Today is my second dose for the AstraZeneca vaccine and for those going for vaccination, you can apply to get coupon from SOCAR that grants you THREE HOURS FREE for renting any cars except for BMW and Mini. Seeing that I've never driven an Axia before, of course I decided to rent an Axia from SOCAR to go for my vaccination appointment and I must say, driving the Axia is a massive revelation to me.
Having picked the car up from its spot at The 19 USJ City Mall and sanitising it the best I could, the journey takes me through a mixture of town roads, back roads and a little bit of highway driving. The first thing that immediately stood out for me is the rather zippy nature of the car. Sure, the throttle response is a bit underwhelming as the car utilises a drive-by-wire throttle setup and it has been set up for an economical drive, but at no point do I feel that the car needs more power as I drive around town. Still, a bit more responsiveness from the throttle input would be more than welcome. The brakes are also nice and sharp without being too grabby like an on-off switch that some cars have. The four-speed automatic transmission is just that - a transmission. It's hard for me to think of anything to say other than the fact that it works, though I would personally pick a 5-speed manual because why not?
Another thing that immediately got my attention was the steering. Sure, it may be lacking in steering feel, but for an Electric Power Steering (EPS), it has a really nice weight to it - it's not too light that it feels nervous at high speeds, but not too heavy that maneuvering in tight spots is a pain in the ass. I didn't get to properly attack corners with it as the back roads I was going through was riddled with traffic, but I would say that for a factory setup, it is respectable - though I personally would have fitted bucket seats to hold me better in the bends. It also has a super tight turning circle, therefore allowing you to perform U-turns wherever the hell you want - although, I personally wouldn't recommend that for legal and safety reasons.
Driving on the highway, I would expect the Axia to feel like it's about to be blown away at any moment, at least that was based on the last time I drove a Perodua - albeit a Kenari and an Alza - on the highway, but surprisingly it gets up to speed easily and once there, I actually felt confident doing 130 km/h on the highway partly thanks to the steering I mentioned earlier. At no moment do I feel like I'm pushing the car too hard and if it weren't for traffic, I might end up pushing it even more. But this is a city car, and being able to even touch 100 km/h is good enough for me - which the Axia does without hiccups. Even when off the highway, the 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine can help the little car cover ground quite quickly since it doesn't have much weight to pull around and it sounds characterful too while doing so.
Sure, the engine isn't a refined thing as you can feel a hint of vibration which is normal of a three-cylinder unit, but what do you expect? It's a small, economical engine for an economical car. Although quite surprisingly, you can barely feel it when you're stopped at a red traffic light. The ride quality is also alright. It doesn't crash over bumps - rather it just "goes over them" with a reassuring thud. I would say that it's a bit on the firm side, but it is hardly uncomfortable and can handle our rough roads well enough.
Perodua have always managed to make their cars small on the outside, massive inside and the Axia is certainly no exception. Sure, the steering cannot be adjusted for reach and height, but there's more than enough clearance for me and my knees are not rubbing against any part of the centre console or dashboard - a problem I faced in a third-generation Myvi that I once drove a little while back. Visibility is also spectacular, too, thanks to its massive glass surface area.
Also, because it's a hatchback with minimal rear overhang, you can judge the distance very easily whenever you're reverse parking and if that's not enough, there are reverse sensors to help you out - more expensive models even get reversing camera. When you take all that and pair it to the maneuverability I mentioned of earlier, it really is a breeze to navigate through the parking lots of IDCC.
As I'm writing this, I just realised just how much of an ordinary car the little Axia is on paper. But despite that, it carries with it heaps of fun and I genuinely enjoy my three hours with the little thing. Previously I tried a Myvi 1.5 third-gen and that car was just too scary for me to enjoy because of the way it randomly takes off. The Axia does share some of its bigger brother's attributes, but without being terrifying at all. It doesn't exactly excel at one area, but it works flawlessly on every possible driving aspect you can think of - apart from going off-road, which I don't dare try at the moment.
Another beauty of the Axia is that it's a perfect canvas that allows you
to turn it into whatever you want. Race car? Cruiser? The possibilities
are endless. There are people out there who literally shoves a turbo
into it or - even crazier - shove a Myvi 1.3-litre engine. While I
personally wouldn't go down that route, I would upgrade the audio system
as well as incorporate an Android head unit and just call it a day. The Axia is an ideal first car for first-time car buyers, but it has also since became a toy of the rich due to its endless possibilities. It isn't a perfect car, but you can make it perfect for your needs.
The three hours with this little car has been a revelation to me. In some ways, it is an old school car with the convenience of a modern car. Would I buy one? I definitely would and should, although I would go for an Axia E with a 5 speed manual. Sure, the more expensive variants came with more kit, but I would be happy with the base model. Again, personal preference. Of course some mods would have to be done just to make the car absolutely perfect, but that's a problem to think of for another time.
With all that said, that is all for today's entry. See you all next time, and a big thank you to SOCAR for the voucher! I will be uploading more pictures on my Facebook page and Instagram in a bit. Until then, stay safe, regardless whether you're fully vaccinated or not.
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