Perodua just updated its popular seven-seater SUV for 2021. The Perodua Aruz now sports a new Passion Red colour option, integrated side steps, and even automatic door-locking. The best part is, there’s no price increase either, so the SUV still starts from RM68,526 for the base X variant and RM73,226 for the range-topping AV model.

The integrated side steps are standard for both the X and AV variants of the Aruz, though the new Passion Red metallic colour – which effectively replaces the previous flagship Amazon Green shade – is only reserved for the higher-end AV model. Nonetheless, the automatic door-locking mechanism (it kicks in above 20km/h) is standard too.

In the event of a collision, the feature also ensures that the doors will be automatically unlocked.

These are all the changes the 2021 Aruz receive. Beyond that, it still comes with a 1.5L NA four-cylinder engine that outputs 102PS and 133Nm of torque. Paired with a four-speed automatic transmission, the SUV has a rated fuel efficiency of up to 15.6km/l.

Other standard equipment of the Aruz include six airbags with Vehicle Stability Contol (VSC), LED headlamps, as well as 17-inch alloy wheels. The higher-end AV model, on the other hand, gets Perodua’s Advanced Safety Assist (ASA) 2.0 suite of driver assistance systems, leather seats, auto headlamps, and even an integrated dash cam.

As mentioned, prices of the Perodua Aruz remain the same at RM68,526 and RM73,226 for the X and AV models respectively. Do note that these prices are with sales tax exemption applied, which is set to expire by the end of June 2021.

“Of all our models, the Perodua Aruz benefitted the most from the government’s sales tax exemption – its prices dropped by 6%, or over RM4,000. So if you’ve been eyeing an Aruz, book now – the exemption is slated to end in under 60 days,” said the CEO of Perodua, Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad.