Proton Iriz, Persona facelift: 10,000 bookings since launch, 2,000 units sold within first month of sales

Proton Iriz, Persona facelift: 10,000 bookings since launch, 2,000 units sold within first month of sales

It has been a little over a month since the facelifted Proton Iriz and Persona were introduced to the market, but it seems they are off to a good start. According to Proton, the collective bookings for the B-segment models totalled at just over 10,000 units, of which 2,000 units have found new homes.

We’ve already gone through the pair in detail, but here’s a recap. The Iriz gets a considerable makeover, starting with a new face that’s dominated by an “Ethereal Bow” chrome grille with “Infinite Weave” pattern. The rear gets a thick black plastic panel that bridges the tail lights, and it’s also where you’ll find the Proton lettering instead of the tiger emblem.

Inside, the hatch wears an all-black theme with new fabric seat pattern, new instrument panel (with full-colour multi-info display), perforated leather on the steering and steering voice control button. The big news is fitment of the new seven-inch head unit with built-in eSIM, as well as “Hi Proton” voice commands, although this is only reserved for the range-topping model.

Pricing for the 2019 Proton Iriz starts from RM36,700 for the 1.3 Standard MT, rising to RM39,700 for the CVT version and RM44,700 for the 1.3 Executive CVT. Beyond that, the reintroduced 1.6 Executive CVT costs RM46,700, while the range-topping 1.6 Premium CVT goes for RM50,700. All prices are on-the-road without insurance, inclusive of a five-year/150,000 km warranty.

Next up is the Persona. Like the Iriz, it also gets the “Ethereal Bow” grille design, but that chrome element carries the whole grille, as opposed to just the logo on the Iriz. That also gives the “Infinite Weave” pattern more prominence. At the back, there’s a new rear bumper with a chrome strip, plus a new rear boot lid garnish with the Proton script logo.

For the cabin, the Executive and Premium models both get the seven-inch touchscreen head unit with Bluetooth and smartphone pairing functions, but only the latter gets the “Hi Proton” voice control function. The built-in eSIM is included, and bundled together in the package are online music streaming and online navigation. Of course, this comes with a five-year data package (1GB monthly), as per the X70.

There are four variants of the Persona on sale, starting with RM42,600 for the Standard MT, RM44,600 for the Standard CVT, RM49,600 for the Executive CVT, whereas the top Premium CVT costs RM54,600.

Engine offerings remain the same as before – both are available with a 1.6 litre VVT engine with 107 hp at 5,750 rpm and 150 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm, paired to either a five-speed manual or a CVT automatic. The Iriz has a 1.3 litre option that makes 94 hp and 120 Nm at 4,000 rpm.

Meanwhile, the Proton X70 SUV continues to rake in numbers – to date, over 30,000 bookings for the five-seater SUV have been made, with Proton stating that approximately 14,000 units have been delivered.

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Matthew H Tong

An ardent believer that fun cars need not be fast and fast cars may not always be fun. Matt advocates the purity and simplicity of manually swapping cogs while coping in silence of its impending doom. Matt's not hot. Never hot.

 

Comments

  • Md Hashim Al-Attas on May 28, 2019 at 10:44 am

    This is because the pricing is so cheap and attractive to Malaysians. I saw Iriz pricing also I forgot Myvi totally lah.

    But it is sad, after China company took over only, Proton decides to give cheap pricing to Malaysians

    Proton should have done this 20 years back, being a Malaysian National car company, it should have given cheaper cars to their rakyat long before

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 39 Thumb down 10
    • Saywhat on May 28, 2019 at 3:19 pm

      Thats we called desperate move. Lastime very ego maaaa. Now desperate to beat p2. Gv cheap oso still cant beat p2 how ehh?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 16
    • Earlier Protons were well spec-ed and well priced..
      But the last 15 years We have been ripped off…

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 4
    • Proton done before, only u dunno

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 3
    • Due to reduce vendor pricing 30%, now P1 each car earn RM2000, not like P2 each car earn RM10k

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 3
  • anonymous on May 28, 2019 at 10:53 am

    so much, but i never see any Iriz and Persona FL on the road in my city

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 22
    • Saywhat on May 28, 2019 at 3:12 pm

      Iriz and persona design so so ugly thats why less on road. Persona body big tyre rims tiny so ugly. Myvi, axia, alza, bezza u can see almost everywhere. In 10 cars, 8 are p2, and 2 are p1.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 24
    • suomynona on May 28, 2019 at 9:52 pm

      You must be staying outside KL then

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 1
    • potato on May 29, 2019 at 12:43 am

      depends where you normally drive. big cities like Kuala Lumpur, obviously you will see more high class cars.

