Owner Review: Not your ‘manja’ type of compact 4WD SUV - My Perodua Kembara DVVT

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Basic information

Perodua Kembara 1.3 DVVT

The reason why I bought this car

I work as a planter, managing oil palm plantations as well as pineapple plantings. I also do aerial mapping using drones which also requires me to travel to deep rural areas. I was looking for compact 4 wheel drive for daily commute to work which can also be driven offroad. 

Plantations that I manage are near the city. Residing in Bandar Baru Bangi, compact vehicles are in need especially since the parking spaces are tight and the roads are busy. The fuel consumption of the Kembara DVVT was also not bad for an all-time 4 wheeler. Some users reported getting around 12km/liter.

Since there is no new compact 4wd vehicle in the market within my budget, Kembara is the best bet for my purpose. Although the one that I got is 15 years old, I'm not worried about the part's availability since Kembara shares some parts with other Perodua cars during its time. The engine is also the same 1.3-liter K3VE engine which is used on previous versions of Myvi. Half-cut imports from Japan are also still plentiful which the Kembara's original breed came; the Daihatsu Terios J100-J102.

Car selection process

• I had a budget of RM 60,000 
• Models that I have considered include Suzuki Jimny, Daihatsu Feroza

Reasons why I chose this car:

1. Parts are still available and not difficult to source. 
The prices of parts are also affordable.
2. 4 wheel drive.
3. Within my budget.
4. Compact which is great for city driving and offroading. Very easy to maneuver.
5. Got a mechanic friend who specializes in 
Kembara; Yetza Garage, Dengkil. Nearby to my workplace. He's responsible for keeping many Kembaras 
on the road today.
6. According to many (forums, Facebook page), 
Kembara is very reliable.
7. No other new compact 4wd within my budget.

User Experience

• I have already done 20,000 km
• My average fuel consumption is 14km/L

Damn right it's reliable. Of course, being a 15-year-old car may face some wear and tear issues but everything can be sorted out by many mechanics since it has been around for so many years. It can go fast on highways but the wobbling motion is too much to take. This can be rectified with a better suspension set up later on. I've spent about RM4k on wear and tear parts and to improve comfort. Mostly are on the undercarriage, rubber coating, sound system (need that bass!), leather seats, soundproofing (pasang sendiri weh), and new sets of wheels (kena racun). The fuel consumption is not bad. I did get 14km/liter at one time driving at a constant 80kmph on suburban roads.

But mostly I get around 11km/liter with 50% city, 40% highways, and 10% offroads. Comparing to the company's older Kembara, I was getting 8km/liter. I guess the DVVT technology was a great improvement during its time. With offset wheels, it looks awesome!

Pros & Cons

Pros

•  4 wheel drive. Taking corners confidently.
•  Compact. Easy to park in tight parking spaces and maneuver offroad.
• Got lots of space once the rear seats are folded.
• Can take the beating offroad. 
• Reliable engine. Considering swapping the engine to 
• 1.5 liter 3SZ with reduced gear ratio.
• Easy to get parts.

Cons

• Wobbly drive. Still can be improved with a better suspension setup.
• Road noise. Shall invest with better soundproofing.
• Insurance only covers RM10k. I still feel it's undervalued.

​​​Ratings:

Total Score: 5
Performance: 5
Quality & Features: 5
Space: 5
Ride Comfort: 3
Fuel Economy: 3
Price & Cost: 5

Summary:

Once I thought Kembara is a Manja type of 4wheeler, it proved me wrong. 

I've pulled a pick-up truck that was bogged down in peat soil using my Kembara. 

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