2021 Perodua Ativa SUV – we point out all the differences from Daihatsu Rocky and Toyota Raize

2021 Perodua Ativa SUV – we point out all the differences from Daihatsu Rocky and Toyota Raize

With the Perodua Ativa finally launched today, there will definitely be plenty of questions surrounding the national carmaker’s new compact SUV. As I’m sure you’ll all have known by now, the Ativa is based on the Daihatsu Rocky and Toyota Raize, and doubtless you’ll want to find out what all the differences are between the three cars. Well, you’ve come to the right place.

Certainly, there are the obvious aesthetic changes, but there are also some small but significant tweaks in other areas. The easiest way to spot an Ativa from either of its two siblings is through the front fascia. The V-shaped grille is much larger than either the six-point opening on the Daihatsu or the slim gloss black strip on the Toyota, joining the unchanged trapezoidal LED headlights.

Like the Rocky, the Ativa’s grille is filled with slats, but in keeping with Malaysia’s (perceived) appetite for chrome, there are two chrome strips (one on the base X trim) at the top and bottom of the Perodua badge linking the headlights, giving a look mildly similar to the first facelift of the Axia. The air intake arrangement is closer to the Rocky’s than it is to the Raize’s, which has a massive downturned lower grille.

The centre inlet is smaller and it’s flanked by triangular fog light surrounds, with inverted L-shaped accents bookending the bumper corners. These accents are mirrored at the rear of the car, where they integrate the reflectors; the Rocky and Raize get large fake vents instead.

One notable design cue that the Ativa gets and the other two lack is the silver skid plate on the front and rear bumpers. The other two counter by having bumper-mounted LED daytime running lights, with the Ativa only getting LED positioning lights in the headlights on the top models, doubling as sequential indicators.

The Ativa’s larger 17-inch two-tone wheel option is also different – while the Daihatsu and Toyota get simpler six- and five-spoke designs respectively, the Perodua has a ten-spoke design with five of those being painted black. For me, it’s a needlessly complex design, but that’s just my opinion.

Also different are the base 16-inch rollers on the Ativa X, which have a more stylish split-spoke design rather than the turbine look of the others. The tailgate garnish, which is black on the Japanese cars, also receives a secondary chrome strip – again tailored to local tastes.

The tyre sizes are also unique to the Ativa, being slightly taller and wider at 205/65R16 and 205/60R17, versus 195/65R16 and 195/60R17 for the Rocky and Raize. The car also rides on regular Goodyear Assurance Triplemax 2 and Bridgestone Turanza T005A tyres, whereas the others get Dunlop Enasave EC300+ and Bridgestone Ecopia EP150 eco tyres, which offer less grip and worse refinement.

The Perodua’s door mirrors, on the other hand, are borrowed from the Aruz and are much sleeker than the cheap-looking items on the Daihatsu and Toyota. They are better integrated with the stalks that hold them and feature longer and slimmer indicators. The A-pillar mounts also incorporate the aero fins that were also introduced on the Rocky and Raize this month, reducing wind noise at the mirrors.

Before we get inside, we must talk about the Ativa’s keyless entry system. Yes, all models have it, but the new touch-sensitive lock/unlock sensor (yay!) is only fitted on the driver’s door, in typical Perodua fashion. On the other hand, the Rocky and Raize get the sensor on the passenger side as well, making it much more practical. Fortunately, the tailgate also has a keyless unlock function, as it should.

Inside, the three cars are largely identical. All of them get the same basic dashboard design with hexagonal air vents and a freestanding head unit, plus a modern-looking three-spoke steering wheel. However, there are some detail changes here too – some aesthetic, some functional.

For a start, the Rocky and Raize’s rotary climate control knobs have been ditched in favour of a flat digital control panel. There’s no automatic function, but you do get the two memory buttons first seen on the latest Myvi. The Ativa also gets dedicated door lock and unlock buttons on the centre console next to the handbrake – a handy passenger-friendly feature that both the Daihatsu and Toyota lack.

Then there are some changes to the specs of the car. The biggest downside for the Ativa is that it comes with a locally-sourced infotainment system on the H and AV models. It has the same touchscreen size as the Rocky and Raize at nine inches, but the interface looks a little aftermarket and the English leaves much to be desired (I’m looking at you, “setting” menu).

It also lacks the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality of the other two (the last of which was recently introduced), making do with the Smart Link mirroring feature. Thankfully, the seven-inch digital instrument display on these models are carried over from the Daihatsu and Toyota, replete with customisable themes and the novel birthday and anniversary reminders.

The AV also gets different upholstery compared to its Japanese brethren. Whereas those get a faux leather and fabric combination, the Ativa’s seats are mostly covered in fake cow hide, accented with fake suede. The design has also been tweaked, with greater use of red accents and a Perodua label under the headrests. The X and H models come with fabric upholstery and silver stitching.

