Proton’s run of product updates continues with the preview of the facelifted Proton Persona today – the B-segment sedan has been comprehensively revamped with 303 tweaks for the 2019 model year.
Set to be launched later this month – at the same time as the also-facelfited Iriz – the Persona will be open for booking starting tomorrow, March 12. As with its hatchback sibling, there will be an online flash booking for the car until March 22, with a fee of RM9.99.
UPDATE: Online flash booking for the facelifted Proton Persona is now open – click here.
Let’s start with the exterior, beginning with the redesigned front end. The sweeping chrome trim, which spans across the entire width of the car, incorporates what Proton calls the “Ethereal Bow” design, now wrapping under the grille. This grille, by the way, features the new “Infinite Weave” pattern first seen on the X70 SUV.
The outgoing model’s massive lower grille has also been slimmed down, while the air intakes flanking it (now with LED daytime running lights) have been made larger; a slim gloss black strip ties it all together. At the rear sits a revised rear bumper with a chrome strip, plus a new rear bootlid garnish with the Proton script. New 15-inch two-tone multi-spoke alloy wheels complete the look.
Inside, the Persona keeps its black and beige colour scheme but gains a frameless rear-view mirror, new part-leather upholstery and a gearknob from the X70, complete with a leather boot. You also now get features such as automatic headlights and an auto up/down driver’s side window (previously only auto down), and like the Iriz, the Persona has a new instrument cluster with cleaner dials and a large colour multi-info display.
You’ll also find a new infotainment system – a version of the Geely Smart Ecosystem (GKUI) developed in collaboration with ECARX – with a seven-inch touchscreen and the same “Hi Proton” voice control function as the X70 (minus a few commands for some of the vehicle features). As with the X70 and Iriz, the Persona gets internet connectivity via a built-in eSIM, which Proton says is a first for the segment.
The powertrain remains unchanged – there’s a 1.6 litre VVT four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 107 hp at 5,750 rpm and 150 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm, paired to either a five-speed manual gearbox or a CVT. Proton says that the CVT has been recalibrated to reduce fuel consumption by around three to four percent, and changes have also been made to achieve improved braking performance and refinement.
As before, there are three variants – Standard, Executive and Premium – and the specs are as follows:
Proton Persona 1.6 Standard MT/CVT
Gets as standard:
Engine and transmission
- 1.6 litre VVT engine
- 1,597 cc naturally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol
- 107 hp at 5,750 rpm, 150 Nm at 4,000 rpm
- Five-speed manual gearbox or CVT
- ECO Drive Assist light
- MacPherson strut front suspension, torsion beam rear
- Ventilated front disc brakes, rear drums
Exterior
- Reflector halogen headlights
- 15-inch alloy wheels
- Shark fin antenna
- Bootlid spoiler
Interior
- Manual air-conditioning
- Fabric upholstery
- Monochrome multi-info display
- Radio/CD player with Bluetooth and USB connectivity
- Two speakers
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Two rear USB ports
- 60:40 split-folding rear seats
Safety
- Dual airbags
- ABS with EBD and brake assist
- Stability control
- Rear ISOFIX child seat anchors
Proton Persona 1.6 Executive CVT
Adds on:
Exterior
- LED daytime running lights
- Keyless entry
Interior
- Push-button start
- Part-leather upholstery
- Multifunction steering wheel
- Colour multi-info display
- Auto down/up driver’s side window
- Seven-inch infotainment touchscreen
- Four speakers
- Reverse camera with dynamic guide lines
Proton Persona 1.6 Premium CVT
Adds on:
Exterior
- Automatic headlights
Interior
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Leather-wrapped gearknob with boot
- Frameless rear-view mirror
- 4G internet
- Voice command, navigation, music streaming
Safety
- Six airbags (front, side, curtain)
Five colours will be offered, including Jet Grey, Snow White, Ruby Red, Rosewood Maroon and Armour Silver. All colours are new for the Persona and come from Geely’s colour palette, except from Ruby Red which is a Proton hue.
GALLERY: 2019 Proton Persona 1.6 Executive
GALLERY: 2019 Proton Persona 1.6 Premium
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According to Proton Salesman, all their Proton models have taken a beating. Saga, Exora and Persona sales have dipped so much.
All the potential buyers went to buy the X70 instead despite being out of their price range and different category
Looks like with the X70, Proton shot itself in the foot
So, end of the day, every month, Proton sales are the SAME.
End of the year, don’t be surprised if total sales just 70,000 (now 60 plus)
Aiyoooo. The front face already look like game over car. How to compete with other game changing sedans then?
Whatever it is. I suspect you must be coming from Nissan Salesman or P2 Salesman. Which I seeing you every time bashing Proton, Toyota, Volvo, BMW, Mercedes and others. And moreover don’t ever think that john is using other names like my username named as Mario and Bros and other 30 dupes. You are the one who use over 50 usernames. So please stop saying that I am using other usernames. It is only you that you use other usernames
Interior hard plastic got change ?
If not … Thank you, Next
How much are you willing to pay? 50k? So tell me which car that cost 50k has soft touch plastic all around.
This segment all the car used hard plastic exclude those luxury brand.
The 80K new Vios use hard plastic … same as current Honda City, HRV … maybe you’re looking a right car for the wrong price, on the wrong expectation
The best gets better.
