A Week of Test Driving the All-New Myvi 1.5 Advance

The good folks at Perodua recently lent us the All-New Myvi to be test driven for a week, and it left every one in the office giving it two thumbs up. In an earlier article, our Automologist wrote about the short spin around the block that left him impressed. This one-week jaunt left us ‘wow-ed’.

An icon which has evolved.

The model that we reviewed was the highest spec on offer, the 1.5 Advance version. From the headquarters in Sg. Choh, Rawang right up till the day we returned the car, we were pleasantly surprised by the drive, the miserliness of its fuel consumption and all the added creature comforts that came with it.

First of all, the All-New Myvi is a complete departure from its predecessor in terms of size. Length is a massive 205m difference and width has increased by 70mm. Boot space has been increased by 69 litres from previous generation to 277 litres. And one of the other reasons you'd find the new model looking much sleeker is simply because it is lower by 30mm. The sloped rear roof-line gives it an attractive look overall.

The 15-inch rims give it a dynamic look and it has a full-size spare tyre, not the ‘donut’ spare that often comes with other makes.

All variants have LED headlamps with auto-off and “Follow Me Home” functions, with manually adjustable levelling. Rounding off the back section are rear combi LED lights.

Inside, cabin space is superb. Legroom at the rear, after pushing the driver seat all the way back, is very good. The seats can be configured eight ways. If you have larger stuff to carry from IKEA this is perfect. The seats are comfy enough. Bear in mind, in the 1.5 Advance variant, you get semi-bucket front leather seats with a pouch on the sides to store small items. The rear seats are leather too and have detachable headrests.

Comfy semi-bucket leather seats.  

 

Strategically placed USB port on driver's seat, accessible by rear passengers.

Smart entry with push start/stop is another feature that is across the board. The multifunction leather-strapped steering which has electric power steering has the right amount of weight, and the fascia tilts slightly towards the driver.

Fascia tilted towards the driver.

The first thing we really wanted to try was the built-in toll reader, to see whether it really works or if we might have to wriggle over to the Touch ‘n Go lane if it didn’t. It worked like a charm. This is a totally brilliant idea to have as a feature in cars, especially for journeys that pass through multiple tolls. Insert your TnG card into the slot and it tells you the balance of credit.

The innovative built-in toll reader.

The GPS system worked without a hitch. Apart from directing you to your preferred destination, it also tells you the upcoming toll fare required.

Of course, you get shopping hooks the back of both front seats. Our colleague Ros said that having the anti-snatch hook, a Perodua trademark, makes it easier for ladies to keep their handbags secure yet still easily accessible, should they need to get cash to top up the TnG card at the toll.

The 1.5 Advance engine is a smooth 4 cylinders DOHC with dual VVT-i, which is also found in the Toyota Avanza and Vios. This engine configuration constantly adjusts the timing of the intake and exhaust valves, which in turn helps improve fuel efficiency, power and exhaust emissions. It delivers a reasonable amount of 101hp at 6,000rpm and 136Nm of torque at 4,200rpm. Of course, you would not find the Myvi clocking mind-numbing digits in the century dash—that’s not what it was built for. However, even at 2,000 rpm, there is a surge if you floor the throttle.

This mill does give you 20.1 km per litre as stated by Perodua. We took the Myvi from Ampang to Setapak to Bukit Tinggi back down to KLCC, and then to Putrajaya and then back to Setapak, and to our office on Jalan Ampang—about 230 kilometers in total; it sipped a meager RM30.00 worth of fuel! Just imagine how far a full tank could get you. Hitting the 600km mark is not impossible.

Safety-wise, the high spec variants have six airbags. Yes, SIX airbags! (Front, side and curtain.) You get a sense of added security when your loved ones and friends are in the car. ABS, EBD, electronic stability control, ISOFIX mounts and seatbelt reminder for all passengers make it all the more safer. The 1.5 Advance comes with reverse camera, but power windows with jam protection on the driver’s side is a standard feature across the board.

It would be unwise to turn these off. 

This variant comes with another feature, which is the Advance Safety Assist (ASA) consisting of Pre-Collision Warning (PCW), Pre-Collision Braking (PCB), Front Departure Alert (FDA) and Pedal Misoperation Control (PMC). It uses a forward-facing camera located behind the rear-view mirror.

 

Here is how each system works, in a nutshell:

1) Pre-Collision Warning (PCW) – When the system senses an obstruction in front and if the driver doesn’t respond immediately, it will send a warning buzzer.

2) Pre-Collision Braking (PCB) – Works in two stages. Stage one is when the car does soft braking 1.3 seconds before an imminent crash, and stage two is when the car does hard braking just 0.8 seconds before a crash. The feature works under speeds of 30kph.

3) Front Departure Alert (FDA) - The FDA alerts the driver when the car in front has begun moving, after 10 metres. A beep to remind you to get going. By the way, you really shouldn't be looking at your phone while driving, not even at red lights.

4) Pedal Misoperation Control (PMC) – When the system senses an obstruction in front of the car, it will not allow the driver to accelerate. If the driver still persists, the pedal can be pushed but to no avail. Or, even if you accidentally press the accelerator pedal, the car will not move. Saves you from embarrassing and costly moments if you’ve selected ‘D’ and not ‘R' when exiting your parking spot.

We tried the A.S.A and it worked. First, there were beeps and then a shuddering of brakes. Mind you, we tried it at speeds lower than 30kph, as it only functions at lower speeds, and it brought the car to an abrupt halt. We remind you that all these are aids to assist, and safety remains the responsibility of the driver.

All in all, the new Myvi has gained much admiration as well as new followers, and have certainly given us pleasant surprises along the way. Well done, Perodua. For all the gadgetry and specifications in a sub RM60,000.00 car, and having earned five stars from the ASEAN NCAP, and it comes with a warranty of 5 years or 150,000km, and an abundance of service centres, this is truly a worthy buy.

If you have just joined the workforce or have a young family or just want to get a second car, the All-New Myvi would be a good choice. Perodua has made a great car even better.