This year is shaping up a lot to be like the year 2005. If you recall, it was that year that both Proton and Perodua decided to launch small hatchbacks, and despite the two cars not being of the same segment, comparisons were unavoidably made between the two.

The Proton Savvy was a smaller A-segment car while the larger B-segment Perodua Myvi became a runaway success for Perodua, so much that Perodua now even exports the Myvi to Indonesia with a Daihatsu badge.

The year 2014 is turning out to be another entry level hatchback year, with both Proton and Perodua set to launch small hatchbacks this year. The segments are reversed this time - Proton's GSC compact car is a B-segment car which is supposed to take on the Perodua Myvi, while the Perodua Axia is an A-segment replacement for the Perodua Viva.

But there is a third less known model actually - the Great Wall M4. It's also B-segment sized, more of a Perodua Myvi competitor, but has a unique selling point which is a higher ride height and crossover styling.

Although the Axia is now open for booking and we've seen the M4's pricelist, none of these three cars have actually been officially launched yet. Let's do a recap on these three small hatchbacks.

Perodua Axia

Perodua-Axia

Perodua has announced that the Perodua Axia will be open for booking tomorrow at a booking free of between RM250 to RM300 depending on variant. The cheapest variant is the Axia Standard E, which goes for RM24,900 for solid colour in Peninsular Malaysia. There are a total of four variants - the other three being Standard G, Special Edition and Advance.

We do know that at least one variant of the Axia will come with Perodua's new all-aluminium 1.0 litre engine, codenamed the 1KR. The question is whether the RM24,900 variant will get it or not. Compared to the Viva's 1.0 litre cast iron engine, it's a lot lighter, has a longer stroke, but loses its DVVT variable valve timing. The same 1KR-DE engine in Indonesia's Daihatsu Ayla and Toyota Agya promises a fuel consumption of 20-22km per litre.

We don't have any official dimensions of the Axia for now other than its boot space, which is expected to be 260 litres. However we can take some hints from the dimensions of the Daihatsu Ayla which it is based on.

The Ayla measures 3,580 mm long, 1,600 mm wide and 1,510 mm tall, with a 2,450mm wheelbase. This is longer and wider compared to the Viva (3,575mm long, 1,475mm wide), with a 60mm longer wheelbase as well, which should translate to a larger interior.

As for safety features, it's been a case of maximum two airbags and ABS across the board now. With even the range-topping Alza not featuring stability control or more than two airbags, we don't expect the Axia to come with anything of the sort.

Proton P2-30A GSC Compact Car

proton-gsc-tail-lamp

Proton's new model for this year is a B-segment model, which means it will compete with cars like the Perodua Myvi and the Honda Jazz. It would also be logical to assume that this car's platform and engine will eventually be used to develop the next generation Proton Saga.

There hasn't been any official details released by Proton on this car yet, other than it will be released this year, and a single teaser of the parts of the car's front grille and the car's headlamp design, which we now know feature projector lenses on at least one variant.

We've seen at least three variants on test - a base model with multi-spoke design wheel caps, a mid-range version with six-spoke alloy wheels and a range-topper with all-around bodykit and (what appears to be) larger 10-spoke wheels.

We've also had a peek into the interior thanks to overseas spyshots where the car was undergoing cold weather and stability control testing - it reveals one variant with fabric seats and a conventional head unit, and another with leather upholstery and a touch-screen media system.

The car may not be bargain basement cheap though. "Now Proton wants to produce cars which are of world standard, but you have to pay a higher price. You can't have a good car and pay a bad car price," Proton chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was quoted as saying in May this year.

To be competitive, we're expecting the new Proton to be priced around the Perodua Myvi, which starts from RM40k for the cheapest 1.3 XT manual variant up to RM60k for the 1.5 Extreme automatic. The Proton will have a safety advantage - our spyshots have confirmed that the car will be available with the vital ESP stability control feature. It would also be nice if it could be offered with six airbags (like the Preve and Suprima S) on the higher end variants.

Great Wall M4

Great_Wall_M4_Malaysia_ 075

The Great Wall M4 is an interesting proposition. Great Wall is a Chinese brand that's distributed in Malaysia by a company called Green Oranges. It's not had an official launch yet, but right hand drive versions of the car was previewed in July 2014, with a price list appearing in early August 2014.

Pricing with insurance starts from RM46,990 for the Standard to RM56,990 for the Premium in 5-speed manual form, while the 6-speed auto versions start from RM48,990 for the Standard right up to RM59,990 for the Premium.

These prices are aimed squarely at the Perodua Myvi, which is why we say Proton should be following the same formula. All variants are powered by a 1.5 litre engine with variable valve timing, offering 105 hp at 6,000 rpm and 138 Nm at 4,200 rpm.

The Great Wall M4 measures in at 3,961 mm long, 1,728 mm wide and 1,617 mm tall, with a 2,383 mm-long wheelbase and 185 mm ground clearance. As a comparison, the Myvi is 3,686mm long, 1,665mm wide and 1,545 mm tall, with a 2,440 mm wheelbase. So the M4 is longer, wider and taller than the Myvi, but has a shorter wheelbase.

Standard equipment across the line-up includes four disc brakes, ABS and EBD with brake assist, powered windows all-around, steering wheel audio controls, manual four-way adjustment front seats, dual airbags and front/rear foglights. When the CKD auto variants arrive, they will feature ESP stability control in the mix.

So with so many entry level hatchbacks launching this year, which one would you buy if you're in the market for one? Let us know in the voting poll below.

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