Perodua Ativa Hybrid vs Turbo – full comparison between the subscription-only CBU Rocky vs the regular 1.0T model
Here’s our first full collection of the Perodua Ativa Hybrid in the usual all-around style you know and love, with every exterior angle and every interior nook covered. As a bonus, we have Ativa Hybrid subscription only parallel to Regular Ativa Turbo which you can buy at the showroom.
If you don’t know, Ativa Hybrid is the subject of a ‘electric vehicle research’ as well as ‘long term mobility as a service market research’. The first study looked at hybrid driving behavior in cities (Klang Valley, Penang and JB account for 60% of Perodua’s sales, KV alone contributes 40%) and the other is to investigate the extent consumer acceptance of a five-year service subscription, as opposed to buying and owning a traditional car.
Program participants need to make a prepayment of RM2,150 (including a refundable three-month safety deposit, first month fee and stamp duty), followed by a monthly subscription fee of RM500 for the next five years. Maintenance (including wear and tear items), insurance and road taxes will be covered by Perodua, as Ativa Hybrids are registered in the company name, not the customer’s name.
It’s a five-year commitment and the mileage limit for this period is 100,000 km, averaging 20,000 km a year or 1,666 km per month. At the end of the term, the total payment to Perodua will be RM30,150 and the hybrid will return to the company. By the way, all 300 have the same specs and colors – Pearl White without the black hood option.
As mentioned, this is a study and not a commercial subscription program, so participants will have to agree to install a GPS telecommunications system in their car. This is so that P2 can learn how to drive and how to use it. Subscribers will also need to submit periodic reports to Perodua, currently scheduled once a quarter.
Moving on to a car, the Ativa Hybrid is actually a Japanese CBU Daihatsu Rocky e-Smart Hybrid renamed Perodua. The P symbols (front, rear, steering wheel) and Ativa lettering have been fitted by DMC in Japan on cars destined for the Malaysian market and do not have the ‘T’ (for turbocharger) badge. on the back door, plastic. Note that the rear license plate cutout is a small JDM square. From this point on, I’ll call the Ativa Hybrid the Daihatsu Rocky to make it less confusing, since we’ll be comparing it to the Ativa Turbo.
The white paint that highlights the front end of Daihatsu Rocky, as you can see, is very different from the front that P2 has designed. The Ativa grille is wider and joined by the headlights, with chrome bands emphasizing this. It gives the impression of the width of a rather narrow car which I like. The Rocky’s narrower grille has a cascading proportional insert, which sets it apart from the Ativa’s horizontal lines.
Daihatsu uses triangular cutouts for the fog lights while Perodua uses an inverted ‘L’ shape – the same motif is repeated on the rear bumper. Speaking of the bumper and grille, the Rocky’s has a very abrupt cut at both ends – you can clearly see the vertical when viewed from the side. In contrast, the Ativa’s front grille protrudes more and the edges of the bumper protrude slightly. This gives Perodua a slightly longer dimension and a more ‘natural’ look due to the lack of a better descriptor.
Other ‘find the difference’ points include the headlight bridging trim (all black for the Rocky, part chrome for the Ativa), the absence of sliding-plate-style silver trim at both ends on the Rocky, and the round side mirrors. and smaller than the JDM vehicle. Rocky’s passenger side mirror has two more small side mirrors. In addition, Rocky’s mirror caps are body-colored; they come in black on the Ativa, no matter which color you choose.
Because Ativa is now so familiar, Rocky stands out with its unique face. And the cool wheels. The two-tone 17-inch rims have a much more dynamic blade design, but the tires are less dynamic – it’s a hybrid, so efficiency is paramount with the Dunlop Enasave eco tyres, compared to the full tyres. Ativa’s representative Bridgestone Turanza T005A Travel tire 205/60. The Hybrid’s 195/60 tires are also narrower.
By the way, the wheels of these two cars are not interchangeable. The Rocky’s rim has five lugs (better for heavier cars, P2 says) while the Ativa has four. As usual for hybrids, there are no full-size spare parts here, just a tire repair kit in the side wall of the trunk.
