Read the full story here: The rise of a MPV
Perodua has introduced its newest offering, the Alza, into the market. The little MPV, which wears the catchphrase “car one moment, MPV the next,” was launched earlier this evening by the Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, at the KL Convention Centre.
The seven-seater is based largely on the Toyota Passo Sette (and Daihatsu Boon Luminas), though the Alza is somewhat longer than the latter, about 50mm more. The vehicle, which weighs in at 1,120-1,150kg, depending on variant, does share some commonality with the Myvi, less than 30% in terms of componentry. Primarily, the largest single area is with the front end of the cabin platform, but this has of course seen a fair amount of adaptation come about for the new vehicle. Elsewhere, it’s all new.
A 1.5l twin-cam pot powers the Alza (the name is derived from a Spanish word meaning “rise”), and the 3SZ-VE puts out 103bhp at 6,000rpm and 136Nm at 4,400rpm of torque. Both five-speed manual and four-speed auto transmissions are available, and at point of launch four variant types will go on sale.
Features include items like steering wheel audio control switches (on the premium version), a four-speaker, CD/MP3/WMA audio system with Bluetooth capability (again, on the premium version only), power windows for all four doors, tilt adjustable steering wheel, a centre mounted meter panel, a foot pedal parking brake, and for the auto version, a gear shifter located on the instrument panel.
There’s plenty to like in the car, especially inside. Granted, the two-tone plastics in the interior still look a little hard to the sight, but the presentation is clean. The 2,520 x 1,415 x 1,310mm (l/w/h) cabin is decently spacious, and the second row seats have separate sliding mechanisms, which allow the seats to be adjusted 150mm. The third row seat is a fold bench, and in all, there’s no shortage of seating arrangements and options.
Six colours are available, and these are Ivory White, the only solid colour in the shade line-up, Glittering Silver, Ebony Black, Medallion Grey, as well as a Pearl White special metallic and a new shade called Classy Purple, which is available only for the Premium variants.
At its current entry point, four variants of the Alza will go on sale, these being the Standard manual (SX) and auto (EZ) and Premium manual (SXi) and auto (EZi). The SX goes for RM55,490 (solid), RM55,990 (metallic) and RM56,190 (special metallic), while the EZ goes for RM58,490 (solid), RM58,990 (metallic) and RM59,190 (special metallic).
As for the SXi, the pricing is RM60,490 (solid), RM60,990 (metallic) and RM61,190 (special metallic), and the EZi is priced at RM63,490 (solid), RM63,990 (metallic) and RM64,190 (special metallic). All these prices are on-the-road, with insurance.
In the first quarter next year, a sportier variant, the Advanced Version, in both manual and auto form, will go on sale. This one will come with a full bodykit made up of front, rear and side skirts as well as a rear spoiler, leather seats, windscreen-mounted 5-inch GPS unit and a 150-degree wide angle reverse camera and special tint film.
This one will be available in three colours, namely Classy Purple, Ebony Black and Ivory White, and pricing for the Advanced Version is RM66,490 (solid) and RM66,990 (metallic) for the manual, while the auto version goes for RM69,490 (solid) and RM69,990 (metallic).
Perodua is hoping to sell about 3,500-4,000 units a month of the Alza, targeted at young families and singles looking to own a ‘big car,’ and given the product’s features and price scope, that target should be easily met.
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