Perodua Axia E 2023

• 2023 Perodua Axia E launched, cheapest car in Msia at RM22k, RM300/month – old 2017 bumper, still no VSC

  In Cars, Local Car Launches, Local News, Perodua / By Gerard Lye / 15 June 2023 1:13 pm / 124 comments

  

  The Perodua Axia E is back, just as the carmaker promised when it launched the second-generation Axia in February this year. To be clear, the Axia E being introduced (or reintroduced depending on how you see it) today is of the first-generation model, albeit with some updates which we’ll get to shortly.

  Affordability has always been a key selling point of the Axia E, which is why it was popular with driving schools and car buyers who just wanted a basic runabout with four wheels, a boot and a roof. However, the second-generation Axia did not arrive with an E variant, with the G being the base option that is priced at RM38,600 on-the-road (OTR) without insurance.

  By comparison, the E variant of the previous Axia last sold at RM24,090, making it the cheapest car you could buy new in Malaysia. As such, Perodua saw fit to ensure the “driving school spec” Axia E lives on to fulfil its role as the most affordable car in Malaysia as well as ensuring driving schools are catered to.

  The good news is the Axia E is even cheaper than before, retailing at RM22,000 OTR without insurance (includes a five-year warranty), or RM2,090 less than the previous one. This price is applicable in both East and West Malaysia, a first for a Perodua model, and the company is aiming to sell up to 1,500 units of the Axia monthly (includes individual owners and fleet sales).

  

  “While we do not dictate who our customers are, we believe that having this model would be a welcome option by majority of Malaysians. The Perodua Axia E has been market tested and proven over years and we believe that this variant would serve its current role of giving motorcycle owners an opportunity to own a new car,” said Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Ahmad, president and CEO of Perodua.

  “Based on our discussions with local financial institutions, we found that it only takes RM300 per month to pay the hire purchase cost of owning the Axia E. This is the same cost that would take for someone to buy a brand-new motorcycle on hire purchase,” he added.

  It should be noted the new Axia E is a lot like the version released in 2019, but with the face of the 2017 model. This is obvious when viewing the car from the front, as it features the 2017 model’s bumper that is less aggressive in terms of styling.

  

  The accent trim on the grille of the 2019 Axia also swung upwards at the edges, which wasn’t the case on the 2017 Axia. As for the rear bumper, it is the same one found on the 2019 Axia with large faux corner outlets. We Asked Zainal why the older front bumper was chosen instead of just sticking with the 2019 version and were told that the tooling for the part has been fully amortised, so it was more cost effective to use the 2017 bumper.

  Another revision involves the colours offered. The previous E variant of the 2019 and 2017 Axia was only available in Glittering Silver and Ivory White – both of which make a return for the new one – but there’s now also a Granite Grey option so you have three hues to choose from. Given the car is based on the 2017 Axia, the E remains certified with a four-star ASEAN NCAP safety rating.

  Inside, the previous Axia’s dashboard design that we’re familiar with is carried over, and the E continues to come with only the essentials. You get halogen projector headlamps, manual black side mirrors, 14-inch steel wheels (with 175/65 profile tyres), fabric seats, a polyurethane steering wheel, power windows, manual air-conditioning, two airbags, folding rear bench seats, ISOFIX child seat anchors, driver seatbelt reminder and an analogue speedometer with a small digital fuel gauge (no rev counter).

  

  Like before, the E doesn’t get a head unit, speakers, central locking, remote locking, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), traction control, ABS or EBD. If you’re looking for accessories, Perodua will sell you the Utility Package that includes door visors, coil floor mats and a luggage tray. There’s also the option of GearUp leatherette seat covers front and rear.

  As for the mechanical bits, the Axia E keeps to the 1KR-VE 1.0 litre naturally-aspirated three-cylinder VVT-i engine with 67 hp and 91 Nm, which is also used for the second-generation Axia. This is paired with a five-speed manual transmission driving the front wheels, so the only way you can get an Axia with a manual is the Axia E because all variants of the newer model are D-CVT only. Perodua lists a fuel tank capacity of 33 litres and a fuel consumption of 22.5 km/l (ECE mode).

  For a bit of trivia, Perodua chairman Tan Sri Asmat Kamaludin pointed out in his speech that the Axia E at RM22,000 is more affordable than the carmaker’s first car, the Kancil, which went on sale back in 1994 at around RM25k. There you have it, the Axia E is back and it’s now cheaper than before so those in the lower income group can own a car of their own, keeping in line with Perodua’s original objective of providing affordable and quality mobility.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  
  

   

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• 2023 Perodua Axia E manual spotted in Malaysia – new grey colour, older bumper design; launching soon?

  In Cars, Local News, Perodua / By Gerard Lye / 12 June 2023 5:06 pm / 42 comments

  

  When Perodua launched the second-generation Axia in February this year, the carmaker said it would continue to produce the E variant of the first-generation model to fulfil its role as the most affordable car in Malaysia. At the time, the company did not reveal when the Axia E would be reintroduced (the original plan was sometime in April), nor did we get any details like pricing and specifications.

  However, it looks like a launch could take place soon, as paultan.org reader Muhd Hamka spotted two units of what is very likely the new Axia E. The steel wheels on both cars are an obvious giveaway, but what’s more interesting is the grey unit in the photos.