As mentioned, the back door of the Rocky is plastic. This is not uncommon for cars in Japan, but car companies often change the hatch to metal for the Malaysian market to match the local mindset of more durable steel. An example of this is the T32 Nissan X-Trail. Another area that has been tweaked to suit local needs is the suspension – the JDM Rocky’s setup is 15mm lower and the springs are softer too.
Before we move inside, note that the Rocky’s keyless entry works on both the driver and passenger side doors, as opposed to just the driver side for the Ativa. P2 says its method — tap once to unlock only the driver’s door, double tap to open all — is for safety. We can understand that, but the sensors on the sides add some convenience.
Once inside, you’ll find that the Hybrid has a tall center console that integrates an electronic parking brake (with an automatic hold function, according to Aza AV) and two deep cup holders. In contrast, the Ativa’s center console has a “valley” between the gearshift area and the armrest, the manual handbrake is located here along with dedicated lock / unlock buttons. The latter is a missing feature on JDM vehicles. Much gain, much loss.
Furthermore, Daihatsu comes with its own climate control panel. This single-zone AC unit has two buttons and an automatic function. The P2’s unit in the Ativa doesn’t have auto mode, but I find its unique dual-position memory function extremely useful – P2 owners, would you trade the memory for auto? Personally I wouldn’t because I never use a car anyway, but I think the Daihatsu dashboard looks better. In addition, the start button is blue on the hybrid and JDM cars also have heated seats.
Moving on, the original Japanese head unit was swapped for a local Ativa unit, but this also means there are no audio controls and reverse camera on the renamed cars. Technically, Perodua could have added those, plus a dash cam, but maybe it did too much. These are features that once you get used to them it’s hard to go back to the old way of doing things, so it’s important to adapt.
The “lower spec” feel of the Hybrid that P2 ordered is evident on first contact – its keychain has fewer buttons and, as a result, feels empty. That impression is confirmed by the empty buttons on the steering wheel, the red accents of the AV and the two-tone leather seats of the local flagship. However, it didn’t take more than a few kilometers for my beggar to prefer the Japanese style chair, which is softer and a bit more comfortable.
As for the fit and material quality, it’s pretty much the same for both. These aren’t expensive cars and they don’t pretend to be premium either. Instead, the panel has a unique design, strong cubes, and an ongoing geometric theme. Look closely and you’ll find different beads for the main panel section.
Finally, hybrid system-specific features include unique gauge markings such as Eco/Power/Charge instead of the usual tachometer (there are several interfaces to choose from, as in the Turbo) and the power flow page in the multi-information display.
There is also a Smart Pedal function for one-pedal driving and the S-PDL button is where the ADAS buttons are located. Single-pedal driving offers a lot of regenerative power, and “engine braking” comes into play – once you get used to the S-PDL distance, the brake pedal will come down for occasional use, such as Press lightly to bring the car to a complete stop.
The hybrid is powered by a 106 PS / 170 Nm electric motor, with a WA-VEX 1.2 liter 82 PS / 105 Nm naturally aspirated 3-cylinder engine that acts purely as a generator for the battery. hybrid. The electric motor powers the wheels via an HEV transmission, which means the hybrid in this line-up behaves like a range-extending electric vehicle, much like Nissan’s e-Power system. .
Unlike Honda’s e:HEV hybrid, there is no direct drive that connects the ICE and the wheels, although in reality, Daihatsu’s ICE – when in operation – feel directly connected to the throttle movement. By the way, Hybrid’s ICE is a Unit 1.2L NAwhile the Malaysian-made Ativas uses a 1.0L turbocharged engine with a capacity of 98 PS and 140 Nm.
The Hybrid’s claimed fuel consumption is 3.6 l/100 km on the WLTP cycle, which is 27.8 km/l. Perodua says it is capable of reaching speeds of 31.3 km/l during the Driving Cycle in Malaysia, which is said to reflect local driving conditions. That means with the current price of RON 95 petrol at RM2.05/litre, a journey from KL to Penang (358km) can cost as little as RM23.
Sound too optimistic? We will try it and share our findings. On paper and based on looks, which do you prefer – Hybrid or Turbo? Also, what do you think about the RM500 per month subscription program? Great deal or do you want to own the car after the payment is done?
LIBRARY: Perodua Ativa Hybrid
LIBRARY: Perodua Ativa Turbo AV
