Perodua vs Mazda

Perodua is a minnow in the UK, but the Myvi shows it deserves future sales success. The car offers decent space and inoffensive looks, and is a more modern and better-quality product than anything the brand has sold before.

Crucially, it’s almost identical to the Daihatsu Sirion, and yet is cheaper, so will appeal to those who want a bargain car with proven mechanicals. But poor body control, vague steering and less than impressive brakes mean the Myvi falls short dynamically.

While the interior is robust and practical, with split-fold rear seats and lots of room, it lacks any real style and simply can’t match more modern rivals for material quality.

Crucially, even though the Myvi costs a lot less than its opponent here, it’s outclassed by a margin that’s more than big enough to justify the price gap. The Mazda 2 is better built and dynamically far superior to the Malaysian model.

While the Perodua is a bargain car for getting from A to B, the 2 is
a class-leading supermini that will appeal to a broader spread of buyers. It’s great to drive, well designed inside and out, and is a fantastic all-rounder.