  

  

  The previous E variant in the 2019 Axia line-up was only offered in Glittering Silver and Ivory White, so this grey hue appears to be a new addition that will be part of the 2023 update. What won’t be added are body-coloured side mirrors as well as parking sensors and a wiper at the rear.

  Curiously, the sighted cars appear to sport the face of the 2017 Axia instead of the more recent 2019 model. The older car had a less aggressive front bumper with subtler creases for its faux corner intakes, while the accent trim on the grille didn’t swing upwards at the edges. It’s the opposite on the other end of both cars, with the rear bumper appearing to be the one found on the 2019 Axia E with larger faux corner outlets.

  

  

  2019 Perodua Axia E (left); 2017 Perodua Axia G (right); E would be similar but with steel wheels and black side mirrors

  We only have these photos to speculate on for now, so we’ll have to wait until an official launch to confirm this mix and match look (perhaps to save cost and reduce the price?), along with other potential updates. What is already known is the 1KR-VE 1.0 litre naturally-aspirated three-cylinder VVT-i engine will make a return with a five-speed manual transmission.

  The E variant, lovingly referred to as the “driving school spec,” has been around ever since the original Axia debuted in 2014 and remained in the line-up when the model received was updated in 2017 and 2019. Prior to its temporary absence from Perodua’s line-up, the 2019 Axia E retailed for RM24,090 on-the-road without insurance. How much do you think the new one will cost?

   

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• Perodua Axia E manual to live on – first-gen MT still cheapest car in Malaysia; updated specs, price soon

  In Cars, Local News, Perodua / By Mick Chan / 14 February 2023 10:44 am / 42 comments

  

  2019 Perodua Axia E

  The current-generation Perodua Axia E will continue to be produced and sold in order to meet the needs of the national carmaker’s customer base who are diverse in their requirements and income levels, the company announced in a presentation during the preview of the 2023 Axia.

  As such, the national carmaker will continue to produce the E variant of the Axia to serve as the base offering for the range, thus continuing in its role and the most affordable car in the Malaysian market, says Perodua.

  At the launch of the model’s 2019 update, the Axia E was priced at RM24,090, which continued to be the same as of the range-wide adjustment in July 2022, post-SST. Last month, the company revealed that the base variant is planned for release after Hari Raya Aidilfitri this year.

  

  The ‘driving school spec’ entry-level variant, so-called for its affordability and thus adoption by driving schools, could turn out to be even more affordable. “I think the driving schools will like it – same car, good spec, maybe cheaper,” said Perodua president and CEO Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Ahmad at the company’s 2023 outlook briefing at the end of last month.

  The Axia E will carry on in a sole offering of manual transmission, says Perodua; in its current guise, this is paired with the 1KR-VE 1.0 litre VVT-i engine that makes 67 hp and 91 Nm of torque at 4,400 rpm. In the 2019 update for the Axia, this has been the only variant to come with the do-it-yourself gearbox, whereas all other variants have been automatic-only.

  Launched today, the 2023 Axia brings the nameplate into its second generation, nearly a decade on since the model arrived in September 2014 to succeed the Viva.

   

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• 2023 Perodua Axia Manual will be launched after Hari Raya – could base MT be a sub-RM25k carryover?

  In Cars, Local News, Perodua / By Danny Tan / 31 January 2023 7:30 pm / 27 comments

  

  2019 Perodua Axia E MT

  Today’s official announcement of the 2023 Perodua Axia raised a question or two among some industry watchers and perhaps a petrolhead or two. I say some, because the majority of Malaysians will be well served by the four variants on offer, and won’t be missing a cheap but kosong Axia E with a manual transmission.

  Unless you’re a driving school operator. If you are, don’t worry, because the “driving school spec” Axia with a stick shift is not dead, even if it will not be present at the D74A’s launch next month. At today’s 2023 outlook event, Perodua president and CEO Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Ahmad vowed to continue to produce a manual transmission Axia.

  “Rest assured, we will still produce manual cars for driving schools, don’t worry,” he said, adding that the Axia MT is supposed to surface after Hari Raya Aidilfitri, which falls in April. “In fact, I think the driving schools will like it – same car, good spec, maybe cheaper. Perodua will continue to make the manual Axia,” he added.

  

  2019 Perodua Axia E MT

  Cheaper? It’s not easy to make a new model cheaper, especially when it it sits on a new, safer and more sophisticated platform (DNGA). Could this upcoming Axia MT be a variation of the outgoing Axia instead of the D74A with a stick shift? Zainal’s subsequent comments might contain further hints.

  “Just now I mentioned six or seven models, we now have six models (Axia, Bezza, Myvi, Ativa, Alza, Aruz), Axia MT is the last model. The Axia MT that we’re continuing, we’re supposed to launch it after Hari Raya. There’s some modification,” he said.

  It’s not very likely that a variant with a different transmission is categorised as a separate model, which might point to the base MT car being a carryover, albeit modified. We could be reading too much into the P2 chief’s words, but Perodua has done it before.

  Back when the Viva – a Kancil-replacement model – was introduced, the bug-eyed final version of the Kancil continued to be sold alongside the Viva as a cheaper model to serve basic motoring needs. Will the upcoming Axia MT play the same role today with a sub RM25k RRP (the 2019 Axia E’s launch price was RM24,090)? Perodua says that there is demand for the bare-bones Axia MT beyond driving school use, although not as much as the better-appointed variants. We’ll see. For now, full details on the all-new Axia here.

   

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