Perodua Myvi EZI Review: my-a-vi...my-a-ha...

What we like:

Extra displacement and power make for a more refined yet still frugal engine. Very practical

with loads of room for all onboard.

What we dislike:

Stiffer suspension delivers slightly better handling at the expense of ride comfort. Lower end variant lacks ABS and a passenger side airbag.

With Macpherson struts up front and a torsion beam at the rear, one might conclude that the Myvi is very comfort biased. A quick run through not-as-smoothly-paved roads should set the record straight though. The suspension here is a tad on the stiff side, so there’s a tendency for undulations to enter the cabin. But you know what? We’d take a stiffer setup any day - it always makes for a more “chuckable” car.

Potential buyers will be glad to know that while the engine’s displacement might have grown, its frugality however, hasn’t suffered as a result. An entire day’s worth of heavy-footed driving only managed to reduce the fuel gauge by a single bar – the same result we achieved with the Viva.

We have to mention that during our test, the engine still felt sticky and tight, but this was to be expected as our press car had only clocked up a scant 126 km prior to our road test. Performance had to be coaxed from the still-fresh engine and 4-speed automatic gearbox, but we feel that this car should come into its own after it has been properly run-in.

Our biggest gripe so far has to be the fact that ABS/EBD and the dual SRS airbags are only standard in the two range topping models. After all, in today’s world, safety features such as these should be standard throughout the model range.

Despite these grouses, it’s still not difficult to see why this car turned out to be so popular. The Myvi’s interior has a higher quality feel, and thanks to the car’s slightly larger dimensions, is also roomier without it being more difficult to park. Its 1.3-litre engine packs additional power, and has the advantage of more torque at lower revs – without compromising on fuel economy.

Is all of that worth the extra premium that the Myvi commands? Well, looking at it from a long-term perspective, we certainly think so.

Credits: Story by Jeremy R. Chua, pictures by Jeremy R. Chua and Azfar Hashim