Perodua Axia

The interior aesthetics of Perodua Axia are not very premium and attractive, but the basic functional design is very smartly developed. As you get inside the cabin, you might feel that a lot of cost-cutting has been done by the automaker, because of minimalistic design and layout. However, some effort is still made to add a stylish touch to minimal designing. The steering wheel has a three-spoke design with silver garnishing hues, added with mounted audio controls to offer some contemporary look. The instrument console is also very intricately designed and is house to basic features of information.  

The center console is also a prominent element of attraction and is nicely shaped in long and trapezoidal forms. Silver garnishing on the center console also adds a tint of premium look to the area. It is also enhanced with a touchscreen infotainment system with all ubiquitous features. Spacious cabin area adds a more trendy look to the interior design and complementing it are the flexible seating configurations. The Perodua Axia offers you a total of five seating configurations to get maximum usage of its seats and space, depending upon the number of passengers and luggage. Also, a number of small storage spaces are very smartly incorporated like bottle holders inside the cabin, thus further enhancing its practicality. The 260-liter boot space too is pretty good for a car of this size.

Considering that it is an entry-level car, the Perodua Axia is nicely equipped with features like a touchscreen music system with navigation and four speakers, leather upholstery for a plush feel, push-button start with keyless entry endorsing smart entry and exit system, reverse parking sensors, front cornering sensors, and steering mounted audio controls.

The exterior aesthetics also do not appeal to those customers who are looking for a hatchback model with a style quotient. The exterior of Axia is given a very plain design due to which it lacks the appeal that you get while taking the first glance.  

On the contrary, the automakers have focused on ergonomics and functional design so that the hatchback model can still make a mark in the market. The front fascia is widely highlighted with a long hexagonal grille which is given a premium touch with chrome slats. The huge trapezoidal headlamp units are placed just beside the grille and come fitted with the projector unit for main headlamps. Fog Lamps are also very neatly placed in pentagon-shaped houses, garnished with chrome polish. Overall, the front fascia manages to set a trendy look and even the side fascia also has a boxer look but not so appealing as the front face. There are no sharp lines and color contouring noticed on he side face, making it look very plain and staid.

A couple of styling hues are tried to give a neat finishing to exterior aesthetics which include chrome door handles and alloy wheels, adding some extravagant touch to the otherwise boring side profile. The clear lens pattern for the tail lamps and new door handle design tries to enhance the appeal of the car when viewed from the rear. The roof spoiler also adds some sporty look to the plain rear design.

In terms of ride and handling, we can say that Perodua Axia is top-notch, as it is fitted with Macpherson struts with coil springs at the front and a torsion beam with coil springs at the rear. The coil springs favors the driver in balancing the car during off-roading or jolty roads. Also, the automakers have smartly designed the suspension, keeping in mind the compact dimensions and preferential city driving. The suspensions are set on the softer side and steering is set on the lighter side. The turning radius is 4.5m which makes it very comfortable for busy traffic roads. 

At the heart of Perodua Axia lies a 1.0-litre gasoline-powered engine sparking a maximum power output of 67 bhp and a peak torque output of 91 Nm. You get both the options of a 5-speed manual and a 4-speed automatic gearbox. With such transmission options and linear power delivery, Axia feels very light to drive. The manual variants have the capability to deliver 22.5 kmpl, the automatic variants offer 21.4 kmpl, thus making the Perodua Axia one of the most fuel-efficient cars to be sold in Malaysia.

The Perodua Axia is targeted at those customers, who just wish to buy an entry-level car. This is evident from the car’s functional design which focuses on comfort and convenience features over safety features. However, you get dual front airbags, reverse parking sensors, and ABS with EBD, which marks the list for basic and standard safety features.

The Perodua Axia is definitely a value for money car for the Malaysian buyers.  While the overall exterior design is not as exciting as some of its peers, the practicality with which it is designed is much on the higher side. The convenience features, fuel efficiency, storage spaces, or overall cabin space, Axia feels like a good deal for the price it is available for. Also, the engine performance is also good enough for an entry-level car. Thus, we say it is a good bet to place at this price.