The Perodua Kenari is a
city car
The A-segment is the first category in the passenger car classification system defined by the European Commission. It is used for city cars, the smallest category of passenger cars defined.
A-segment sales represented approximately 4.2% of the ...
produced by Malaysian automotive company
Perodua
(), usually abbreviated to Perodua (), is Malaysia's largest car manufacturer, followed by Proton Holdings.
Background and history
Perodua was established in 1993 and launched its first 5-door hatchback, the Perodua Kancil, in August 1994 ...
. The Kenari is based on the second generation
Daihatsu Move
The is a kei car/city car manufactured by the Japanese automaker Daihatsu between 1995 and 2023, and was reintroduced in 2025. The Move is Daihatsu's response to the similarly designed Suzuki Wagon R that was introduced two years earlier in 19 ...
kei car
Kei car is the smallest category of Japanese expressway-legal motor vehicles. The term ''kei'' is a shortening of , (kanji: ), which translates to English as "light vehicle" ().
With restricted dimensions and engine specifications, owners ...
(minicar) with a 990 cc
DOHC
An overhead camshaft (OHC) engine is a piston engine in which the camshaft is located in the cylinder head above the combustion chamber. This contrasts with earlier overhead valve engines (OHV), where the camshaft is located below the combus ...
engine powering it. The name Kenari is a Malaysian name equivalent to the word canary, which translates to joy and freedom.
History
The Perodua Kenari was launched in 2000 with three variants: EX (Standard) (5-speed manual), GX (Deluxe) (5-speed manual) and EZ (4-speed automatic).
In April 2003, Perodua introduced the facelift model. Changes included new headlights, a new front grille and a 14" alloy wheel design that became standard throughout the 4-model range: GX, EZ, EZ Special (EZS) and GX Aero. The GX Aero was offered only with a manual transmission and was only available in Mistik Red. It had a body kit consisting of side skirts, a different spoiler and different styling for the rear lighting units. The interior of the GX Aero featured "cubic" printing on the centre dashboard console surfaces.
In September 2003, the company showed a hybrid version of the Perodua Kenari that didn't make it to production. The prototype used a 659 cc petrol engine which produced 30 kW/41 bhp of power and 57 Nm of torque, coupled to an electric motor that generated 18 kW/25 bhp of power and 100 Nm of torque.
In November 2006, the company introduced the Perodua Kenari RS.
Perodua ended production and sales of the Kenari in 2009 with no direct replacement model.
Variants
Malaysia
Gallery
File:Perodua Kenari (first generation, basic) (front), Serdang.jpg, 2000-2003 Pre-facelift (front)
File:Perodua Kenari (first generation, basic) (rear), Serdang.jpg, 2000-2003 Pre-facelift (rear)
File:Perodua Kenari (first generation) (front), Serdang.jpg, 2000-2003 Pre-facelift (front)
File:Perodua Kenari (first generation) (rear), Serdang.jpg, 2000-2003 Pre-facelift (rear)
File:Perodua Kenari Aero Sport.jpg, Facelift, Aero/AeroSport (front)
File:Perodua Kenari Aerosport side.jpg, Facelift, Aero/AeroSport (side)
Export
Perodua exported the Kenari to the United Kingdom in two variants: GX and EZ.
Powertrain
Sales
References
External links
Perodua Fan SiteKenari specifications
{{Perodua vehicles
Kenari
Cars introduced in 2000
Cars discontinued in 2009