Wherever you are in Malaysia, chances are you’ll see a Perodua Myvi on the road. This iconic B-segment hatchback is well-loved by Malaysians as proven by its sales numbers over the years. In fact, it was the best-selling car in Malaysia between 2006 and 2013, which is eight consecutive years! It reached an impressive milestone of passing 1 million units sold in 2017 and was again Malaysia’s best-selling car in 2020.
Back when it was first introduced in 2005, the Perodua Myvi was an outlier in a market dominated by sedans. However, its compact form, spacious interior, and affordable price quickly made it a household name among Malaysians and the rest was history.
First Generation Perodua Myvi (M300) – Where It All Started
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The first generation Perodua Myvi was based on the M300 Daihatsu Boon or Sirion. It was a new addition to Perodua’s lineup which mainly consisted of smaller A-segment cars at the time. The Myvi was first offered in two engine options; a 1.0L 3-cylinder and a 1.3L 4-cylinder engine. Prices started from RM41,000 for the 1.0L version and from RM45,000 for the 1.3L version. Both engine options had Dynamic Variable Valve Timing (DVVT) and electronic fuel injection (EFI). The 1.0L version produced a maximum power of 43 kW and a maximum torque of 88 Nm while the 1.3L engine produced a maximum power of 64 kW and a maximum torque of 116 Nm.
Just like the current generation car, the Myvi back then had a deceivingly compact body yet was spacious inside which made it the perfect car for use on Malaysian roads. It also had a soft exterior styling with rounded curves that made it look cute and approachable for many Malaysians from all walks of life. Notable features at the time included an immobilizer system, dual airbags as standard, anti-lock braking system (ABS), and a pedestrian-safe body construction.
Iconic First Gen Facelift
In 2008, the Perodua Myvi received a facelift with modified front and rear bumpers, grille, new alloy rims, dashboard, instrument panel design, fabric seats, and a new infotainment system with MP3/WMA, USB, and Bluetooth support. The facelifted versions continued to be the best-selling cars in Malaysia and Perodua later launched three special edition Myvis in this generation with mostly cosmetic updates; a “Special Edition” in October 2008, an “Exclusive Edition” in October 2009, and a “Limited Edition” in July 2010. Out of the three, the first “Special Edition” has to be the most recognizable with its iconic orange paint job, darker headlights, and a full body kit with a rear spoiler.
Second Generation Myvi (M600)
In 2011, Perodua launched the second generation Myvi, this time based on the M600 Daihatsu Boon. However, Perodua injected its own design into the car with sharper headlights and taillights, a redesigned front bumper, and sharper wheel arches giving it a sportier and classier look.
This generation brought a host of improvements with the biggest being an upgrade to the engine options. The 1.0L engine was replaced with a 1.3L and 1.5L engine both with DVVT and EFI. The 1.5L produced more power at 75 kW and more torque at 136 Nm. Perodua also created new taglines for its cars, with “Lagi Best” for the Myvi 1.3 and “Lagi Power, Lagi Best” for the Myvi 1.5. Although the external length of the Myvi was reduced this generation, Perodua managed to increase the interior length by 15 mm retaining the Myvi’s exceptional practicality.
Besides dual SRS airbags, this generation Myvi had 3-point Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) seatbelts instead of the 2-points in the previous generation. It also had ISOFIX as standard, ABS, and electronic brake distribution (EBD). The Myvi also received upgraded equipment and features inside the cabin. The two biggest interior changes were the redesigned instrument cluster and center dashboard. The new instrument cluster now had a large central speedometer that’s easy to read at a glance and the center dashboard now housed the automatic gear lever. The higher range variants featured a new 6-inch touchscreen display audio system.
Second Gen Myvi Facelift
The second-generation Myvi later got a mid-life facelift in 2015 with more style and equipment upgrades. Outside, it received design touch-ups on the front grille, bumpers, and wheels, while the interior saw a host of upgrades. For instance, the range-topping Myvi 1.5 Advance received a multimedia infotainment system with navigation and a reverse camera as well as leather-wrapped semi-bucket seats. Also new are front corner sensors, anti-snatch hooks, and a retractable cup holder below the driver’s right air conditioning vent.
