Perodua Aruz

The Perodua Aruz is a seven-seater compact SUV from Malaysian national carmaker Perodua. Officially launched in the Malaysian market on 15 January 2019, it represents Perodua's third SUV model following the Kembara and Nautica. The Aruz is a rebadged sister model to the Toyota Rush, developed based on the third-generation Toyota Rush, and positioned as a practical seven-seater SUV tailored for Malaysian families. Currently, the Aruz is offered in two variants: 1.5X and 1.5AV, with official retail prices of RM72,900 and RM77,900, respectively. Key segment rivals include the Toyota Rush, Honda BR-V, and others.

Design Language

The Aruz retains the overall silhouette of the Toyota Rush on the exterior, while featuring Perodua's distinct styling cues on the front fascia and rear. The front end is equipped with full-LED headlamps featuring a Follow-Me-Home delay-off function; the range-topping 1.5AV variant additionally comes standard with automatic on/off headlamps and halogen front fog lamps. In profile, both variants come standard with 17-inch dual-tone alloy wheels and power-folding side mirrors with integrated LED turn signals; the 1.5AV variant further adds aluminium roof rails. At the rear, the combination tail lamps feature a mix of LED and halogen light sources. Vehicle dimensions measure 4,435 mm in length, 1,695 mm in width, and 1,740 mm in height, riding on a 2,685 mm wheelbase. The minimum turning radius is 5.2 metres. Exterior colour options for the Aruz include Elegant Black, Ivory White, Glittering Silver, Granite Grey, Electric Blue, and Garnet Red. Inside, Perodua redesigned the dashboard and centre console; the 1.5AV variant features matte silver and piano black trim garnishes on the centre console and door cards, whereas the entry-level 1.5X makes do with standard black plastics. For seating, the 1.5AV comes with leather upholstery, while the 1.5X gets fabric seats.

Powertrain & Performance

The entire Aruz range is powered by the 2NR-VE 1.5-litre Dual VVT-i naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine. This powerplant is shared with the third-generation Perodua Myvi and the Toyota Rush. It puts out a maximum power of 102 hp (approximately 75 kW) and a peak torque of 133–136 Nm. Power is delivered through a four-speed automatic transmission (4AT). Drive is sent via a rear-wheel drive (RWD) layout, a configuration that is relatively rare among SUVs in this class. The official rated fuel consumption is 15.6 km/L (approx. 6.4 L/100 km). Top speed is rated at 160 km/h. An Eco Idle automatic engine stop-start system comes standard across all variants.

Chassis & Handling

The Aruz is built on a semi-ladder frame chassis structure, a body-on-frame platform that endows the vehicle with high torsional rigidity and dependable load-carrying capacity. The suspension setup comprises MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion beam non-independent setup at the rear. Braking is handled by ventilated discs up front and drums at the rear. The rear-wheel-drive layout, paired with a generous 220 mm ground clearance, grants the Aruz superior rough-road passability compared to standard front-wheel-drive SUVs. Kerb weight stands at approximately 1,300 kg, with a fuel tank capacity of 45 litres.

Cabin & Equipment

The cabin is equipped with a standard 7-inch touchscreen infotainment head unit—the 1.5AV variant adds support for Android SmartLink smartphone mirroring and an HDMI port. Standard features across the range include single-zone digital automatic climate control (with digital display and memory presets), roof-mounted rear air conditioning vents, push-start ignition, and steering wheel audio switches. The 1.5AV variant further adds Bluetooth hands-free telephone controls on the steering wheel. In terms of storage, the cabin provides up to 11 cupholders. Boot capacity is rated at 213 litres in standard configuration, expanding to 514 litres with the third-row seats folded. All three rows are equipped with power sockets—USB ports are provided for the front two rows, while the third row receives a 12V power outlet. The 2021 updated model introduced integrated side steps on both sides (aiding passenger ingress and egress) and an auto door lock function that engages at 20 km/h (with automatic unlocking upon impact).

Safety & Intelligent Driving

Safety remains a cornerstone of the Aruz. The entire lineup comes standard with six airbags (dual front, front side, and full-length curtain), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRC), Anti-lock Braking System with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and Brake Assist (ABS+EBD+BA), Hill-start Assist (HSA), Hill Descent Control (HDC), and dual ISOFIX child seat anchor points. The higher-spec 1.5AV variant is equipped with the Advanced Safety Assist 2.0 (ASA 2.0) active safety suite, which comprises Pre-Collision Warning (PCW), Pre-Collision Braking (PCB, with pedestrian detection and operating speed raised to 80 km/h), Front Departure Alert (FDA), and Pedal Misoperation Control (PMC). Backed by its extensive active and passive safety package, the Aruz achieved a five-star safety rating in ASEAN NCAP crash tests.

Market Performance & Reception

The Perodua Aruz has delivered robust market performance since its 2019 introduction. In its debut year alone, over 60,000 units were sold, making it Malaysia's best-selling SUV model across 2019 and 2020. By May 2026, cumulative registrations of the Aruz in Malaysia reached 146,752 units. The year 2019 marked the peak sales year for the Aruz with 30,114 registrations; full-year sales in 2024 stood at 16,522 units; October 2025 recorded 1,687 units in a single month. In May 2026, the Aruz recorded 748 monthly registrations. In terms of pricing, the Aruz is priced around RM20,000 lower than its sister model, the Toyota Rush, offering key selling propositions such as a seven-seater layout, rear-wheel drive, and a five-star safety rating at a highly competitive price point. As of 2026, the Aruz remains the only seven-seater SUV on the Malaysian market priced below RM100,000 to hold an ASEAN NCAP five-star safety rating. At the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show 2026 (KLIMS 2026), Perodua also showcased the Aruz Space concept, repurposing the seven-seater SUV for commercial cargo duties. As a core pillar of Perodua's SUV lineup, the Aruz continues to solidify its stronghold in the Malaysian family SUV segment through its practical, durable, and value-for-money proposition.