The Perodua Axia: A proud Malaysian car

A lot of thought went behind coming up with a name for the Axia when it was first launched in 2014. The most affordable car in Malaysia at the time of its launch, the name came from the Greek word for value. Coincidentally it also happened to resemble Asia with an X instead of an S. This coincided with the fact that it was the 10th car model ever launched by Perodua. With so much significance hidden in its name, the Axia was not just a cheap 5-door hatchback.

The new Axia shows how far the Perodua name has come since the time of its inception. This is the most fuel-efficient homegrown car in the country. Excluding hybrids, diesel, and electric cars. The Axia can return 21.6 kmpl and 20.1 kmpl with a manual and an automatic transmission respectively. Some really clever tech has gone into achieving this feat. The engine is a 998cc lightweight all aluminum 3 cylinder unit that produces 67 hp of power and 90 Nm of torque. Lightness was such a high priority that the cylinder heads are made with heat and impact resistant plastic.

There are 4 different variants to choose from, with 2 slightly different exterior styling trims.  These include 8-spoke alloys and front intakes with no fog lights for the basic E and G variants. The higher SE and Advance variants have many improvements on the styling front with a sportier bumper, fog lights in the intakes and projector headlamps. Side skirts are finished in chrome while mirrors are electronically foldable and incorporate turn signals. The rear gets a spoiler with a third brake light along with LED taillights. The wheels are also different with 5 split design alloys. Despite their differences, both these cars look really good for 5 door hatchbacks.

Practicality takes center stage when we move inside. The Axia has a huge cargo space at 260 liters. All the seats can be folded completely flat to store much more. Cargo space is designed to be well suited for shopping needs and luggage. Women will especially love some of the other practical features that the Perodua comes equipped with. Say goodbye to unsightly tissue boxes with compartments to store tissues on the backs of the front seats. The front seat also comes with an anti snatch hook on the inside that can be used to hang purses or plastic bags. Not that there was any lack of storage space in the car in the first place.

The car becomes female friendly in even more ways simply because it is so easy to drive. Its tiny 4.5m turning radius makes for hassle-free U-turn on busy roads. Power steering makes easy work of taking sharp turns. Parking sensors in the front corners allow you to get into the tightest of parking spaces without breaking a sweat.

The interior itself is nothing to sneeze at either. The dash has a classy feel for an affordable hatchback despite the use of cheap materials. The Advance variant ups the ante with a multimedia touchscreen with GPS navigation. Add to it Bluetooth connectivity, DVD player and a Wi-Fi hotspot locator and it looks like an even better proposition. People looking for refinement will also like the leather-wrapped steering wheel with integrated audio controls along with leather seats. Space, however, will not feel compromised in any variant. People with average builds will find the interior roomy enough to seat 5 with the large windows making it seem even bigger.

Safety has also been a big priority for Perodua apparently. Malaysian safety regulations mean that the car is equipped with dual airbags, seat belts, ISOFIX and an immobilizer. This has allowed the Axia to get a remarkable 4-star rating in the ASEAN NCAP safety rating program. Spend a little more and you can get ABS with EBD and brake assist.

Starting at RM 22,849.35 and going up to RM 43,696.75 depending on where you buy it, this car is not just cheap to buy but also to live with. It is easy to repair and comes with an incredible 5 year or 150000 km warranty. No wonder it is so popular in the country.

The Axia began as an exercise towards creating the best value. Perodua has indeed succeeded in their endeavor and made a car that Malaysia can feel proud about.