sorry to report that it runs out of breath once the 5,000rpm mark is breached. While the gear shifts can be a tad rubbery for some, suffice to say, you don’t have to stretch your hand far just to change gears all thanks to the tall gearstick. The three pedals are also nicely sized apart for a size-10 feet like mine, in contrast to what was experienced in some cars in its class - namely the Perodua Kelisa and Chery A1 - which lacks the legroom and needs some getting used to.

The steering is well-weighted in town but out on the expressway, lacks the weighty feel seen in Kia’s Picanto. Besides that, a pleasant surprise awaits – you can just chuck the Sutera hard into corners. With body-roll kept in check and understeer within control, the Sutera can be pretty fun when driven enthusiastically – which is no surprise as it was the extraordinary blokes from Lotus who tuned the suspension set-up for this car. Extra braking power could help though…

The Sutera seems like the underdog in a sea of small cars, but the surprise is that it’s a very good one. It has its flaws to overcome, but then again, which car doesn’t? If you were to put it aside, the Sutera is a worthy small car – heck, it sure beats going public everyday.

And how can I forget? The Sutera also comes with driver and front passenger airbag, showing that even though it’s a car that’s manufactured on a budget, safety is top on its list too.

At $25,999, it undercuts the Chinese Chana Benni and Chery A1. It might have some way to go before reaching Kia Picanto-like quality, but it’s a good start to the whole motoring experience.

I’ll say it again – it sure beats going public.

Credits: Story & pictures by Azfar Hashim