How a RM76,100 SUV Became Malaysia’s Best-Selling SUV in Under a Year
Launched in December 2025, the Traz reached the top of Malaysia’s SUV sales chart by July 2026. The reasons are less about novelty than about arithmetic.
Short answer: the Traz is a five-seat B-segment SUV priced from RM76,100 on the road, using a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine with a D-CVT, rated five stars by ASEAN NCAP and covered by a five-year, 150,000 km warranty. It became Malaysia’s best-selling SUV in July 2026 because it undercut the established B-SUV class on price while matching it on safety equipment.
What is the Traz, in plain terms?
It is a compact crossover sized for the B-segment, sitting above the A-segment cars in the same range and slotting into the space Malaysian families occupy when they want SUV proportions without a D-segment budget. It arrived in December 2025 in two variants, X and H, and carried into 2026 unchanged.
| Specification | Detail |
| Variants | X and H |
| Price (OTR Peninsular, excl. insurance) | RM76,100 (X) / RM81,100 (H) |
| Engine | 1,496 cc four-cylinder, naturally aspirated |
| Output | 105 hp / 138 Nm |
| Transmission | D-CVT, front-wheel drive |
| Seating | Five |
| Stated fuel economy | Up to 21.3 km/L (Malaysia Driving Cycle) |
| Safety rating | Five-star ASEAN NCAP |
| Warranty | Five years / 150,000 km |
| Assembly | Locally assembled (CKD) |
Why did it sell so quickly?
Three factors, in order of weight.
It repriced the segment. A proper B-segment SUV in Malaysia had, until late 2025, generally started well north of RM80,000. Bringing the entry point to RM76,100 moved the class within reach of buyers who had previously settled for a smaller A-segment crossover or an equivalent hatchback.
It did not trade away safety to get there. The five-star ASEAN NCAP rating matters because the obvious way to hit an aggressive price is to thin out the driver-assistance package. The Traz arrived with a full advanced driver assistance suite — pre-collision warning and braking, lane departure warning and prevention, blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert among them — as part of the proposition rather than as a top-variant upsell.
It used a known engine. The 1,496 cc unit is a long-serving powerplant with an established parts and service network behind it. For buyers who intend to keep a car eight or nine years, that familiarity is worth more than a turbocharger.
X or H — which variant should you buy?
Mechanically they are identical: the same engine, same output, same D-CVT, same front-wheel-drive layout, same five seats. The RM5,000 gap buys convenience and visibility equipment, not performance.
The H adds items including keyless entry, a 360-degree camera, a built-in dashcam, a powered tailgate with kick sensor, LED front fog lamps, automatic air conditioning, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear knob, and a six-speaker audio system.
The decision comes down to two of those. If you park frequently in tight urban bays, the 360-degree camera is a daily benefit rather than a showroom feature. If you regularly load the boot with your hands full, the powered tailgate earns its keep. If neither describes you, the X is the same car for RM5,000 less. Cross-check the current equipment split on the Perodua Traz specification page before deciding, as variant content can be revised between model years.
What does it actually cost to own?
Taking the X at RM76,100 with a standard 10% down payment, you would finance around RM68,490. Depending on tenure and the rate your bank quotes, that lands in the region of RM780 to RM970 a month — a wide band, which is exactly why the tenure conversation matters more than the sticker price.
Beyond the instalment, budget for insurance and road tax annually, fuel based on your real commute rather than the quoted figure, and scheduled servicing. On fuel, the 21.3 km/L figure is a Malaysia Driving Cycle number obtained under controlled conditions; real-world consumption in Klang Valley traffic will be meaningfully higher, as it is for every car tested this way.
How does it sit against the rest of the B-SUV class?
Within the segment, the competitive picture divides along one line: turbocharged versus naturally aspirated. Several rivals in the class carry turbo engines and produce more power, and buyers who prioritise overtaking performance will feel that difference on a trunk road.
What the Traz offers instead is a lower entry price, a naturally aspirated engine with a long service history in the Malaysian market, and a dealer and parts network with unusually broad reach. For a buyer planning to keep a car for eight or nine years in a country where service accessibility varies sharply outside the major urban centres, that combination has real value that does not show up on a specification sheet.
It is also worth noting where the Traz sits within its own brand’s range. It is positioned above the smaller A-segment crossover, at a premium of roughly RM14,000 over that model — a gap that buys a larger footprint, more boot space and a different engine. Buyers cross-shopping internally should drive both back to back rather than assuming the more expensive car is automatically the better fit for their needs.
What about resale?
Too early to judge with certainty — the model has been on sale for well under two years, so there is no meaningful three-year residual data yet. The leading indicators are, however, favourable. High new-car sales volume builds the used-market familiarity that supports resale; a broad service network keeps ownership costs predictable for the second owner; and a five-star safety rating remains a selling point in the used listings.
The counterweight is the same volume that helps: a best-selling model produces a well-supplied used market in three to four years’ time, which tends to moderate prices. Buyers should treat strong resale as a reasonable expectation rather than a guarantee.
Who is it not for?
Three groups should look elsewhere.
- Families who need seven seats. The Traz is a five-seater. No amount of clever packaging changes that; a seven-seat MPV is a different purchase.
- Drivers who want turbocharged performance. 105 hp from a naturally aspirated 1.5 is adequate rather than quick. Fully loaded, on a highway on-ramp, it asks for planning.
- Buyers prioritising outright boot volume over ride height. Some hatchbacks and MPVs in the same price band carry more.
None of these are faults. They are the trade-offs that produce the price.
How should you test drive it?
Do three things the standard dealership loop does not cover. Drive it with passengers aboard, because a small naturally aspirated engine feels different with four adults in it. Take it up a steep multi-storey ramp. And park it in a genuinely tight bay to judge whether the reversing aids on your chosen variant are enough for your daily situation.
Quick answers
How much is the Perodua Traz in Malaysia?
From RM76,100 for the X variant and RM81,100 for the H, on the road in Peninsular Malaysia excluding insurance. East Malaysia pricing differs; confirm with a local outlet.
What engine does the Traz use?
A 1,496 cc naturally aspirated four-cylinder producing 105 hp and 138 Nm, paired with a D-CVT driving the front wheels.
Is the Perodua Traz safe?
It carries a five-star ASEAN NCAP rating and comes with an advanced driver assistance suite including pre-collision braking, lane departure prevention, blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert.
How many seats does the Traz have?
Five. Buyers needing a third row should look at a seven-seat MPV instead.
What warranty does it come with?
Five years or 150,000 km, whichever comes first.
Specifications, variant equipment and pricing should be confirmed on the manufacturer’s official model page before purchase, as they are periodically revised.