The Daihatsu Rocky Hybrid has been launched in Indonesia. This ‘Ativa Hybrid’ is Astra Daihatsu Motor’s first electrified model, which means that ADM has beaten its Malaysian sibling Perodua to be the first to market a hybrid car. However, according to local reports, the Rocky Hybrid is a CBU import from Japan, unlike the locally produced petrol-powered Rocky.
Yes, the Ativa Hybrid was introduced in Malaysia back in September 2023, but the electrified SUV was available only on a subscription model – we couldn’t buy one from a showroom and the car was officially billed as an ‘electric vehicle study’ and a ‘long-term mobility as a service market study’.
It’s not often that ADM gets ahead of Perodua, but since the Ativa Hybrid study was launched three years ago, the folks in Rawang have been busy developing Perodua’s first electric vehicle. Tasked by the government to come up with an affordable EV, with a publicly announced deadline for added pressure, P2 must deliver an EV in 2025, by hook or crook.
Unlike Proton, Perodua’s technology partner Daihatsu does not have an EV donor car, so rebadging was out of the question and developing one from scratch was the only option. Considering the circumstances and limited resources, it would be understandable that other projects have been put on the back-burner. Still, it would be good if we have hybrid options in Malaysia, as not everyone wants an EV. And the Rocky is a good hybrid, a proper one with fantastic fuel economy.
Launched in its home market in November 2021, the Rocky e-Smart Hybrid is powered by a 106 PS/170 Nm electric motor (Ativa 1.0T has 98 PS/140 Nm), with a 1.2 litre WA-VEX Atkinson-cycle three-cylinder naturally aspirated engine with 82 PS/105 Nm acting purely acts as a generator for the hybrid battery. The e-motor powers the wheels via an HEV transaxle, which means that this series hybrid model works somewhat like a range extender electric vehicle.
The Rocky Hybrid’s claimed fuel consumption is 3.6 litres per 100 km on the WLTP cycle, which translates to 27.8 km/l. When it launched the subscription plan, Perodua said that the Ativa Hybrid is capable of 31.3 km/l in a ‘Malaysian Driving Cycle’, which is supposed to reflect local driving conditions. In this MDC, and with the current RON 95 price, a journey from KL to Penang (358 km) can cost as low as RM23 in fuel, P2 claimed.
The Rocky Hybrid is very similar to the the Ativa from the outside, save for a Rocky-specific grille (which is narrower and has a cascading scaled insert) and more straight-cut front/rear bumpers (they look vertical from the sides), which makes overall length marginally shorter. Daihatsu uses triangular cutouts for the fog lamps while Perodua employs inverted ‘L’ shapes – the same motif is repeated on the rear bumper.
Other ‘spot the difference’ points include the lack of skid plate-style silver trim at both ends on the Rocky and the JDM car’s smaller and rounder wing mirrors. The Rocky’s passenger-side mirror adds on two small mirrors showing the kerb. Also, the Rocky’s mirror caps are body-coloured; they’re black on the Ativa, no matter which colour you choose.
The car you see here rides on single-tone 16-inch alloys, which by the way, has five lugs instead of the Ativa’s four. The Perodua gets larger rims (17-inch) and wider tyres (205/60 versus 195/60) than the Rocky Hybrid, which also makes do with eco tyres (Dunlop Enasave) and a tyre repair kit typical on hybrids. The Rocky’s tailgate is plastic – this is not unusual, but car companies typically change the hatch to metal for the Malaysian market. e-Smart hybrid badging can be found on the tailgate and front wings.
Inside the familiar cockpit, the Daihatsu features its own AC control panel (with auto function but without P2’s signature memory buttons), a blue push start button and an electronic parking brake switch with auto brake hold, which is not available in the Ativa. The hybrid also features an available Smart Pedal function for one-pedal driving (S-PDL button below the driver’s AC vent), with regeneration and “engine braking” in place of stepping on the brakes.
The car you see here is a CBU Japan unit that was imported without its home country’s touchscreen head unit, and in its place is a locally fitted unit with reverse camera. As such, the steering spokes are very bare with just the trip controls and ‘Power’ button, giving off a ‘low spec’ vibe (no ACC too). Finally, the JDM suspension is 15 mm lower than the Ativa’s.
The Daihatsu Rocky Hybrid’s price will be revealed tomorrow. Here’s hoping that hybrids are still in Perodua’s plans – if this model is too old by then, there’s the Yaris Cross, a 1.5L hybrid that’s doing very well in Thailand. This is of course the long-rumoured D66B ‘Nexis’, Toyota’s B-SUV rival to the Honda HR-V.
GALLERY: Daihatsu Rocky Hybrid at GIIAS 2025
GALLERY: Perodua Ativa Hybrid in Malaysia
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What is the point of a hybrid car in Malaysia with our cheap petrol? You get a very complicated car which costs more to buy and maintain. Second hand value will get you clobbered. Unless you are a taxi driver you are unlikely to be able to offset the higher cost with savings on petrol. If your intention is to save the planet get an EV and be done with it.
faster acceleration mayb