Plenty to love..VIVA

Looking for love? Get a Viva and you’ll get a love affair that will last a lifetime! At least, that’s what Perodua promises. The Viva, offered with a choice of 660cc, 850cc or 1,000cc engine, is intended to replace both the Kancil and the Kelisa. Well, I’m not looking for love but a replacement for my trusty, frugal seven-year-old Kancil may be on the cards.

So, when the opportunity came up, I jumped at the chance to try out the Viva 1,000cc Premium automatic model for a couple of days.

Compared to the simple and unassuming Kancil, I found the Viva rather appealing. It’s like meeting a Sensitive New Age Guy … thoughtful, more refined and certainly a lot more stylish.

Looking beyond the good looks on the outside, I found the interior of the Viva to be organised and spacious.

For the 1,000cc versions, the instrument panel comes in a tasteful matt silver design, harmonised with the black furnishing.

Space wise, it seats five average-sized people comfortably and boasts a host of stowage options, with a centre cluster box, utility box on the driver’s side, coin slot, front and rear cup holders and door trim pockets to choose from.

The cabin is roomy and comfortable for rear passengers, who get plenty of legroom. The rear seats can be folded down for more luggage space.

Settling behind the wheel, my first impression of this feature-loaded Viva is that the seats and ergonomics are definitely a big improvement over the Kancil and Kelisa.

With my Kancil, I have either been hunching over my steering wheel or my arms are being stretched uncomfortably to reach the steering wheel. Because of the limited adjustments available for the driver’s seat, I had to choose between arm length or leg length comfort.

The Viva offers an integrated seat height adjuster for comfort and clearer view (available in the 1,000cc only). This thoughtful feature enables people of all shapes and sizes to find the optimum adjustment for arm, back and leg length.

One of the Viva’s unique selling points is that all four doors open to an approximate 90 degrees, making it easy for passengers to get in and out. This is certainly a bonus for older people or children.

It’s also great for pet owners who needn’t worry about the leash getting tangled or stuck in the doors when your pooch makes an excited dash into and out of the vehicle.

On top of this, the height of the seat to the ground is just right, making for effortless loading and unloading.

The electric side mirrors (available in 850cc and 1,000cc only) are a carry over from the Kancil model. However, it has been upgraded in the 1,000cc Premium Viva models with a retractable function. Whenever you’re going through a tight spot all it takes is a touch of a button and the mirrors retract fully to fold against the window.

The dome light in the car is positioned in the centre of the vehicle, and although this is an improvement over the Kancil’s poor interior lighting, I wish the Viva’s could have been brighter.

A vanity mirror is included on the driver’s sun visor and this is great during the day but, when night falls, it’s useless because it is not illuminated. It’s okay for a quick check but not good enough for touching up your make-up, where shade and tone is crucial.

I’ve applied blusher on my cheeks in my poorly lit Kancil before and turned up in a brightly lit restaurant in horror with cheeks that were too flushed.

Guys wouldn’t have an issue with this but for girls constantly on the move, a well-lit mirror is a must-have. I love the air-conditioning ... it’s cool. I always felt that the Kancil’s air-con vents were placed too far into the dashboard but with the Viva, the vents are brought forward and they aim closer towards both the driver and front passenger.

Even on a low setting, the cool air is dispersed instantaneously and directly at the passengers, making the Viva’s compartment a pleasant environment, especially in our humid weather.

The Viva is definitely a practical car that makes driving fuss-free and easy with many features that have obviously been thought through.

I’ve always appreciated my Kancil’s good mileage all these years and the Viva seems to be just as good. Coupled with the attractive prices (ranging from RM28,400 to RM44,200, on the road), I’d say this new charmer is worth another date or two.