Perodua Kelisa Hatchback (2002 - 2008) review

At a glance |
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New price | £4,554 - £6,638 |
Used price | £280 - £1,360 |
Fuel economy |
Not tested to latest standards
View pre-2017 economy specs
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Road tax cost | £135 - £220 |
Insurance group | 6 How much is it to insure? |
PROS
Very cheap to buy and run, frugal engine, easy and fun to drive
CONS
Noisy and unrefined, small number of dealers, basic interior, no ABS
The Perodua Kelisa gained fame as the cheapest new car on sale in the UK for some time. With a list price of less than £5,000 it offered affordable motoring along with rock bottom running costs. There’s a reason it was so cheap though. The basic and sparse interior isn’t the nicest place to spend time, it’s noisy and unrefined, plus safety kit is limited – amazingly it was never available with ABS.
It’s surprisingly fun to drive though and while the performance is slow, it’s good for nipping in out of town traffic. A tight turning circle means it’s a doddle to park too. It may lack sophistication, but it’s a good option for low-budget, no-nonsense motoring.