Perodua Myvi (2010 – ) expert review

1. Exterior

The Perodu Myvi is based on the Daihatsu Sirion and features chunky looks, with prominent wheel arches and a rear spoiler. Choose the Sport or Sport+ option pack and the bumpers, wheels and four tailpipes give the Myvi a rally-look.

Our rating: 3

2. Interior

You sit in a slightly raised position at the steering wheel and there’s good visibility through the upright windscreen and tall side windows. The seats are reasonably comfortable, but don’t offer too much support in corners. It’s a basic cabin, but its controls and dials are clear and functional, while a cubby hole under the stereo and heater controls makes good storage for your mobile phone or wallet. The Sport+ pack adds leather and alcantara upholstery.

Our rating: 3

3. Practicality

There are seatbelts for five, but realistically, four adults will find snug but adequate room inside. There’s plenty of headroom thanks to the tall roofline and a boot which measures between 225 and 630 litres, depending on whether you fold down the 60:40 split rear seat.

Our rating: 2

4. Ride and handling

The Myvi has light steering and can be fun to drive around town and along country lanes. It only has narrow tyres, so faster corners should be taken with more care, especially in the rain. The car doesn’t lean too much in bends, but this firmness also means the Myvi can bounce over speed bumps a little too much. At motorway speeds the Myvi isn’t as relaxing as bigger cars, but feels comparable with budget superminis from other manufacturers.

Our rating: 3

5. Performance

The only engine available is a 1.3-litre petrol engine with 86bhp, taking it from rest to 62mph in 11.3 seconds. This is around the same performance as the 1.3-litre Mitsubishi Colt and a couple of seconds quicker than the Ford KA. It’s a responsive engine, but high revs equal lots of noise, which can be a pain on journeys spent at the national speed limit.

Our rating: 3

6. Running costs

The Myvi has fuel consumption of between 44 and 48mpg depending on whether you go for the manual or automatic gearbox. This won’t hurt the wallet too much, but it’s also less than is available in some competitors. The Fiat Panda 1.1-litre manages more than 50mpg. Servicing should prove cost effective, although it’s worth bearing in mind the Daihatsu Sirion is no longer sold in the UK and the Myvi sells in small numbers, so parts are not as common as they are for some mainstream manufacturers. CO2 emissions are 137g/km or 151g/km for the automatic.

Our rating: 2

7. Reliability

The Sirion, which the Myvi is based on, has proved very rugged and reliable, with few reported common problems and no manufacturer recalls. What the interior lacks in luxury, it makes up for in being tough and simple.

Our rating: 4

8. Safety

The Sirion received a four-star Euro NCAP crash test rating, which points towards the Myvi being as safe as many cars in its class. The Fiat Panda has three stars; the Nissan Micra and Chevrolet Spark have four stars, while the Suzuki Swift gets five. Driver and front passenger airbags are fitted as standard, as are anti-lock brakes (ABS).

Our rating: 3

9. Equipment

All Myvi trim levels get front and rear electric windows, power steering, air-con and radio/CD player.

Our rating: 4

10. Why buy?

The Perodua Myvi offers low-cost and reliable motoring, with the added rarity value which comes from buying a car from a less well-known manufacturer.

Our rating: 3