Before you start wondering if I have indeed completely taken leave of my senses, I can explain. For one, I believe that the Perodua Kelisa is the true spiritual successor of the original Mini, and everyone knew that the original Mini was a hoot to drive. A wheel at each corner meant that the Kelisa retained its Mini-esque go-kart like handling. Also like the original Monte-Carlo-rally-winning Mini, the lack of any creature comforts in the spartan cabin just amplifies the fun you’re having because you fell so connected to the road. There is no electronic nanny to dampen the fun.

Speaking of dampening the fun, the three cylinder engine might be considered to be a hindrance to the fun factor of the Kelisa, but I argue the opposite. The lack of power is what enhances the fun factor of the Kelisa. The fun factor of the Perodua Kelisa hails from the ethos of slow car fast, which originated with the Mazda MX5/Miata. Being able to be right on the limit of any car is when a car is most fun to drive, and like the Miata the limit of the Kelisa is hilariously low. With its three cylinder engine thrumming away under the tiny bonnet, no matter how hard you push you’re still within the speed limit of any road.

You may not be breaking the law, but you are cracking a grin being right on the limit of this tiny kei car.

And that brings me on to another potentially controversial statement. That is the Kelisa makes the perfect tōge car.

Yes, unlike the tōge legends like the AE86, Nissan Silvias or even the humble Mazda Miata, the Kelisa is a front wheel drive econobox with absolutely no power whatsoever. Any other car will wipe the floor with the Kelisa on the mountain road, so why does it make a good tōge car? Well its because after the taillights of your mates in E46 M3s, Porsche 911s and other much better tōge cars have disappeared off into the distance, then you will fully enjoy being on the absolute edge in the tiny little Kelisa. Unlike those way up front in their fire-breathing supercars who dare not even come close to the limits of their car less they lose control in spectacular deadly fashion, you in the Kelisa could absolutely take it to the ragged edge and you’ll still be within your lane. Rev the balls off it and you’ll still be behind the truck you’ve been trying to overtake, but you’ll have a wider grin than anyone once you’ve eventually reached the meet up point. Bonus fun points if you have opted for the base trim manual.

So there, that is the argument for why the Perodua Kelisa should be hailed as a hometown automotive hero. Sure to most people who owned it, the Perodua Kelisa was basically a transportation tool. It wasn’t fast, safe, comfortable, loaded with modern tech or luxurious, but it was cheap, reliable, economical, fuel efficient and a perfectly fine tool for transporting Malaysians at that time. It wasn’t conceived to be achieve greatness in its life, just to be an average car for the average Joe. However, it was because of how well it did fulfilled its role as a tool in Malaysian life, and it was also a hoot of a car, the Perodua Kelisa rightfully deserves to be hailed as a hometown automotive hero.



And to those who were so moved by this article and want to buy one of these heroes on the used market, I suggest to make it quick. Irrespective of whether your intentions of owning one are for it to be a reliable fuel efficient runabout/market-car or a fully prepped tōge monster, the prices of Kelisas are actually annoyingly high for what it is. There are newer Vivas and Myvis that are selling for lower prices than even the cheapest Kelisa. Just goes to show that there are people in the know who just know how good these little cars are.