Perodua has named its new SUV Aruz. Bookings open now

By ahmadzulizwan, 03 January 2019
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That much-talked about Perodua SUV that’s due out very soon has been officially announced, and named. The seven-seater Perodua Aruz sports-utility vehicle is now also open for booking with an estimated price of between RM72,200 and RM77,200 (OTR before insurance).

We all know that the Aruz is based on the Toyota Rush (and Daihatsu Terios), so no secrets about the powertrain then – a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine (with auto start-stop) paired with a four-speed automatic, of course also used in the current 1.5L Myvi. It’s EEV certified, which at a claimed 15.6 km/l (6.4L/100km) is a best-in-class performance. Perodua hasn’t revealed details such as engine output or torque for the rear-wheel drive Aruz, but a quick read of our Toyota Rush first impressions drive will clear it right away.

A quick run through its features and while I do admit that it’s not as impressive as the new Myvi’s, it’s still comprehensive. The Aruz comes with:

  LED headlamps with follow-me function   17-inch alloys
  Semi-bucket seats   Smart entry with push start
  Built-in toll reader   Integrated driving recorder (DVR)
  Charging ports in all rows   Reverse camera

 

Mind you, the Aruz Advance is the range topping variant (RM77,200) and gets the whole list, while the baseline Aruz X (RM72,200) does not get roof rails, or the DVR. The semi-bucket seats are also wrapped in fabric as opposed to the Advance’s leather, and the steering wheel is not wrapped in leather. Both variants also feature USB ports (for charging) in all three seat rows, although the Advance also gets an additional HDMI port. And yes, the roof-mounted air-cond blower and vent is great during hot days.

For safety, the Aruz packs six airbags in total, Hill Start Assist (HSA), Isofiz points, Vehicle Stability Control, and ASA 2.0 (Advanced Safety Assist). The latter is an upgraded feature of the system currently found in the Myvi 1.5L Advance. So now it comes with pedestrian detection (up to 50kph) and with the advantage of an increased operational speed of Pre-Collision Warning to 100kph. Pre-Collision Braking is also raised to 80kph. The safety suite continues to incorporate Front Departure Alert and Pedal Misoperation Control. In case you’re curious whether the Myvi’s ASA can be upgraded to the new one, the answer is No. But Perodua is working on incorporating it in newer Myvis.

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Inside, the cabin features an audio unit with touchscreen control, digital air-con controls with two memory settings. The second row is split 60:40 while the third row is split 50:50. Both rows can slide, fold and tumble, giving a multitude of seating and loading configurations

“The Perodua Aruz is our fourth transformation model, setting new standards for us in quality, space, fuel efficiency and safety – the latter bolstered by a 5-star ASEAN NCAP safety rating.

“With these qualities and more, the Perodua Aruz is among the best-value SUVs in Malaysia,” Perodua President and Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad said, adding that the vehicle comes with a five-year/150,000 km warranty (whichever comes first).

The upcoming Perodua Aruz will be the company’s fifth model at the moment, and a comeback to selling SUVs after the long-retired Kembara and Nautica. Five colours are available: Ivory White, Glittering Silver, Electric Blue, Granite Grey and a new Amazon Green. To start with Perodua expects to sell an average of 2,500 units of the Aruz monthly, which will grow to 31,200 units by the end of 2019.