 | Perodua Kenari |
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PERODUA'S TALL ORDER
Perodua's Kenari Supermini-MPV Might Not Enjoy The Highest Of Profiles. Still, With A Low Price And A Refreshed Look, It's Going To Be Just The Ticket For Some Customers, As Andy Enright Discovers
Asked to comment on the Perodua Kenari, most of the UK's car buying populace would be left with a blank look painted across their faces. They'd probably guess that it hailed from South East Asia and was very inexpensive but that's about as far as most get. While it's impossible to deny either of these charges, the Kenari offers more than just lowest common denominator motoring. If you're looking for cost effective city and school run transport, the Kenari delivers in spades.
It's fair to say that the British public has been a little backward about coming forward when it comes to supermini-MPV vehicles. Cars like the Daihatsu Move, the Suzuki Wagon R+ and, latterly, the Vauxhall Agila have all been sidelined as niche interest vehicles, despite their undoubted urban attributes. The Kenari is a car that's been with us for a while and Perodua have decided that the time was ripe for a mild facelift. Very mild. The exterior updates run to a rear tailgate spoiler, protective side mouldings with model description to help curious bystanders, two-tone bumpers and a black finished tailgate trim. The roof rails have also been consigned to history in order to 'give the impression of a lower overall height'. Despite this and the rear spoiler, it's unlikely you'll mistake the Kenari for a Lamborghini Countach.
If you're a genuine anorak you might well spot Daihatsu genes in the mix, as the Kenari is a modernised version of a Daihatsu micro-MPV. Under that tiny bonnet lurks a 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine, developing 55bhp. Whilst this might sound decidedly weedy, bear in mind that the Kenari weighs just 845kg. No rival micro-MPV can boast a list price cheaper than this little Malaysian. Forget the Suzuki Wagon R and Vauxhall Agila if you're after a low sticker price. Even the far smaller Daewoo Matiz can't compete for value with the £6,130 Perodua (£6,930 for the EZi automatic). That's nearly £1,000 cheaper than the Agila, which when worked out as a percentage of total cost, is overwhelmingly significant. Don't think, however, that because of the low price you'll get a car with the interior ambience of a motorised Anderson shelter. The standard Kenari is fitted with twin airbags, side impact beams, seat belt pretensioners, power steering and central locking. In addition to this you'll also find child locks, electric front windows, a CD stereo system with removable front panel and an engine immobiliser.
"The Kenari is the ideal second car for an urban small family who are self assured enough not to care about keeping up with the Joneses"
Many of these features aren't found on cars costing double the Kenari's list price and underline the advances made by Perodua, a relative newcomer to the British market. The Kenari's 989cc engine may not sound very powerful but in truth it doesn't need to be. It is capable of reaching 60mph in 15 seconds and on to a top speed of 87mph. In the Perodua's usual inner city environment of 4mph average speeds, this performance is more than adequate. As with all micro-MPVs, the Kenari is capable of swallowing deceptively large loads, especially if you fold down the rear seats. Perodua's designers have used light colours around the interior which combine well with the big window area to create a spacious, airy feel. The rear suspension hardware is compact and doesn't intrude too badly into the rectangular load bay, accessible by a novel side-hinged rear hatchback. You don't get sliding rear doors, but at just over six grand who's complaining?
However, its compact exterior dimensions mean that around town, you'll never find yourself having to worry about finding a parking space: it's a doddle to manoeuvre the tiny Perodua into the smallest of gaps. Then, when you dodge into traffic gaps with all the ease of a motorcycle, you can smile as you leave larger cars stranded in the jams. The five-speed gearbox needs to be used frequently to keep the little engine on the boil, but if you don't mind a slight edge being taken off the already modest performance, a three-speed automatic is available as an option.
Of course, economy is where the Kenari really excels. The three-cylinder engine features a sophisticated electronic fuel injection system which surrenders petrol at the miserly rate of 50.4mpg on the combined cycle. Couple this with an unusually large 40-litre fuel tank and you've got a car with a Range of over 400 miles between fills. Mind you, 400 miles in a Kenari might be some people's idea of punishment. Best to use it as a second or third car, wheeling it out for the school run, for trips to the shops and generally having a little bit of fun around town. You'll feel reassured to know that the specially designed 'crushable' body absorbs and disperses shocks in the event of collision, making the passenger compartment much safer.
The front suspension comprises independent McPherson struts, just like a Porsche Boxster. At the rear is a semi-trailing arm arRangement, a feature shared with the BMW M-Coupe. In common with the Ferrari 360, the Kenari is fitted with ventilated front disc brakes and rack and pinion steering. Unlike any of these cars, the little Perodua can sail through a gap less than 1.5 metres wide without crumpling its bodywork or depleting its complement of two conveniently large door mirrors. In city centres, you'll appreciate this as you render owners of far more expensive tackle receding specks behind you. Several options are available to make the Kenari even more city-friendly. The automatic version makes the urban grind that bit more bearable. Reverse parking sensors can be fitted at extra cost, as can a keyless entry system.
When you consider the low sticker price, the miserly fuel economy and the generous level of equipment, a Kenari doesn't seem such an outlandish prospect. There's no historical baggage to go with the Perodua badge on the bonnet and the handling and practicality of the Kenari count in its favour too. It's an ideal second car for an urban small family who are self assured enough not to care about keeping up with the Joneses. If you can get used to the looks and accept that you'll feel a bit under endowed on the M25, the latest Kenari might well spring a few surprises.
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