Review
Below $100k and can sit 7 people, I think that is the most attractive thing about the Perodua Aruz. Of course, I wasn't expecting too much of the car, as Perodua is brand that focus on value for money.

With a Toyota engine, I think it is a car that will be reliable. Although the hard plastics in the interior means it doesn't really feel like a modern car, it sure feel like it will last a decade.

The interior is relatively spacious, but the 3rd row is quite squeezy, best to fetch kids. If you have to sit 7 on a daily basis, a larger car might be a better option, the Aruz should work well enough if you only need the full capacity once in a while.

What I like
- Toyota engine, feels smooth and sufficient power and probably will last a long time without any problems
- Looks pretty good

What I do not like
- Hard plastic interior
- While it is relatively affordable, there are indeed some strong competitors in this price point that offers similar hauling capacity

Review
There is nothing wrong with the Aruz. Functional car to fit 7 people if need be, hardy interior and exterior. But the problem is the price. At 90k you can get the sienta from PI if you really need 7 seats and don't want an SUV.

But it definitely feels like a car that can last. A lot of hard plastics, and reliable toyota engine and 4 speed box. You cannot go wrong with this car and feels reliable.

What I like
-seems to be built to last
-hardy feeling

What I do not like
-ladder frame chassis

Review
So I went to test drive the new Aruz 2 week...

I am going to give a short review... I hope to be as unbiased as possible.

What I like
I trust the build quality to be on an acceptable level as the Aruz is essentially a Toyota Rush. It is said to be assembled side-by-side in the factory. So if it is good enough for Toyota to put their branding on it, it will last for 10 years easily.

The car is chunky in a good way, those who wish to get a big car should really consider the Aruz. It rides tall, has great road clearance and it is able to sit 7 pax. I am 1.84m tall, with the front seat adjusted to my driving position, I am still able to fit into the 2nd row seats when it is slide to the middle position. I did not try to fit into the 3rd row as it looked really small but I guess it will seat anyone below the height of 1.65m comfortably. Getting on and off the car is like climbing a chair (very high) and kids will take longer to board the car and elderly folks may experience some problem too. Well, it is a SUV afterall and you can't have your cake and eat it.

The 4 speed gearbox is surprisingly smooth and is a joy for a light-footed person like me as the gearbox remained in the 1st gear to ensure the car gets moving up to speed at a comfortable pace. I find the gear knob/ shift a little out of place. I ended up on 2nd gear when I wanted to engage 'D' and ended up of 'N' when I wanted to engage 'R'. However, I believe this is a small issue and just takes some time to get used to it.

The engine is a Toyota engine with Dual VVTI. I have confidence in Toyota's technology and I am sure the engine will last for a very long time and while the car may not be the most fuel economical car but I trust Toyota engine to one of the most fuel efficient engines around. In short, not the best but it is doing the best it can already.

The wheels are huge, it helps to further differentiate itself from the other budget 7 seater (Sienta) as the the huge wheels gives it a real SUV feeling. Sitting, driving and looking at the Aruz convinced me that this is a SUV and not another 7 seater. The wheels are also wrapped in Goodyear Triplemax Assurance tyres, this is the best fuel economical tyres I have ever tried on my old car and I am sure it will help to improve the fuel economy further.

I enquired on the servicing package, 2 years / 5 times free servicing. I feel that Perocom could have given more but their servicing package it really cheap compared to other ADs and private workshops.

What I do not like
The brakes felt very spongy and really insensitive, not too sure if it is just me but I would really need to get use to it by stepping harder and earlier on the brakes when stopping.

Lastly, let us talk about pricing. It is not the cheapest 7 seaters but you do get the SUV feel out of it. So the it will appeal to those who "want" a SUV more than those who "need" a 7 seater. One thing to note is the VES. The Aruz does not attract a rebate or surcharge. This means you are not giving LTA more money and also means that you will probably get back more when you scrap the car in 10 years. I would say the annual depreciation to be at around $8,450. I believe the Sienta X would be lower but it is a different car altogether. Depending on the full package, the Aruz may prove to be slightly cheaper if you consider the 17" alloy rims, factory window tinting and leather seats thrown in by the AD.

So will I buy? All I can say is the car is nice and owning a SUV would be nice but if I want to be 100% practical (being a family man with commitments), a Sienta would be a much better choice due to a higher resale value the perceived JDM quality over cars assembled in other countries.