Car One Moment, MPV the Next!!
PERODUA'S decision to build a Multi Purpose Vehicle for the Malaysian market is based on their market survey, which showed that the number of those wanting a people carrier is bigger than actual sales numbers. In marketing parlance, Perodua spotted a gap in the market and they are going for it.
Interestingly, their market survey showed that most buyers are not looking for a full-size people carrier, they want a car that has the added versatility of a third row of seats. In fact they said that they are likely to use the third row of seats only 10 per cent of the time.
Based on this market survey, the Perodua Alza is the perfect vehicle for manoeuvring into the gap in the market.
Keeping in mind that the Alza is aimed at young urban motorists or young families with two children or less, it is perfectly sized and proportioned for the task.
The petite dimensions means that the Alza isn' t as heavy as other MPVs and this will probably save a few bucks at the petrol station, an important consideration when oil is hovering dangerously high at nearly USD80 (RM271) per barrel when the global economy is allegedly going through the worst slump since the Great Depression.
Perodua gave the media a chance to take the car around Putrajaya and from that short drive we made a few initial observations Firstly we are happy to note that the Alza is a roomy vehicle for five people, in fact as a straight laced five-seater, the Alza rates above average in terms of roominess and this is due to the generous width of the donor Myvi platform and the lengthened wheelbase.
A six footer can sit behind another lanky person with only a negligible amount of complaining. The thing is, if you are planning to drive with five basketballers on board, the people sitting in the third row better be exceptionally low-slung or no more than six years old.
Secondly, we noted that the build quality is still up to Perodua’s high standards, which means that only the very picky will find bone with the car. When it comes to material quality, the plastics are comparable to Daihatsu and Toyota specifications, which mean that they were selected to achieve good balance between appearance, feel, durability and cost.
Thirdly, we found the 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine to be an energetic and willing powerplant, the variable valve timing kicking in at the appropriate moment to give the Alza acceptable top-end lung without compromising
low-end grunt.
On the twisty roads the Alza felt light and easy to drive. The steering is fairly accurate and turns into corners with sufficient enthusiasm to keep the driver engaged.
The suspension is obviously tuned for comfort and this does compromise the car’s handling when negotiating a series of turns at speed but that is really an unfair criticism for a 5+2 seater.
Despite the fact that the Alza is a family vehicle and people carrier first, it may benefit from slightly firmer damping in the rear.
While this gentle damping rate may well induce a sense of luxury in the ride quality, passengers in the third row may find the wallow slightly disconcerting.
The Perodua Alza is a car that is difficult to peg; it is not an MPV in the traditional sense and it is not a station wagon either. It is a compromise between the two and the result is a vehicle that offers the versatility of an MPV within the dimensions of a small station wagon.
In that sense the Perodua Alza is car one moment, MPV the next.
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