As we mentioned, the steering wheel is identical save for the badging, but even the top AV has a blank button on the left spoke. On the Rocky and Raize, this button is used for the available 360-degree camera system and a parking assist function, both of which are unavailable on the Ativa. On the plus side, the Perodua is fitted with a full-sized spare tyre on all models – the other two don’t even come with a space saver.

These cost-cutting changes are likely the reason why the Ativa has managed to undercut the Rocky and Raize in Japan. Prices start at RM61,500 for the X variant, rising up to RM66,100 for the H and RM71,200 for the top AV. The Rocky, on the other hand, ranges from 1.705 million yen (RM64,600) to 2.145 million yen (RM81,200), and the Ativa comes with better equipment variant by variant.

Thankfully, parking assist is about the only driver assistance feature that the Perodua lacks. All models come as standard with autonomous emergency braking (now with cyclist detection and a higher operating speed of up to 120 km/h), lane keeping assist, lane departure warning, Pedal Misoperation Control (PMC), Front Departure Alert (FDA) and automatic high beam. Many of these are already firsts for Perodua.

But it’s the AV model that piles on the new functions – how do Level 2 semi-autonomous driving (incorporating adaptive cruise control and lane centring assist), blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert sound? The range-topper also adds matrix LED headlights (with sequential indicators!), which block off portions of the high beam to avoid dazzling other motorists.

2021 Perodua Ativa SUV – we point out all the differences from Daihatsu Rocky and Toyota Raize

No changes to the mechanicals either, with all models being powered by a 1.0 litre 1KR-VET turbocharged three-cylinder engine, producing 98 PS at 6,000 rpm and 140 Nm of torque from 2,400 to 4,000 rpm. The D-CVT with seven virtual ratios is the only transmission choice, and while the Rocky and Raize are available with all-wheel drive, the Ativa is front-wheel drive only.

According to our man Danny Tan, the Perodua also has a stiffer suspension setup, catering to Malaysia’s more gung-ho drivers. The Ativa also rides 15 mm taller than the others to better suit ASEAN’s rougher roads, with a ground clearance of 200 mm instead of 185.

For full details, read our comprehensive launch story and our first impressions review. What do you think – does the Ativa strike a good compromise between equipment and price? Sound off in the comments section after the jump. You can also browse full specifications and equipment on CarBase.my. For now, here is the spec-by-spec comparison between the Ativa variants:

2021 Perodua Ativa 1.0T X – RM61,500

2021 Perodua Ativa SUV – we point out all the differences from Daihatsu Rocky and Toyota Raize

Gets as standard:

Mechanicals

  • 1.0 litre 1KR-VET VVT-i DOHC engine
  • 998 cc turbocharged three-cylinder petrol
  • 98 PS at 6,000 rpm, 140 Nm of torque from 2,400 to 4,000 rpm
  • D-CVT with seven virtual ratios
  • Front-wheel drive
  • Automatic engine stop/start
  • 18.9 km per litre fuel consumption
  • Ventilated discs brakes (front), drums (rear)
  • MacPherson strut suspension (front), torsion beam (rear)

Exterior

  • LED reflector headlights with automatic high beam
  • Silver upper grille bar, chrome lower bar
  • 16-inch silver alloy wheels with Goodyear Assurance Triplemax 2 205/65-section tyres
  • Power-adjustable black door mirrors with manual fold
  • Body-coloured door handles
  • Black A- and B-pillars
  • LED taillights
  • Shark fin antenna
  • Silver tailgate garnish
  • Glittering Silver, Granite Grey and Cobalt Blue colour options

Interior

  • Keyless entry
  • Push-button start
  • Urethane steering wheel with Power button
  • Silver centre air vent trim
  • Black door pulls and grab handles
  • Digital air-conditioning controls with memory buttons
  • Centre door lock/unlock buttons
  • Fabric upholstery
  • Analogue instrument cluster with multi-info display
  • Radio with Bluetooth connectivity
  • Four speakers
  • Two front USB ports
  • 60:40 split-folding and reclining rear seats
  • Two-step boot floor (303 to 369 litres)
  • Full-sized spare tyre

Safety

  • Six airbags (front, side, front and rear curtain)
  • ABS with EBD and brake assist
  • Stability control
  • Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection (now up to 120 km/h)
  • Lane Departure Warning and Protection
  • Pedal Misoperation Control (PMC)
  • Front Departure Alert (FDA)
  • Front and rear seat belt reminders
  • Rear ISOFIX child seat anchors
  • Rear parking sensors
  • Five-star ASEAN NCAP safety rating

