You can learn rebadging and Daihatsu proves to be an excellent teacher in this area. The Japanese manufacturer has had the Rocky on the menu since 2019, which with different logos on its nose is suddenly a completely different car.
At least, on paper. The Daihatsu Rocky will soon also be known as Perodua Ativa. Perodua is a Malaysian manufacturer that is completely unknown in our corner of the world. Yet it is the largest car manufacturer in the Asian country. It assembles some 250,000 cars annually, which makes it bigger than the perhaps slightly more famous Proton here. Perodua is a manufacturer in which Daihatsu and the parent company of Mitsubishi have shares, although Daihatsu’s interest is quite substantial at 20 percent. No wonder, then, that the Ativa is yet another Daihatsu to add Perodua to its delivery range. It was already evident before the launch of the Rocky that the Ativa would come. With this X-Concept, the brand already gave a clear indication of the arrival of such a model in 2018. In addition, Perodua helped with the development of the Rocky and therefore partly owes the Ativa to itself.
Daihatsu Rocky
The Perodua Ativa is therefore not identical to the Rocky that Daihatsu presented in 2019. Other than his name, he has nothing to do with the rugged brother the Feroza once had. The Ativa has different bumpers that, with its length of 4.07 meters, make it about 7 centimeters longer than its Daihatsu brother. The car is also 1.5 centimeters higher than the Rocky thanks to a different adjustment of the chassis. Other, larger side mirrors also make the Ativa a few centimeters wider.
Just like the Rocky, the Ativa gets a 98 hp 1.0, a blown three-cylinder that sends its 140 Nm to the front wheels via a CVT automatic transmission with seven simulated gears. Underneath lies Daihatsu’s variant of Toyota’s modular platform: the Daihatsu New Global Architecture base (DNGA).
Perodua Ativa
The 4.07 meter long Ativa is comfortable in its stuff. For example, higher versions have USB ports in the back and it is the first Perodua ever with a center armrest. LED headlights are standard, while the thicker variants are even available with automatic high beam and matrix LED headlights. Dynamic turn signals are included. The same applies to keyless entry, a 9-inch infotainment system and a digital instrumentation with a diameter of 7 inches. Also when it comes to safety systems, you do not come off scantily in the Ativa. The SUV has an automatic emergency braking system, Front Departure Alert and thanks to systems such as Lane Keep Control, Blind Spot Monitor, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and adaptive cruise control, the Ativa can operate ‘semi-autonomously’.
The starting price in Malaysia is around € 12,500. He will not come to the Netherlands, but it is interesting to see what steps compact crossovers also take far beyond the European borders. The Ativa is also considered the second twin brother of the Rocky; After all, Toyota supplies its own variant in Japan in the form of the Raize.