Proton Ertiga vs Perodua Alza - The affordable MPV fight

Proton and Perodua are the two flag bearers of the Malaysian auto industry, both being indigenous manufacturers and all. While initially, there was no competition or rather competing products between the two to maintain the goodwill, now that isn’t the case. Both compete with each other in almost all the segments they operate in. This time around, the battle is in the compact van segment. While Perodua has got the Alza, its no-frills low-cost van, Proton looked towards Suzuki and borrowed the Ertiga van.

The Proton Ertiga, except for the badge change, has nothing different than what Suzuki offers. So, which one of these compact vans should you consider if you are in the market looking for a made-in-Malaysia product? We help you with the decision making.

Looks

Both the car here look like proper MPVs, however, the Ertiga is the more car-like amongst the two. It is slightly curvy and the facelift which was launched recently is even more modern looking. The all-new Ertiga however still eludes our market and it will only be a matter of time before it shows up here. For the time being, the first-gen car which was launched five years ago soldiers on with minor nips and tucks. That being said, the Perodua Alza has a rakish design to it. This ensures maximum cabin space. The dimensions speak for themselves. Perodua’s Alza measures 4,270mm in length, 1,695mm in width and is 1,620mm tall, whereas the Ertiga is 5mm shorter and has a higher height at 1,685mm. The Ertiga’s wheelbase though is 10mm shorter at 2,740mm. Ground clearance for both the vehicles is also very different with the Perodua sitting closer to the ground at 133mm while the Proton is a good 50mm higher up.

The Ertiga is the more car-like here and should easily appeal to all.

Interior

Suzuki has made a name for themselves with crafting smart interiors. Since this is just a rebadged model, the quality, and consistency of panel gaps remain the same. In short, it is a well executed and appointed interior.

The top-spec trim of the Ertiga is called Executive Plus and has a seatback pocket for the front passenger and driver, second row AC and driver seat height adjuster. In the same vein, the Perodua Alza is a Toyota underneath and while the panel gaps aren’t as well put as the Proton’s, it still passes muster. It also offers similar features to the Ertiga with the only exception that there is no keyless entry into the cabin, which the Proton provides for.

Both the cars will seat 7 comfortably but here the Ertiga has an advantage as the last row of seats will accept mid-sized grown-ups very comfortably while for the Alza, only children can sit on the last row. The driver is perched slightly higher in the Alza though and having a huge glass area gives it the advantage of giving the driver excellent visibility throughout.

The Ertiga takes the stakes here too.

Engine and performance

Both the cars get one engine and two transmission option. The K14B engine in the Proton Ertiga is of 1.4-litre capacity and is a naturally aspirated petrol. The engine makes 91 PS of power and 130 Nm of torque. It can be optioned either with a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic. The Alza gets a bigger 1.5-litre petrol engine that is good for 104 PS and 136 Nm. The transmission options are similar to the Ertiga.

Out on the road, both the engines perform nicely, however, the slight power advantage means the Alza’s motor breathes better. It is more at ease carrying seven folks and chugging along on the highway than the Ertiga which feels a bit out of breath. Both the cars will do sub-15 sec 0-100kmph run and the top speed will be around 160 kmph. Efficiency-wise, the smaller engined Proton edges past the Perodua by a marginal increment. Both the cars should comfortably give around 13 kmpl easily.

The Perodua has an edge over here with a bigger engine

Ride and handling

Again, this department is same for both the cars - MacPherson struts with torsion beams and coil springs make up the front and rear suspension components. Overall both the cars feel planted on the road but the Ertiga is more car-like to drive. The Alza in the meanwhile feels like truck controls are relatively easy to operate. Ride quality wise the Alza without passengers doesn’t feel as bumpy as the Ertiga. Load both of them up and the Alza still absorbs bumps better. NVH wise, the Suzuki is better insulated from what’s happening on the road.

The Alza is a better-damped vehicle.

Safety

Both the cars come with dual front airbags, ABS along with EBD. The Perodua gets Brake Assist too. The GNCAP rating for both the cars is tied up with a four-star rating. Both also get discs in the front and trailing drums at the rear.

It’s a tie here and if we were to pick one, it will be the Alza with its better braking performance.

Conclusion

Both the cars look evenly matched, however, look closer and you will see that the Alza has got the Proton’s number. It will carry almost the same number of people, have a decent fuel economy, and what more, has good ride quality too. The Ertiga isn’t a bad choice, but there is a new one which should make it to our shores pretty fast. We suggest you wait for it. The deal on the Alza sweetens the equation even further when you factor in the RM 47,979 price tag when compared with RM 53,773 for the Ertiga.