P1, Geely, Mesidis, VolvoCar, VolvoTrucks, Lotus, L&C, Polestar > all
The worst gets worse
all, Geely, Mesidis, VolvoCar, VolvoTrucks, Lotus, L&C, Polestar > P1
Failed trolling is failed trolling. Try harder bro. Try much harder.
so cheap! still offering 2 speakers, classic key fob, 2 airbags, no brake assist. what a fail marketing. that’s why Proton is behind Perodua
Do you even read the article? It stated the base model get ABS, EBD and BRAKE ASSIST, i repeat, BRAKE ASSIST. Oh and VSC. Put the 2 speakers aside when you can add it at Brother’s, it’s still better than your Bezza bro where only the full spec offering VSC, no 1.5 engine & sampah handling. Memang berbezza dari persona.
Are you confusing Brake Assist with Autonomous Emergency Braking? I hope you know they’re not the same thing. Brake Assist have been around since 1996 even became standard in cars from 2009.
Oh man, no more black paint?
I would like a list of those 300++ parts that were improved on both the Iriz and Persona respectively though. Just curious.
Wow, pandaila oghang malaysia design kereta.
The seats, wow! Quite the intricate pattern for a car in this price range. What a stunner! Good job Proton!
Good luck…
Can I assume that competitor B is Bezza and competitor C is City?
Ya
No more leather seats? Why?? Then pls add rear seat foldable headrests..
Should be 1596 cc instead of 1496 cc, typo i think.
Yep, an error on my part, sorry about that. It has been fixed, thanks for pointing it out!
No worry Jon bro. this the final opportunity for Msians to grab P1 homegrown indigenous car, so ayuh geng. Sama2 sapu smue Persona!
All the current Campro powered Protons with facelifts are actually just buying time,before Geely complete range of right hand drive versions arrive.
You cant depend on just selling X70 to generate sales,cos not many people can qualify for a rm100k loan.
So ,the goyang kaki have to produce something to generate sales for the saga,Iriz,persona.
By 2021,most of the current campro powered cars are considered Jurassic..so Proton fanboys have 2 more years to syiok syiok .After that ,only Muzium negara will stock the last last production batch as ‘a failed white elephant.”
If Geely didnt acquire part of proton,taxpayers will still be paying into the money pit.Thank you,Dr.li for saving protong.
Meanwhile petrol guzzling dinosaur Vios engine still on sale since 2003. When will your Toyota replace their 16 year old engine?
Hi proton vs android auto&apple car play
Which is better?
even after facelift, the car still doesn’t have any mechanical changes. why no plonk in the CFE unit for the high spec?
Why didn’t Honda put the 1.5T in your dad’s Civic into City FL then?
Dr Li chunrong mantap !!
The Persona sales same as Vios, cannot beat City.
This persona and iris not selling well because of design defect to rear passenger..for rear passenger to get out from the car…you need to squeeze your feet to get out from the car…proton should move the rear seat further or redesign the bottom cushion and make the lower part of the rear door trim slimmer…
The bottom part of B pillar is too close the rear seat.. that is why you notice a special curve at the B Pillar bottom trim…
Sooo much better than that Iriz FL! Would be perfect if the rims are dual tone and all black interior.
Aiya cvt punch again? Buy that plotong car and later u still havent finish paying loan the gearbox kong oledi. Plus stupid timing belt engine will cost you more for replacement.
Do you mean VW gearbox.
This car looks like a frog!
No, the Bezza and Myvi looks like a ugly frog!!
Ugly but will sell well in Bolehland.
Does the 303 parts improved in this Persona include parts durability as well?
The executive variant like already had everything, the premium adds on like unnecessary. But hope they retain the full leather seat.
Why dont redesign tail light? Just redesign lower part of tail light to avoid modification of rear body, rear bumper much easier to mould new one.
down payment RM9.99 only! How many more debtors will failed to service hire purchasing loan soon?
9.99 its a booking la not d/p. Read properly
awaiting sales report for next 3 months
Must say this looks a bit better than previous one. Is that a new colour as well?
Any interested?
Ya, saya punya bapa minat
2 airbags in standard variant..fuhh
Bezza pun sama tak komplen pun.
Same like its rival Bezza la bro. 2 airbags also.
Rear seats still no adjustable headrests. Orz
Does standard get 60:40 foldable rear seats?
Got hybrid? Yeah!
The side profile of this car is hideous. Making the tyres looks tiny. Preve side profile is the best design by proton. But since this car is rounded mazda kodo design can make it look better. Maybe Master Theo can do something about this.
I think it will look better if it has rear kink like honda city. horizontal lines can help break the view
still with the jerky cvt and the same sh*t brake?
2 times tuning already
Come on Proton just give us X50 ady. Not interested in the previous line up.
I genuinely love proton. I really do. But even proton have their bad side too.
I mean, they need to stop telling bs such as the ethereal bow design language, ertiga=third row. Stop it. Non car-enthusiasts don’t bother while car-enthusiasts already know those are just geely current design and suzuki original nameplate.
I seriously love the iriz before the facelift but this bs from proton gotta stop.
where they learn to draw the car design?
why does it has to has a tiny wheel and bulging body…like those days the proportionately wrong ford fiesta sedan, mazda 2 sedan (the previous version)
Campro vvt & punch cvt? Definitely nope! Next car please
The facelift looks better but still cannot beat last gen persona shape, last gen looks better as a sedan, a sporty+elegent looks. This gen looks like a frog.
Not bad.. Price will be the key for Persona & Iriz..
I think price will be around 38k – 48k only.
Really good pricing from Proton. Is only half of City / Vios pricing. 18 yrs ago.. a 1.6 waja kosong also cost RM 60k+