Perodua - Kelisa

2002 onwards

To those in the know, the Perodua Kelisa is one of the best small cars in the UK. It's cheap to buy, very well equipped, easy to drive and affordable to run. It proves that a tight budget doesn't necessarily mean going without.

	Very cheap new and even cheaper used
	Low running costs
	Practical, reliable town car
	Old design without much equipment
	Cramped and unrefined
	Depreciation and eventual resale are problem areas

The 1.0 engine makes Kelisa an ideal town car. It's nippy, agile and there's good visibility from the large windows. Short motorway trips are possible, though the ride is very crashy and Kelisa can be badly affected by crosswinds, so it's not very comfortable at speed.
There's not a lot of room inside and Kelisa is quite narrow, which can be a problem for larger drivers. However, all the controls are well within reach and the cabin does feel light and airy. All models have electric windows, central locking and power steering.
Kelisa is exceptionally cheap to run, with low insurance and road tax, 45mpg fuel consumption and value-for-money servicing. The small dealer network is a problem, it means that buying and servicing your car could involve a long trip. Kelisa has been sold since 2002, but essentially the same car was on offer from Daihatsu as the Cuore between 1997 and 2003.