It’s one other case of latest meets outdated, as we convey Perodua’s newest SUV, the Ativa, to greet the corporate’s first-ever SUV, the Kembara. Each fashions triggered fairly a stir after they had been launched, so we thought it’d be good to put them aspect by aspect so you will get your each day dose of nostalgia.
By now, everybody has most likely heard of the Ativa, which is Perodua’s newest compact SUV and the primary to get a turbocharged engine, a D-CVT and a number of superior security and driver help methods.
These options are actually disruptive to the “A-segment to small B-segment SUV” market, and the corporate is anticipating the Ativa to be a preferred selection amongst automobile consumers. Primarily based on the variety of bookings recorded up to now, plainly the plan is coming alongside properly.
Nonetheless, issues had been totally different for the Kembara. First launched in August 1998, it was Perodua’s first foray into the SUV section, which wasn’t as booming as it’s in the present day. It was uncharted territory, and with the monetary disaster and a minor 4×4 section, it was at all times unsure that the mannequin could be nicely obtained. As a enjoyable reality, the Kembara is the primary to get the corporate’s new brand on the time, as a substitute of the animal logos that had been used for the corporate’s first two fashions, the Kancil and Rusa.
Primarily based on the Daihatsu Terios, the unibody SUV began out with a 1.3 litre SOHC four-cylinder petrol engine that made 83 hp and 105 Nm of torque, however this is able to later get replaced with a extra fashionable DVVT (Dynamic Valve Variable Timing) unit in 2003, with 86 hp and 120 Nm.
Obtainable with a five-speed handbook or a four-speed automated transmission, the Kembara’s occasion trick was its full-time four-wheel drive system, which was fairly a giant deal, as most 4×4 automobiles again then had ladder frames. The system got here with a switch-operated centre locking differential, making it viable for off-roading.
These area of interest options and a novel bodystyle proved to be a receipe for fulfillment, as gross sales of the Kembara steadily crept upwards, serving to to reinvigorate the 4×4 section considerably. The corporate even took the rugged-looking SUV on the Trans Borneo Kembara Expedition in 1998 to show its credentials.
The Kembara made itself proper for its time, however with new applied sciences, tendencies and buyer calls for, it couldn’t go on without end, with manufacturing ending in 2007. It’s successor, the Nautica, didn’t replicate the Kembara’s success, regardless of being bigger, extra highly effective and nonetheless specified with 4WD.
Being a CBU automobile, it was almost double the worth of its predecessor, and was in truth, the most costly mannequin Perodua offered then at RM89,000. This was dangerous information within the yr it was launched – 2008 – when one other monetary disaster occurred, and the mannequin pale away after barely lower than a yr of being on sale.
Like the corporate’s first two SUVs, the Ativa was additionally born right into a world in disaster – a health-related one this time – however Perodua believes it’s the precise automobile for the second, particularly when compact SUVs are all the trend. With that in thoughts, let’s take a not so critical have a look at each and see how the brand new child on the block stacks up in opposition to its a lot older sibling.
By way of dimension, it’s apparent that the Ativa is the bigger automobile, measuring 4,065 mm lengthy, 1,710 mm broad, 1,635 mm tall and with a wheelbase that spans 2,525 mm. By comparability, the Kembara is 3,890 mm lengthy, 1,555 mm broad, 1,715 mm tall and has a wheelbase spanning 2,420 mm. The high-riding and subdued look of the latter can be a giant distinction to the edgier design of the most recent Perodua SUV (simply have a look at the wheel dimension distinction).
Given the bigger dimensions, the Ativa has much more inside house, but it surely isn’t that a lot heavier due to its extra superior DNGA platform, weighing in at a most of 1,035 kg in comparison with the Kembara that’s round 1.1 tonnes. That is regardless of the fashionable SUV having to hold much more security and luxury options in comparison with the older one.
The Ativa additionally advantages from downsized engine growth over time, with its smaller 1.0 litre turbocharged three-cylinder unit rated increased at 97 hp and 140 Nm. Because of a D-CVT and an absence of a four-wheel drive system, it’s additionally much more economical than the Kembara, which had a status for having a excessive gas consumption, even with the newer DVVT engine.
Inside, it’s evening and day between the 2 automobiles, with the Ativa sporting a contemporary design that features a contact panel for the air-conditioning system, a touchscreen infotainment system, a digital instrument cluster and steering wheel controls.
The Kembara solely had what we might name naked requirements (AC and stereo) in the present day, but it surely trumps the Ativa by having the all-important centre locking differential swap on the precise of the dashboard. Sadly, Perodua has mentioned that the Ativa will solely be front-wheel drive, so it gained’t be a favorite amongst oil palm plantations just like the Kembara was.
The airbag-less steering wheel is an indication of simply how fundamental security necessities had been again then (twin airbags got here later), however the Ativa is a significant leap ahead, with six airbags being normal, together with varied passive (stability management, ABS, EBD) and lively (AEB, lane departure help) methods.
The time hole between the preliminary launches of the Ativa and Kembara is simply over 20 years, and it’s actually spectacular to see simply how a lot automobiles have developed to what they’re in the present day. With extra tech, options and the results of inflation, it’s solely pure to suppose that automobile costs will enhance as time goes by. It’s not at all times the true image, however right here’s a tackle it based mostly on slightly experiment we tried.
Referring to a Bernama report filed by the Perdana Management Basis, when then prime minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad launched the Kembara on August 24, 1998, the SUV was supplied in three variants – EX, GX and EZ – with on-the-road costs starting from RM45,898 to RM52,276, making it one of many most cost-effective 4WD automobiles round then.
Operating these figures by way of an inflation calculator (till January 2021) on the Division of Statistics Malaysia web site, you find yourself with a spread of RM72,405 to RM82,466. The Ativa is at present going for RM61,500 to RM72,000, so it looks like you do get extra for much less.
The Kembera was an essential mannequin because it proved that there was demand for a Perodua SUV, though after a misstep with the Nautica, the corporate would shrink back from the section for almost a decade, solely returning in 2019 with the Aruz. The Ativa marks the primary time there are two SUVs within the firm’s line-up on the similar time, and studying from its previous, Perodua is conserving to custom and its core values – affordability and a lovely product – all whereas inflicting a stir if doable.
Get pleasure from this blast from the previous and share with us the fondest recollections you may have of the Kembara within the feedback under.
GALLERY: Perodua Ativa
GALLERY: Perodua Kembara
