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Perodua Kelisa Hatchback review

2002 - 2008 (change model)
Parkers overall rating: 2.5 out of 52.5

At a glance

Price new £4,554 - £6,638
Used prices £585 - £2,405
Road tax cost £160 - £255
Insurance group 6
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Fuel economy Not tested to latest standards
Range 378 - 484 miles
View full specs for a specific version

Available fuel types

Petrol

Pros & cons

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

Written by David Ross Published: 6 June 2019 Updated: 6 June 2019

Overview

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.