I need a car in carrying plenty heavy stuffs in boxes.
So I need a spacious car.
Maybe 2-4 mths once, I'll use the car on a long trip back kampung with 4 adults and 3 children.

After looking at the showroom, I'm more inclined to innova with full spec.
But the sales person told me that innova is under-powered compared to avanza (example, going up Genting with 6 adults).

I cant afford RM150k car (mostly at RM100k with current financial ability).

My primary concerns will be:
1st, Space for carrying stocks.
2nd, Fuel Consumption.
3rd, Engine Power (I can accept lack sudden pick-up, but not on declined acceleration with heavy load)
4th, Comfort on going holiday or long trip with family.
5th, Part availability and maintenance cost.

I am worry if innova is really high on FC and terrible speed when carrying heavy stuffs.
It looks spacious to me compared to avanza, exora, alza, grand livina etc.
But if innova doesnt live up to my expectation, I could save up that 40k and get a lesser-space-cheaper more value for money car (like exora bold CFE or Avanza)

I dont know how to check the condition of 2nd hand car, so buying a 2nd hand car like estima could spell trouble for me.

Should I stick to innova, or is there other spacious car out there with 100k budget?
That can fit my needs.

*************************************
HERE IS MY DECISION : dated 18 Nov 2012.
waiting for 2013 model

as compared to my previous rating on avanza 1.5G rm75k vs innova 1.5G rm110k.

total weight = car + 4 adults + 2 children + 1 SA

moving from standstill on normal level road,
exora > avanza > innova
*suprisingly, avanza has better pickup power than innova. it vroomed directly with power than the turtle innova.
*exora dashed out if u press the pedal, and i havent pressed it all. exora definitely more powerful than avanza here.

moving uphill,
exora > avanza > innova
*avanza gets better and better on uphill climb with D, while innova struggling to get pickup in D, but maintaining a steady uphill speed too. avanza is faster
*excellent pickup on exora. bravo on proton.

onto bump,
innova > exora > avanza
*innova felt more gentle while avanza, it's an ouch for 3rd row adults.
*exora still fell bumping, but not so rough, acceptable la.

going into rough road with minor pot holes (repaired),
innova > exora > avanza
*innova is more comfortable, and you and passengers will feel only slight uneasiness moving on the rough road. avanza is hard and bumpy.
*exora, still bumpy but better than avanza. innova is the best.
as corrected by Optiplex330, exora bumpiness may arise from overinflated tyre. if remember correctly, yes the tyre does feel tougher on road = over pumped.

on straight road,
exora > innova & avanza
*while innova is slow at first, but gradually when it collects the momentum it will accelerate faster and has better potential pickup than avanza when moving.
*exora should change its name from Bold to BOLT. the acceleration, or even the drive was a speedy powerful one.

braking after reaching 70km/h,
no test on exora. skip. innova > avanza
*innova is more better in gripping the road and brake, while avanza u will feel as it will lose control.
*raining day, dont dare to drive so fast and brake immediately. but, when driving accidentally toward bump, with almost immediate brake, it has good grip. can feel four wheels good grip even with medium braking. raining day some more.

stop at hill, reverse uphill,
exora > innova = avanza
*both innova & avanza has no problem reversing from standstill toward uphill.
*exora more power.

stop at hill, move forward uphill,
exora > innova > avanza
*innova will move slowly, and very slowly...collecting speed uphill.
avanza will vroom for 1s, not moving for that 1s, then slowly move uphill. but in term of power and pickup, avanza is faster in collecting speed, while innova, the same lame machine..
*in D mode, exora doesnt move an inch (without applying brake / handbrake). press pedal, vroom up. it didnt move backward like what other car owner felt, it stays at same spot and shoot up << should be exceeding 2k rpm for its turbo to work. if below that rpm, it just...stay stagnant & move slowly.

sterling control,
innova > exora > avanza
*somehow today i felt avanza isnt obedient. it has a slight feel of locking the sterling, thus giving me some "rough time" estimating the turning.
*i didnt like the feel of exora sterling wheel, and it requires a bit of more energy to turn it (keras). but the handling is good. even on rain.

air cond,
exora = innova > avanza
*3 rows of air cond in innova beats avanza flatly, even avanza has the blower in mid row to push the cold air to the back.
innova cools faster.
*every rows have its own air cond, no one complaining. so it's good.

space,
innova > exora or avanza
*you know...innova win.
*exora a bit cramp on 3rd row for adults (for children only). avanza is bigger in space on 3rd row.

comfort of passengers,
innova > exora > avanza
*spacious, not bumpy, two adults at 3rd row even claim can sleep on long journey home in innova. avanza, well short distance can, long distance torture.
*exora in mid rating, leather seat isnt our type i guess, it's hard. and i can feel long term uncomfortable sitting it. would consider trading it away for a more comfy fabric.

warranty,
cant remember
*2yrs vs 3 yrs, forgot which car but applied only to engine and gearbox. other small "stuffs" all 1yr warranty..
*3 years on exora bold

maintenance 0-100km,
dont know coz SA doesnt know on innova & avanza.
*1st five time service free. what free dont know. didnt ask too detail today.

noise from engine,
innova > exora > avanza
*avanza is cranking like mad when u step full pedal, while the sound from innova is...well as usual, gentle...because no matter how hard u step the pedal, it will just take it leisure time to accelerate.
*exora is loud. but not as loud as avanza when on speed. best is innova.

height,
innova > avanza > exora
*innova is higher thus good for going thru low flood area. but bad for elder to climb up car.
*i doubt exora and avanza can go through flood steadily like innova.

internal design,
innova > avanza
*avanza felt more like cheap plastic. but hey, that a 35k difference, so unfair to compare.
*exora, cheap plastic.

conclusion:
avanza
more those fast power driven person, and if you dont intend to carry passengers most time. because the comfort isnt there for them.
it accelerates without problem.

innova
for family guy that drive slow and steady (safe). this sure will be fuel drinker if u frequent to traffic jam area due to its heavy body and initial energy required to be spent to push it, but once moving it will accelerate with power. you just need to be extra careful when moving out from standstill, like in a junction.

exora
power & speed demon. a lot of gadgets like dvd player, GPS, rear sight on the rear mirror bla bla bla.
so all these add-ons cost money. and it's free. it's a good to go car with family. dont expect a very comfortable ride like innova, but definitely a better one than avanza. now there one thing that bother me is...the seats....

*************************

whoever owns this exora that i drove today, surely is a blessed one (dont ask me to check oil leaking, coz it's raining cat n dog!).
it doesnt have the idling and die off engine. i did it by stopping it, neutral, or brake with D. engine no die.
i did it with reverse, forward, reverse, forward, fast, engine no die.

fuel consumption no idea yet on this car, 1.6cc behaving with the power of 2.0cc, shouldnt be too much a menace.
and the power is awesome, with cash 80k. coupled with the cvt gearbox, no more hold, surge forward, feeling again. it's a smooth comfortable ride.

this model i driving is nov 2012. which batch no idea.
but well, if no competitor comes out at that price range 80k, with such spec and driving experience, i'd go for exora bold next year.
holding my urge and waiting for 2013 model out in Feb-March.

car model confirmed - Proton Exora Bold Premium.

Conclusion: i bought Exora CFE Standard, and saved that 11k for something else.