- Dashcams' popularity have increased a lot
- With so many dashcams out there, which is the right one for you?
With basikal lajak being a nuisance and posing as a safety risk to themselves and road users around them, getting your car fitted with a dashcam (also called a digital video recorder, or DVR) is crucial.
Having video evidence from a dashcam will save drivers from unnecessary “he said, she said” disputes arising from an accident.
All variants of the Toyota Corolla Cross offer a DVR
Most car manufacturers are aware that buyers can be and have begun integrating a dashcam, or offering one as an optional extra.
The 2022 Myvi is the cheapest new car in Malaysia to offer a built-in DVR
At the moment, the cheapest new car that’s fitted with a DVR, right from the factory, is the 2022 Perodua Myvi 1.5 AV. This DVR-equipped variant is priced at RM 58,800 (on-the-road, valid until 30-June 2022).
Manufacturers like Toyota offers an integrated dashcam on upper variants of their models (Vios, Yaris, Corolla Altis, Hilux), or all variants (Corolla Cross, Camry, Rush, Fortuner). As for models like the Innova, the DVR is an optional extra. Selected Toyota variants can also be optioned with a rear DVR, ensuring a full coverage.
As for manufacturers like Honda, they offer a front DVR as an optional extra for all their models, priced at RM 749, while models like the City Hatchback and Civic have the option of a front and rear DVR, priced at RM 1,149.
Nissan also offers a front and rear DVR as an optional extra on the Almera, while the top-spec Serena Premium Highway Star gets a built-in DVR.
What if my car isn’t fitted with a built-in DVR?
Fret not if your car isn’t fitted with a built-in DVR, as the aftermarket scene has you covered with numerous options out there.
To ease your search for a good DVR, we’ve listed out some features to look out for.
Brand – Aim for well-known ones, avoid unbranded DVRs
Most big-name brands like 70Mai, Transcend, Viofo, Blackvue, Thinkware, and DDPai offer a wide range of dashcams. We would generally advise against no-name DVRs, as quality of these unbranded ones are questionable at best, and after-sales support is borderline non-existent.
Price – Sub-RM 100 DVRs, really?
Sub-RM 100 DVRs should be avoided at all costs
With a dashcam being the only line of defense between yourself and other party, you shouldn’t skimp on cheap dashcams. The general rule of thumb is that a decent dashcam is priced from the RM 300 mark onwards.
Video resolution – 1080P is the norm, but you can and should aim higher
These days most DVRs offer a video resolution of 1080p, but if and when possible, get a DVR that offers 2160P or 4K resolutions, as these offer a crisper video footage.
Framerate – Time to embrace 60 fps
30 frames per second (fps) is the norm these days, but 60 fps is ideal. Higher fps also means larger file sizes.
Memory card – High Endurance cards are a must
It’s highly recommended to invest in a high-quality memory card that’s been engineered specifically for DVR usage. Thus, keep an eye out for “High Endurance” memory cards. Transcend, Kingston, Samsung, and SanDisk offer such memory cards for this particular purpose. Regular non-High Endurance memory cards can also work, but may not last as long as their flash memory can get worn out far sooner.
Memory card capacity – Don’t skimp on low capacity cards
The video resolution and framerate play a role in determining how much of a memory card you need. It’s a good habit to check what’s the maximum capacity supported by a particular DVR and get the largest possible size. Smaller capacity memory cards offer less recording time.
Display size – A decent display is nice to have
70Mai M300 pictured
Good to have a display to align and adjust the dashcam, but not a must-have. Some dashcams make do without a display, relying instead on WiFi connection for users to view recordings.
G-Sensor – Most dashcams have this
When the G-Sensor detects a crash, the dashcam will lock the video recording to prevent it from being deleted or overwritten.
GPS – An optional extra, but probably worth it
One feature that's often overlooked when shopping for a dashcam is the availability of Global Positioning System (GPS).
Screen grab from my Viofo A119, note the speed and GPS coordinates
Much like the GPS found in your phone, a GPS-equipped dashcam is able to overlay crucial information like vehicle speed and GPS coordinates on your video footage, which can provide vital information when the need arises.
In most cases, dashcams that supports GPS require a separate GPS module, often times purchased as an optional extra.
Battery – Solid capacitor should be the way forward
Solid capacitor found in a dashcam
Most DVRs out there are fitted with a built-in lithium-ion battery. This works well for the most part, but it’s advisable to get one with a solid capacitor instead. When exposed to high temperatures, lithium-ion batteries will degrade (and sometime expand) over time, something that won’t happen with a solid capacitor.
Elsewhere, we would also recommend potential buyers to watch reviews of the DVRs you’re interested in before getting one, so that you can get a rough idea of a DVR’s video recording capabilities, as well as video footage quality.
On top of that, keep an eye out for video footage in the dark, as most cheap DVRs will struggle to capture number plates in the dark. A good DVR is able to capture sharp footage regardless of lighting conditions.
What about power?
Tap power off the 12V socket/cigarette lighter to ensure that your car's warranty isn't voided
For the most part, we highly recommend owners to use the car’s 12V socket or cigarette lighter to power their DVR, as this won’t tamper with the car’s original wiring system.
A hardwire kit taps onto your car's existing wiring system via the fuse box
As for cars outside of their warranty coverage period, then a hardwire kit is a feasible option. Just keep in mind that the hardwire kit tampers with the car’s original wiring and should be done at your own risk.
All variants of the 2022 Proton Persona and Proton Iriz offer a USB port behind the rear-view mirror for a dashcam
We have to give an honorable mention to Proton in this regard. Although none of their models are fitted with a built-in dashcam, they do offer an integrated USB port behind the rear-view mirror, easing the installation of a DVR as owners don’t have to route a separate cable.
This feature is found on the Proton Iriz, Proton Persona, and Proton X70. Curiously, the Proton X50 isn’t fitted with this ingenious feature.
There you have it, a reasonably comprehensive guide for you to shop for your next dashcam. Leave us a comment in the comments section if you have any questions.
Keyword: If the courts can’t defend you against basikal lajak, maybe invest in a dashcam