      smaller towns or kampung is probably where you will see those new Protons.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
  • eeeriz on May 28, 2019 at 11:03 am

    I’m one of the 10,000 bookings and still waiting. Promised to delivery before raya, and hopefully they will deliver. Please…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 34 Thumb down 5
    • Saysaysaja on May 28, 2019 at 3:13 pm

      Dont worry. U will get yours after raya for sure.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 10
    • Lucky me on May 29, 2019 at 12:03 am

      Got my persona premium like 2-3 days after giving the dealer a call and made a booking. The dealer even when out of his way to find the exact model colour we wanted

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
  • Cooldown on May 28, 2019 at 11:04 am

    So iris pricing comparable to axia, while persona pricing up against myvi. Still axia n myvi the winner. Lols.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 37
  • Mee goreng mamak on May 28, 2019 at 11:07 am

    This is not a great news. I expect around like 20,000 bookings but unfortunately no. Reason is simple, because the design looks boring and game over. I think Proton should learn from Perodua because Perodua’s game changing Bezza sales is very amazing. Perodua must have a game changing strategy to teach Proton how to sell cars like hotcakes

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 46
  • The power of branding…. Always market your flagship model like the X70 and ppl will also buy your lower range products because they “feel the connection” towards the flagship models… German brands like Merc and BMW do this very well..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 34 Thumb down 4
  • john doe on May 28, 2019 at 11:43 am

    campro anymore future with Geely engine coming in?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 3
  • Not Toyota Fan on May 28, 2019 at 11:49 am

    Wait till the X50 (SX11) arrives next year. It’ll easily be 10,000 orders in the first week of launching.

    Mampus kilang Tg Malim, kena double shift just to keep up with orders. QAQC jangan drop standard yah.

    Edar will bengang on how to deliver, tak cukup trailer, SA will bengang but you alls jangan lansi macam dulu2 zaman 90s; nak under table, tak layan customer, sombong, take it or leave it attitude, force customer take unnecessary accessories package …

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 32 Thumb down 3
    • Saywhat on May 28, 2019 at 3:08 pm

      Mampus also local staff kena buang and bawa semua staff china masuk kerja. So fully china own in the end. No more national car.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 34
      • rally_fan (Member) on May 28, 2019 at 4:20 pm

        wonder where you got that logic from. the whole point you open a factory in another country, is to take advantage of the labour they have there. even if proton is 100% owned by geely, proton is still proton, geely is geely, volvo is volvo, etc. if what you say is true, then the mini plant in oxford must be 100% staffed by germans because bmw owns them.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 22 Thumb down 2
        • suomynona on May 28, 2019 at 9:54 pm

          Exactly, if not the Union Jack design on the Mini is pointless then?? Shud put German flag instead

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
      • Jeremy on May 28, 2019 at 6:18 pm

        Yeah this must be the same reason why Honda UK closed down. They wanted to replace the local Brits with imported Japanese workers and the UK didn’t allow it, so Honda UK closed down in protest. I’m sure about this as you are with that dumb, cockamamie lie.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
    • Uncle Sam on May 29, 2019 at 12:54 pm

      Already happening for X70 bookings

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • To the basher: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 20 Thumb down 1
    • Mario and Bros on May 28, 2019 at 4:04 pm

      Spot on john!

      As I told you again, very soon Proton will be back to leader as no.1 sales again as Perodua will no longer be leader sales again as Perodua will not be no.1 sales anymore. Nowadays, Proton is doing better than Perodua because Proton service is now doing well compare to the past. Unlike Perodua, Many owners said that Perodua service is very bad, I guess.

      Anywhere, also Proton is getting better powerful engines, technological features and more safety features. Whereas, Perodua is giving basic things to the customers like 4 Speed Auto, basic technological features and basic features but giving advanced Perodua Safety Features and Powerful 1.5L Dual VVT-I engine without turbo to the customer. That is why many people are started to buy Proton again. So expected more customers to buy Proton to pull up Proton sales again.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 32 Thumb down 5
    • Basi..

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 7
    • Sama Kunta Loo on May 28, 2019 at 7:58 pm

      The better sentence and paragraph is:

      As I told you again, very soon Proton will be back to leader as no.1 sales again as Poodua will no longer be leader sales again anymore. Nowadays, Proton is doing better than Poodua because Proton service is now doing well compare to the past (true, “Bang, ini Proton lah” phrase when customer facing issues no longer be tolerated by China Geely management). Unlike Poodua, Many owners said that Poodua service is very bad and bloody expensive due to cut-throat standard practice.