The facelifted 1.5L variants even received projector headlights with guide lights, which was a first for a Malaysian-made B-segment car. Even with all these features, the Myvi was priced from RM41,500 to RM59,000, providing excellent value and further cementing its position as the best-selling car in Malaysia.
Third Generation Perodua Myvi (M800) – The Best Yet
The third-generation Perodua Myvi was launched in November 2017 and was probably the most awaited version, for good reason. It’s the first Myvi to be designed fully in-house by Perodua with Toyota and Daihatsu only providing the engines and technical advice. It has totally revamped styling with Perodua’s new design language and is longer, wider, and lower than the outgoing model. It’s priced from RM41,292 to RM52,697 meaning it’s just as affordable as ever.
The third-generation Myvi is offered with 1.3L and 1.5L engine options with double overhead camshaft (DOHC) and dual variable valve timing (Dual VVT-i). The engines are also tuned by Perodua to improve fuel efficiency which enabled them to acquire an Energy Efficient Vehicle (EEV) certification, previously only available on the Axia and Bezza. Although it’s more fuel-efficient than the previous generation, these engines have better performance with the 1.3L producing 70 kW of power and 121 Nm of torque, while the 1.5L engine produces 76 kW of power and 136 Nm of torque.
Introducing Even More Safety Features
The most significant changes in the Myvi are new safety features. Four airbags now come as standard while higher variants get six of them. Also standard on all variants are ABS, EBD, brake assist (BA), vehicle stability control (VSC), and traction control (TRC), another first for Malaysian-made B-segment cars. The range-topping 1.5 AV model gets Perodua’s Advanced Safety Assist (A.S.A.) which includes Pre-Collision Warning (PCW), Pre-Collision Braking (PCB), Front Departure Alert (FDA), and Pedal Misoperation Control (PMC). All these features helped the Myvi obtain a five-star ASEAN NCAP (New Car Assessment Program) rating making it a great car for families. And of course, the Myvi still boasts a spacious interior and new 60:40 folding rear seats for extra boot space.
Third Gen Myvi 2022 Facelift
The mid-life facelift for the third-gen Myvi was unveiled on 18 November 2021 which added even more improvements to Malaysia’s best-selling car including the much-awaited Perodua Smart Drive Assist (PSDA) which is available on all variants except the base 1.3L G. PSDA includes Advanced Safety Assist 3.0 (A.S.A. 3.0), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Keep Assist (LKA), Blind Spot Monitoring System (BMS), and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)Notable updates on the exterior are vertical LED daytime running lights (DRLs) on the front bumper, a more angular bumper with sharper lines similar, and a slightly reworked rear bumper. There’s also a new color option for the top-spec 1.5 AV which is Cranberry Red.
The facelift cost Perodua RM50 million to develop and sees a slight price bump over the outgoing model. There are five variants; the base 1.3 G, 1.3 G with PSDA, 1.5 X, 1.5 H, and 1.5 AV with prices ranging from RM45,700 to RM58,800. It retains the same engine as before but with a new continuously variable transmission (CVT) which helps to improve fuel economy to 4.8 L/100 km.
Inside, the 1.5 AV Myvi gets black and red leather seats while other variants get updated fabric seats. There’s also a new meter cluster with a colored digital multi-info display, a larger 6.9-inch infotainment screen, refreshed trim, and a new Power Mode button on the steering wheel. The Power button, carried over from the Ativa, gives the car a slight boost in acceleration, perfect for overtaking on the highway. The range-topping 1.5 AV gets an integrated driving video recorder (dashcam) as standard.
The Perodua Myvi has gone through many improvements over the years. And the third-generation car with its sleek styling, EEV certification, and long list of safety features, is easily the best value Myvi yet. It has been among the best-selling cars in Malaysia since its debut and if it continues to innovate and punch above its weight, the Myvi will keep on being a favorite for many Malaysians.
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