Perodua Nautica 4WD: Kembara's successor at RM89,800

Most of you would have reacted 'accordingly' by now to the relatively whopping sticker price of almost-RM90k for a compact SUV - rebadged as a Perodua - which is a short wheelbase version of the Toyota Rush, albeit with permanent 4WD.

The new Nautica 4WD is powered by a 1.5L DVVT engine (3SZ-VE) with a max output of 109bhp at 6,000rpm and 141Nm of torque at 4,400rpm. The same engine is likewise longitudinally mounted in the Toyota Rush 2WD and Toyota Avanza 1.5 budget MPV. As with both other cousins from Toyota stable, tranny of choice is 4-speed automatic. However, being a full-time 4WD with a centre differential lock differentiates it from its 'lesser' siblings.


Perodua doesn't pretend that the Nautica 4WD is an "affordable" (read: value-for-money) SUV for the masses like the Kembara before this, with the 2nd national car company setting a sales target of just 150 -200 units per month.

Related post:
http://for-wheels.blogspot.com/2008/04/perodua-nautica-4wd-is-kembaras.html

Perodua Nautica 4WD to be Kembara's imported successor model?

Perodua has announced that its upcoming SUV will be named Nautica, with permanent 4WD. This new vehicle, based on the Daihatsu Terios (think: Toyota Rush with short wheelbase) is expected sometime May 2008. To be positioned as a somewhat premium compact SUV - first for a Perodua - the Nautica will have a 1.5L DVVT (VVTi) engine and standard 4-speed automatic transmission. Indicative price is circa RM90k - RM95k as a fully imported (CBU) model from Japan, wearing a Perodua badge! The Nautica will come in colour choices of either Medallion Grey or Majestic Black. Those interested can place advance bookings at Perodua showrooms nationwide, from May 10 onwards.

The Daihatsu Terios on which the Perodua Nautica will likely be based upon.

Toyota Rush 7-seater midi-SUV to launch soon

The Malaysian midi-SUV/MPV market is about to get crowded very soon with the addition of Toyota Rush 7-seater aka Dahaitsu Be-Go/Terios long wheelbase version. Despite those junior RAV-4 SUV looks, don't be fooled thinking that it's a 4WD. Unlike Perodua Kembara (1st gen Daihatsu Terios), it's NOT a 4X4. All is not lost though, since 2WD may be a good thing - for better fuel efficiency - considering the spiralling fuel prices.

Available only in rear-wheel drive configuration, the 7-seater Rush will be in UMW Toyota showrooms nationwide by 1st February 2008. Indicative prices are from RM83k - RM95k for the 1.5L powered Indonesian import (initial stages?) available in G (5-speed manual and 4 A/T) and S spec (auto only).

Rather baffling is the omission of ABS for the G-spec Rush. Equally disappointing is the fitting of only driver's side airbag for the G-spec that's estimated to cost between RM83k-89k. In contrast, the sub-75k Toyota Avanza 1.5G has ABS and dual airbags.

Wither the Nissan Livina 1.6 and 1.8? I don't think so, not if the RM90k-95k 'target price' for the Rush 1.5S comes true...no?

New Perodua Viva

After much fanfare of spy-shots, scoops and media embargo, this is the final unveiled 'new' product coming from Perodua, Malaysia's second national car manufacturer. In the built up to the launch yesterday, it was much talked and claimed to be THE one-for-all replacemant model for its ultra-bargain basement 660cc, 850cc Kancil AND the 1,000cc Kelisa.

However - and dissapointingly so - Perodua too has taken the route of Proton in maintaining a super-ageing model, the Kancil to soldier as a true entry-level car - citing inablity to keep manufacturing cost low enough (even for a 660cc variant?) for the Viva to be super-affordable. The cheapest Kancil 660cc is about RM22k, last quoted at a dealer showroom. Gosh! That's about RM6k - or roughly 27% - hike for this super-base model! No wonder Perodua has been quick to add that Viva "isn't Kancil's replacement"...and cleverly so.

Truth be told, this is a rebadged model based on the LAST model Daihatsu Mira (read: predecessor) and not the real McCoy currently on sale in Japan.

Prices after the picture below, please judge for yourself whether this is a truly value-for-money national car, despite the seemingly low-ish price tags.

Variants and Prices (OTR with insurance):

Perodua Viva 660cc MT Solid: RM28,400
Perodua Viva 660cc MT Metallic: RM28,800
Perodua Viva 850cc MT Solid: RM32,500
Perodua Viva 850cc MT Metallic: RM32,900
Perodua Viva 1000cc MT Solid: RM36,800
Perodua Viva 1000cc MT Metallic: RM37,200
Perodua Viva 1000cc AT Solid: RM39,800
Perodua Viva 1000cc AT Metallic: RM40,200
Perodua Viva 1000cc Premium MT Solid: RM40,800
Perodua Viva 1000cc Premium MT Metallic: RM41,200
Perodua Viva 1000cc Premium AT Solid: RM43,800
Perodua Viva 1000cc Premium AT Metallic: RM44,200

*For more comprehensive infos, you are better off here:
http://paultan.org/archives/2007/05/11/new-perodua-viva-full-details-photos-and-price/
Or here:
http://www.motortrader.com.my/NUS/articles/article_932/page_m.asp

*Many motoring enthusiasts have complained to For Wheels about Perodua's website being inaccesible as of 11th May 2007.