The enticing views of Malaysia are wedged across its diverse terrains.
These terrains range from high mountains to coastal places and even scattered islands. They are anchored in the dense vegetation that further augments the struggle to reach the places. Such situations demand a dependable vehicle.
To quench this need, SUVs have come forth in the car market to provide reliable performance and endurance in all terrains of Malaysia. There are ample reasons to choose an SUV over other vehicles to handle Malaysian terrains, such as high ground clearance, powerful engines, and sturdy interior and exterior frames to cope with the tough landscapes.
There are countless options available in the SUV market. Although SUVs come in different sizes based on space and seating capacities, a 7 seater SUV Malaysia will work wonders over the rough routes. As the Malaysian terrain needs robust SUVs to withstand the rugged roads and surfaces, here are the 8 best choices for SUV buyers in Malaysia.
Toyota Corolla Cross GR Sports
The 5 seater, 5 door small SUV with sporty aesthetics carries a robust 1798 cc, 138 Hp engine, giving a 6,400 RPM maximum power that can provide a maximum speed of 185 km/h to the vehicle. It is equipped with a 7-speed CVT with Sequential Shiftmatic Transmission further simplifying the drive’s experience. From the side of safety, it comes with 7 airbags and Electronic Stability Control, which helped it earn 5/5 stars in Euro NCAP safety ratings. The price of this hunk starts at RM 146,000 in the Malaysian car market.
Honda HR-V
Honda’s top contender in the SUV category for the complex terrain of Malaysia is the Honda HR-V. With a 1,498 CC engine producing a thrust ranging from 104 – 174 HP (differing between the variants), accompanying CVT and e-CVT transmissions elevate driving performance and comfort. This SUV has been ranked 7th in the Subcompact SUV category by the US News Cars ranking. Considering its safety ranking, the Euro NCAP safety ranking has awarded it 4 out of 5 stars.
The price of this SUV starts at RM 114,800.
Perodua Ativa
This small 5-seater SUV for Malaysian topography with 998 CC, 97 hp engine, and D-CVT (Dual Mode CVT) transmission has hit the Malaysian SUV market. It claims a mileage of 18.9 Kmpl (with an Eco-Idle System), further boosting its performance. Its safety features consist of 6 airbags, vehicle stability control, Hill Hold Assist, and an emergency stop signal. These features led the SUV to grab 5 stars in ASEAN NCAP ratings. It will initially cost RM 62,500 to the buyers.
Honda CR-V
Another competitor by Honda in the SUV category is its CR-V model, released in 2 variants with a 1,997 CC and 1,498 CC engine laid in the hood. The SUV comes with CVT transmission and Electronic Fuel Injection that smoothens the rides. This compact SUV has been rated 8.9/10 by US News Car rating. The safety features of this model comprise ABS and EBD Braking Systems, and Vehicle Stability Assist, which made it achieve 4 out of 5 stars in The Euro NCAP crash and safety test.
Honda has set its initial price of RM 159,900 in the Malaysian car market.
Hyundai Kona
This subcompact SUV by Hyundai comes in two variants, i.e. a 1999cc and 1591 CC engine, which can shove with 140-197 horsepower thrust. The SUV has highway driving assistance, an advanced driver assistance system with a combination of Lane Following Assist and Navigation Based Smart Cruise Control. It has been awarded 8.8 out of 10 points by US News Cars. It is priced at RM 124,188 for the base model and can go up to RM 162,000 depending on the variant.
Proton X70
Proton’s Ace SUV model, i.e. X70 comes with a 1477 cc engine coupled with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission with manual mode, generating 174- 177 HP thrust at 5500 RPM. The safety features consist of Hill Hold Assist, Hill Descent Control, Electronic Stability Control, Transaction Control System, ABS, and EBD Break Systems, and most importantly, ADAS System. The starting price of this model is RM 98,800.
Toyota harrier
The Harrier model of Toyota is dominating the Malaysian SUV market. Possessing a 1,987 CC engine coupled with a Direct Shift Continuously Variable Transmission, Harrier comes embedded with almost all modern specifications. Apart from that, the Safety Sense Pre-Crash System, Lane Departure Alert, and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control add to its performance. The price of this SUV starts at RM 274,000 in Malaysia.
Isuzu MU-X
ISUZU has released this beast in the SUV market, with a 7-seater capacity to embrace a big family. The 2499 CC engine is potent enough to take the tough ride in almost all terrains. It comes in 2 variants, i.e. MU-X 2.5L 4X2 AT (torque delivered to either the front 2 or the rear 2 wheels ) with a price starting at RM 176,640 and MU-X 2.5L 4X4 AT (torque delivered to all 4 wheels) with an initial price of RM 183,000. The SUV has been given 5 out of 5 stars in ANCAP safety ranking making it one of the best options for Malaysian adventurers.
Which One to Choose?
The above-detailed description will give SUV buyers a clear understanding of the available options. Though these SUVs differ in configurations and features, the buyers need to consider the specifications they need and the budget they have before heading to a showroom. Moreover, the seating capacity and engine power are the pivotal points to examine before making a decision. Other car options, such as MPV, Sedan, etc., can also be explored but are not considered reliable for the complex terrains of Malaysia, where SUVs have taken the lead.
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