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Living in Malaysia, you'll find that the Southeast Asian country has an abundance of three things – rain, hot hot heat, and of course, amazing food. I'd say those three make for the perfect combination.
But when it comes to the tangible things we interact with on a daily basis – whether by sight, sound, or feel – there's one commonality that impacts the aforementioned senses: The Perodua Myvi.
It's the one car in Malaysia that's as ubiquitous as the country's famed (and delicious) nasi lemak. And that's not a surprise, considering it held the honorable title of Malaysia's best-selling car from 2006 (a year after its maiden debut) to 2020.
Do the math and that adds up to a total of 15 consecutive years in the top spot. In 2021, it lost its throne to its biggest competitor, national carmaker Proton with its Saga A-segment sedan, as of April at least.
Regardless of the numbers, there's more than meets the eye with the Perodua Myvi.
As the new kid on the block, the Perodua Myvi shook Malaysia's economy hatch segment in 2005.
No one could've predicted just how popular and successful the Perodua Myvi would be when it was first introduced in 2005. Only a year later in 2006, it became Malaysia's best-selling car. And as previously mentioned, it remained the nation's best-selling car for over a decade. But what makes the Myvi so deserving of that accolade?
Let's start with its size and appearance.
The first-gen Perodua Myvi. IMAGE: Perodua
Perhaps one of the most common things any Myvi owner would say about their car is the fact that it's deceivingly small. This is a good thing from a practicality standpoint, especially if you live in big cities prone to traffic jams and a lack of adequate parking spaces.
But like I said, it's deceivingly small. Its exterior may resemble your average compact car, but the Perodua Myvi has a surprisingly spacious interior.
"I think it even works as a family car too!" says our colleague (and Myvi owner), Sukhbir.
IMAGE: Perodua
And it most definitely does, at least from this writer's casual everyday observations on the road (back when we didn't work from home, that is). It's something that quite literally boggles the mind, the efficient use of interior spacing in the car.
The car's outer dimensions are more than small enough to fit through tight back alley roads, manageable enough to navigate through dense traffic, and the Myvi can even fit in the smallest of parking spaces. Okay, probably not spots dedicated to motorcycles, but you get the gist.
It's a great value-for-money proposition, especially for those on a budget, or for new drivers.
IMAGE: Perodua
At launch, the first-generation Perodua Myvi of 2005 started from RM41,000 for the base 1.0L model, and between RM45,000 to RM51,000 for the 1.3L variants.
For someone looking to get their first car, or a car for their kid in university perhaps, the Perodua Myvi seemed like the perfect option. The first-gen model was based on the M300 Daihatsu Boon from Japan – a tried-and-tested machine that could easily get you from Point A to Point B with very little to fuss about.
Later facelifts and generations of the Perodua Myvi only proved there was really no limit to the success of the model. And even with new additions to creature comforts and safety technology, the Myvi, to this day, remains extremely affordable.
I'd go as far as to say that the third-gen Myvi, first released in 2017, has the best value for money compared to the models that preceded it. For the first time, you've got a Myvi that isn't based on a Daihatsu, being designed from the ground up, in-house.
A 2018 Perodua Myvi Advance. IMAGE: Carousell
It comes with a whole suite of safety features, something so hard to picture in a car that starts at RM41,292. Like what, you ask? Here are a few that might tickle your fancy:
A five-star ASEAN NCAP safety rating, six airbags, hill-start assist, and Advanced Safety Assist, which uses stereo cameras to execute pre-determined actions like braking, in order to mitigate accidents.
Other creature comforts in the third-gen Myvi include a built-in toll reader (no more fussing about for your Smart Tag or Touch 'N Go card), 277 liters of boot space (ample luggage room for a road trip with friends and family), as well as built-in navigation for select models. And this isn't even the complete spec list.
At this point you're probably thinking that this is some thinly-veiled sponsored story. But bear with me, I'm honestly just trying to illustrate the insane bang-for-your-buck value this car has.
The Myvi is perhaps the only 'cheap' car that transcends social class, status, and wealth brackets.
IMAGE: DSF.my
Lending to its ubiquity, the Myvi can be found in all types of households, lived in by people from various walks of life.
You'll commonly find new drivers zooming around in them. A lot of the more budget-conscious drivers – the ones who don't find it necessary to spend exorbitant amounts of money for what's essentially metal on four wheels – also have them. As long as it gets you to where you need to be.
But interestingly, it's not unheard of to spot the humble Myvi on the driveways of multi-millionaires either. They serve their intended purpose extremely well, and they don't really look out of place. If anything, they could be considered errand cars at worst. Say, a quick pop to the grocery store – voilà, the Myvi.
Even then, some wealthy Malaysians like to start their kids off with a Myvi. Sure, you'll still find uber-showy 'rich kids' driving around in something like a Mercedes-Benz A-Class, but the Myvi is still very much a real option for the privileged offspring of the wealthy. It's not as looked-down-upon as other alternatives, as materialistic and superficial as that sounds.
It's also a reliable daily driver.
IMAGE: Anthony Loh / YouTube
I talked to some Myvi owners (past and present) to gauge why the car is still so popular today. A lot of them talk about the same things mentioned above. But hey, real life testimonies are better than some words from this writer, am I right?
"My mum got the first generation Myvi in the year 2005, when I was still a primary school kid. So my impression is my mum fetching us to school early in the morning in this green, spacious car (since we were still tiny)," says Audrey, a Campaign Performance Specialist.
"It then passed down to me when I started to drive in 2015 (after 10 years) and now… After 16 years, it’s still with us and my younger sis is driving it. Still steady, working fine!"
Audrey quips that her mother must be some big Myvi fan, seeing that she bought another Myvi in 2019. Audrey also drives that car occasionally, remarking that it's pretty stable.
IMAGE: alexlovesmac / YouTube
Other people find the Myvi to be just the right size to drive in a country like Malaysia.
"Driving big cars scare me 'cause I can't gauge the space needed when parking and stuff," says Gowri, a Branded Content Specialist. "But with Myvis I don't have to be scared of that, I can easily maneuver and gauge the space needed."
But it seems Gowri was always destined to drive a Myvi, given that she's owned and driven multiple examples throughout her life.
IMAGE: LCCT
"I've only ever owned Myvis. My first car was a Myvi that I took over from my mum, after which she bought a new Myvi. When my Myvi wore out, my mum bought yet another Myvi and I took over the previous Myvi she was using. It's a circle of Myvis."
And then there are those that simply enjoy the Myvi for what it is.
"I bought my Myvi in 2008 when I was pregnant with my first baby. It was an upgrade from my Kancil," says Laila, a Head of Content.
"It's a fucking cute car. I love my red Myvi."
Regardless of the Myvi's shortcoming's (as with all cars, really) one thing's pretty clear: The little car that could is here to stay.
Read more car stories:
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Cover image sourced from Careta.
