Best fuel economy: surely not Innova! I think Livina would have the best FC. I own one (the 1.6ltr version) and so far can get about 13-14km/ltr combined city/highway where daily route going thru Tun Razak evening traffic jam.

Practicality: Innova would be the best since it's the most spacious and comfortable. Avanza should be the worst since it's the smallest and the most uncomfortable due to very bouncy ride.

Performance: would be the Innova since got the most powerful engine, but also consumes the most fuel. But if you get the Livina 1.8, it's not too shabby as well. I'm only using the 1.6 and already taken it to >170kph, pick up is also decent.

IMHO it's between Innova & Livina. Innova is more comfortable and powerful but also most expensive and most thirsty. Livina IMHO is good enough already, decent car all around. The Livina stability and handling is also I think the better of the 3 since it's the lowest chassis, and it's the easiest to control since it's FWD (it won't oversteer). The car is also smaller than Innova so should be a better transition for your mom from Avanza, as opposed to Innova which is a much bigger car than Avanza (unless your mom is also used to driving a rather big car). Maintenance is also pretty cheap. The only other good option for your mom after Avanza, I'd say is the Alza, way much better than Avanza while still using the same engine, but it's the smallest of the bunch.

IMHO all MPV are relatively floaty as they're not designed to go higher speeds anyway. Having said that I've taken the Livina to >170kph and I think not that bad. I've also driven it to Cameron highland (both routes) and Genting, and it handles decently around those twisty stuff as it's not that heavy. I think it's one of the better ones in terms of handling among the bunch of MPVs with Avanza being the worst.

As for the 3rd world thing, IMHO all of these MPVs including Exora are the same class anyway. Exora seems to offers the most but it's also the biggest one. I alos don't know the reliability of Proton cars (at least I trust Nissan & Toyota engines a lot more as they're already very well proven despite maybe older technology). The handling would also not be so responsive due to it's weight (similar to Innova). So the question is whether the mom is used to driving such big cars.
I agree though, that Alza might be the better option.

This post has been edited by 6UE5T: May 25 2013, 05:56 PM

Innova getting 11-12km/ltr in city drive is very good already, probably too good to be true especially if got into some traffic jams.

For aircon, yeah Livina is not that good since it relies much on the front blower. It has a middle outlet at the bottom but not strong as you need to switch the aircon to blow also to your feet if you want the middle vent to get more cool air. So for passengers in the 3rd row, it will take a while for the cool air to get there. Middle row still not too bad. Aircon is one of the weakness of this car IMHO. The cooling coil is also not good quality (at least up to my version), but mine is already replaced under warranty when it leaked and after that no more issue. Btw Nissan already offers option to install middle blower at additional cost, so you can take this option if need to.

Well as you said, totally different price range. Nothing is free I guess.
I still think the Livina has decent handling & stability for its' price, compared to the others.

Well I do own Livina and Avanza before. So yeah IMHO Livina still wins hands down to Avanza, I won't even think twice in saying that.

This post has been edited by 6UE5T: May 25 2013, 09:43 PM

- Much more comfortable since it's not bouncing like the Avanza, and more quiet too.
- Much better handling on high speeds and during cornering since it's much lower ride height and wider. It feels more like a high station wagon instead of a tall MPV. If I drive the Avanza like I drive my Livina, I'd have flipped it many2 times over!
- I think Livina is a bit more spacious than Avanza.
- In my experience the Avanza is not that fuel efficient and the Livina is better FC with bigger engine and more torque too.
- Livina feels more solid as opposed to the Avanza which feels like a tin can!
- Finally the Livina is way2 much better looking car than Avanza, plus it has a lot more body kit options to make it look even better still!

So in my book, no contest really.

If want cheaper or prefer Toyota engine, better go with Alza than Avanza. It has the same engine, more spacious, better ride quality, better FC, much better look too, and much cheaper some more! Another no contest really!

Sorry meant to type "own" but got my sequence wrong! My regular typo mistake.

Well anyway I think the Livina do handle pretty stable at highway cruising. Even my wife has driven it up to 120kph only for me to tell her to slow down a bit! So yeah, for an MPV, it's not so bad in this aspect.

I guess we just have to agree to disagree on those.

Btw if want to buy Livina, there's already a facelift model in other countries, not sure when to arrive in Malaysia.

This post has been edited by 6UE5T: May 25 2013, 11:20 PM

It's already arrived in Indonesia, see it here:
http://www.modifikasi.com/showthread.php/4...na-di-Indonesia

Hahaha, yeah that's especially because of the rear lights.

My 1.6AT Livina usually can average around 11-13kms/ltr combined city/highway on RON95. If drive mostly highway, then can reach 13-14kms/ltr.