      Anywhere, also Proton is getting better powerful engines, technological features and more safety features. Whereas, Perodua is giving shitty things to the customers like dino 4 Speed Auto (i hear it’s so easy koyak in less than a year or two), stupid rim and chromes, re-cycled Dual VVT-I engine, worse, no bloody temperature gauge only cheap stupid idiot light that may or may not light up when car overheated until front bonnet smoked up. That is why many people are started to buy Proton again as it’s more refined, with solid handling and strong chassis with HPF body stamping unlike Poodua’s weak chassis with cola tin body stamping where the car will be total lost when crashed with motorcycle.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
  • Happy on May 28, 2019 at 12:07 pm

    As X70 bookings and deliveries continues to go up even higher, monthly outpacing much cheaper Aruz, it is clear which is the new SUV king: Undoubtedly the X70!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 25 Thumb down 3
  • Veeeeeka on May 28, 2019 at 12:23 pm

    Still wanna say Bossku didn’t do the right thing by selling Proton to Geely? ;)

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 5
  • Ex-DRB staff on May 28, 2019 at 12:44 pm

    Hail Geely Chinas! Kowtow!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 1
  • Akmal on May 28, 2019 at 1:05 pm

    Bila lah proton nk get rid of that sux punch cvt bruh

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 1
    • rally_fan (Member) on May 28, 2019 at 4:22 pm

      the way i look at it.. this will definitely be the last time we see campro engines in a proton.. same with the exora. it just doesnt make sense to spend millions upon millions to change engines for these aging models.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 2
  • Mario and Bros on May 28, 2019 at 1:29 pm

    Good work Proton. In the few years later, Perodua will be no longer as first national carmaker sales which replaces by Proton as First national carmaker sales due to Proton has lots of technology, more safety features and more smoother engines than Perodua

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 29 Thumb down 3
    • Eeeeuuuwww! Are you sure with proton old campro and lousy punch cvt?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 6
      • Kunta Kentut on May 29, 2019 at 4:34 am

        Proton will no longer use campro and punch cvt for the future new model.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
    • I would say good work Geely and Dr Li Chunrong

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Got my new Iriz middle of May. A very comfortable car. Cheers.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 39 Thumb down 2
  • Eeeeuuuwww! Campro what..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 6
  • Daddykasi on May 28, 2019 at 4:41 pm

    Eeeuuww.. Campro.. Yurk!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 6
  • vVivi Zurianti on May 28, 2019 at 6:51 pm

    GO celebrate Hari Raya with new car…..Good luck if Proton can deliver to the customers the cars on time..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Hasmad on May 30, 2019 at 1:42 am

    Proton Persona owner here. Bought on March 2017.

    And I can positively say that my experience with Proton in the past were rather negative. Faulty infortainment system, I personally requested Proton to replace it for a brand new one, which is an improved very but all they did was fixing and replace the malfunctioning parts. To this day, although not severe, but still very annoying that it sometimes freezes at Proton logo.

    Airbag LED red light, another faulty part, it turns on and still remains even while driving. They found out that it was due to under my driver seat where the wiring became lose because I put some stuff underneath causing accidental pull to the “Weakly attached” wiring cables by my stuff. 8th time service already and I even went to as far as 30km just to have it serviced at the main branch. After that, the LED red light still turns on. 11th time, still no solved.

    I am frustrated enough to conclude that Proton is a very unprofessional company. Msia govt has given many chances to Proton to become number one car brand in Msia by increasing up other car brands’ price and after 30 years, still got no improvement. Why? Engine sucks, weak. After sales service was like “eh… it’s your car, not my problem”, no seriousness at all. Unprofessional service. And worst of all, BAD 2ND HAND RESALE VALUE.

    If I were you, I would avoid Proton completely. Proton Persona 1.6L CVT now costs RM54k? You buy now, you feel happy now. Later on, maybe after few weeks, or months or years, you will see your regret starts growing higher and higher.

    Buy Perodua, Honda, Toyota, VW or any other brand. Just avoid Proton at all costs OR you can regret for the rest of your life. Don’t tell me I didn’t warn you.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
  • Just got my Iriz today. Right off the bat, I honestly speaking that the CVT engine is certainly not the best and it still caused the lag when starting from 0kph. But on the other side.. once it start moving it get very smooth without a doubt.
    I would say it is a very decent car to get for people who have a tight budget or planning to get a new car for your new life
    Of course if you’re the kind of people who love speeding a lot and a smooth start, this is not your kind of car. Because it’s the CVT Engine, which I personally won’t mind after adaptation.

    Noise mainly caused by the tyres they give which is Silverstone tyres. I’ve been reading lot of recommendation for getting michelin ps3 so maybe that will be an alternative for you.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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