Perodua Kenari

Our verdict

A deeply embarrassing car to be seen in, or near for that matter, but in truth the weird looking and weirdly named Perodua Kenari is actually quite capable and an undeniable bargain to boot.

Comfort

The Kenari rides reasonably well, but there's way too much wind noise at motorway speeds courtesy of the slab-sided design, and the engine makes a racket when it's being stretched a little.

Performance

The same wheezy little 1.0-litre 3-cylinder engine from the Kelisa powers, or rather fails to power, the Kenari. Although it does a reasonable job around town it's alarmingly inadequate on the open road.

Cool

The only car that appears to be substantially less cool than the Kelisa, the Perodua Kenari has the capacity to make small children point and laugh and grown men to turn away in pity or disgust.

Quality

Expect few problems from the mechanicals in the Kenari, but don't apply the same ebullience to the cheaply finished interior. If it looks this bad new it'll look truly dreadful after a bit of wear and tear.

Handling

Its short wheelbase and ponderously high roofline mean it was always going to be an act of blind faith to chuck the Kenari into a corner, but it fares surprisingly well in this respect despite very slow steering.

Practicality

Despite looking like a small MPV there's nothing particularly clever about the Kenari's small and rather cramped interior. The tailgate is hinged to the side like a door though, which makes accessing it easier. Or at least different.

Running costs

It's very cheap to buy and the tiny engine will be impressively frugal around town. Don't expect string residuals on a car with a badge like this though, and be aware that the warranty is just two years long against an industry standard three.