Review
Perodua Myvi hatchback
Price: £7,799 - £9,099
/5
- Pros:
- Cheap to buy and run
- Spacious interior
- Well equipped
- Cons:
- Noisy on motorways
- Lack of dealer support
- Unrecognised badge
reviewed by Carbuyer
"The Myvi is an ideal town car thanks to its short overhangs, and it has a very grown-up interior."
At a glance
- The greenest
- 1.3 Sxi 5dr
£7,999 - The cheapest
- 1.3 Sxi Sport 5dr
£7,799 - The fastest
- 1.3 Sxi 5dr
£7,999 - Top of the range
- 1.3 Ezi SE Auto 5dr
£9,099
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Essentially, the Perodua Myvi is a five-door Daihatsu built under license in Malaysia. Because of this, Perodua can offer the Myvi at knock-down prices, which means there aren't many new cars that are cheaper. The practical cabin is well made, and has a range of storage bins and useful cubbies. The high roofline gives a similar appearance to a mini MPV, and means there's enough space inside for four adults. Only one engine is offered, a 1.3-litre petrol that produces a respectable 86bhp. All models come well equipped with power-steering, air-conditioning, twin airbags and electric front and rear windows fitted as standard. For first-hand experiences of Myvi ownership, visit Myvi Magic, a blog written by a real-life Myvi owner.
Drive
Myvi is happiest around town
The Myvi is fun to drive around town, nipping in and out of traffic and squeezing into tight parking spaces with ease. The 1.3-litre engine also feels eager in models fitted with a manual gearbox, requiring 11.3 seconds to go from 0-60mph. Once on the motorway or open road, the Myvi remains a stable companion, but the engine's lack of power requires you to change down a gear and hope for a long stretch of clear tarmac if you're planning to overtake something.
Comfort
Short journeys are the Myvi's forte
Whether just popping to the shops or on the daily commute, the Myvi is better suited to shorter journeys than long motorway runs. The upright driving position and lack of heavy sound proofing makes long periods behind the wheel rather tiresome. Passengers are well catered for with ample head and legroom, electric windows and a decent stereo.
Reliability
Toyota running gear won't go wrong
The Myvi is a rebadged Daihatsu Sirion, and that in turn uses mechanical parts from the 2005 Toyota Yaris, so you can expect the Myvi to be reliable. And with only 56 garages across the country that are able to service the Myvi, that's probably a good thing. The interior materials feel well screwed together, and for the price, owners won't feel short changed.
Practicality
Impressive head and leg room
This is an area where the Myvi scores well. There's impressive amounts of rear head and legroom, and you could seriously consider carrying five people. The rear seats split 60:40 and fold fully flat to create a 630-litre load bay. Up front, cup-holders, cubbies and storage bins mean you won't be hunting for somewhere to keep mobile phones or other odds and ends.
Value for money
Fantastic value for money
Not many cars can beat the Myvi's value for money. Regular promotions offer large discounts on the already cheap price tag, and you get plenty of kit for your money. All models get electric mirrors with integrated indicators, a CD player, engine immobiliser, air-conditioning, central locking and twin airbags, while a variety of option packages add luxuries such as leather seats, larger alloy wheels, and in Sport spec, a racy bodykit.
Running costs
Efficient, but could be cleaner
The Myvi is light on fuel, capable of returning 49mpg on the combined cycle, but does have high emissions for a car of this size, resulting in an annual tax bill of £115. The Myvi comes with a three year or 60,000 mile manufacturer warranty, two years free roadside assistance and an eight year anti-corrosion guarantee.