2021 Perodua Ativa 1.0T H – RM66,100

Adds on:

Exterior

  • Automatic LED headlights with sequential indicators, cornering lights and Adaptive Driving Beam (ADB)
  • LED front fog lights
  • Dual chrome grille bars
  • Silver front and rear skid plates
  • 17-inch dual-tone alloy wheels with Bridgestone Turanza T005A 205/60-section tyres
  • Automatic power-folding door mirrors
  • Chrome tailgate garnish
  • Pearl Diamond White and Pearl Delima Red colour options (RM500)

Interior

  • Leather-wrapped steering wheel
  • Steering wheel audio controls
  • Silver corner air vent trim
  • Silver centre console trim
  • Silver door grab handles with red trim
  • Soft-touch centre armrest and door trim
  • Seven-inch digital instrument display
  • Nine-inch infotainment touchscreen with Smart Link screen mirroring
  • One front HDMI port
  • Two rear USB ports

Safety

  • Front parking sensors
  • Reverse camera

2021 Perodua Ativa 1.0T AV – RM71,200

Adds on:

Exterior

  • Chrome door handles
  • Black roof option for Pearl Diamond White and Pearl Delima Red (RM800)

Interior

  • Red corner air vent highlights
  • Chrome door pulls
  • Chrome gearlever surround, silver gearknob trim
  • Chrome handbrake button
  • Red centre console storage compartments
  • Faux leather and suede upholstery with red highlights and headrest strip
  • Six speakers
  • Driving video recorder
  • Llumar security window tint

Safety

  • Adaptive cruise control
  • Lane centring assist
  • Blind spot monitoring
  • Rear cross traffic alert

Our full coverage of the launch of the Perodua Ativa


GALLERY: 2021 Perodua Ativa AV

GALLERY: 2021 Perodua Ativa H

GALLERY: 2021 Perodua Ativa X

GALLERY: 2021 Perodua Ativa AV with GearUp accessories

GALLERY: 2021 Perodua Ativa official images

GALLERY: 2021 Perodua Ativa brochure

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Jonathan Lee

After trying to pursue a career in product design, Jonathan Lee decided to make the sideways jump into the world of car journalism instead. He therefore appreciates the aesthetic appeal of a car, but for him, the driving experience is still second to none.

 

Comments

  • AFMGT youtube on Mar 03, 2021 at 9:33 pm

    Saham MBMR will benefit from this new model by Perodua..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 2
    • Fanta on Mar 03, 2021 at 9:52 pm

      Correcto. Beli Perodua.. beli la Proton, sapot DRB. #sapotlokal

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
  • Takiyuddin on Mar 03, 2021 at 9:35 pm

    The Ativa’s larger 17-inch two-tone 10-spoke wheels definitely more sleeker than the Rocky and Raize. Heard that if placed booking by this week, can collect new Ativa before incoming Raya in May.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 5
  • tan32 on Mar 03, 2021 at 9:35 pm

    toyota front end nicest, simple.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 1
  • The only thing that make me disappointed was it’s without daytime running lights

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
    • perodualist on Mar 03, 2021 at 11:04 pm

      later pricing more higher susah lar not affordable as they said..

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1
  • Owen Chen on Mar 03, 2021 at 11:25 pm

    Dressed to the nines but forgot to wear proper shoes. Wearing Bata slippers instead. How can you include a crappy infotainment system with no Apple Play and Android support. This a real bummer. I was looking forward to this but going to give it a miss.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 1
    • Cause Toyota only just launched Apple carplay and android auto like recently on Toyota Rocky so no doubt Perodua wouldn’t have launched it. Next facelift probably only comes with Android Auto/Apple Carplay.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • Stop defending their cheapening out. Perodua could have used the same HU as Rocky and simply do a software update to support apple carplay and android auto like for Rocky later on. Critics were laughing at Proton for X50 not supporting either one and now the same should be leveled at Perodua.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Izhar on Mar 04, 2021 at 7:23 am

    58 P2 engineers slap Bezza’s grille and the lower half of Aruz’s front bumper.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Axia ativa on Mar 04, 2021 at 12:45 pm

    Semalam pergi showroom ternampak axia tiga bijik ingatkan Ativa. Pakcik guard cakap ini axia, ativa ada dalam store. Malam malam axia muka pon nampak macam ativa, padahal axia 23k, ativa 62k cuma badan baru, turbo, dcvt, engine lebih kurang. Orang yg dapat i sinar dan untuk keperluan anak bini, patutla beli. Yang beli emas pon kena marah, orang kaya.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • msia driver big talk on Feb 19, 2021 at 1:14pm:-

    perodua target it will get 70-80k booking for the fist day of launch…

    We wait and see. Hahaha…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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