Proton Persona - Is it a safe family car?

We all need and deserve safe cars. Manufacturers should not think twice while introducing safety technology as standard in vehicles. Yes, the price might increase and many of us may argue that we only drive in the city and at “low speeds”. We don’t race and hence don’t need what is called as airbags or ABS either.

These are for professional drivers and what not. Notwithstanding all these excuses, if one were to buy a car equipped with these features, it will not only save his life in case of an emergency, it will also ensure that he comes out of an accident with minimum injuries. The day safety features become standard, it is but natural that the manufacturers will also have to spend less considering they will be mass market products. In developing countries like ours, strict government regulations have to be put in place to ensure that no vehicle goes on the road without having airbags and ABS in it. Countries like India are already on the way to implementing all this by early 2019 and we sincerely hope the Malaysian government takes a similar step.

Ignoring the government apathy, there are certain car manufacturers which take the issue of safety the way it should be taken - very seriously. For example, home bred car makers like Proton. Every Proton car now comes with dual airbags and ABS with EBD as standard. That’s commendable considering some foreign brands still do not do it.

Proton’s popular Persona sedan, for example, is one of the key contenders in the B-segment in Malaysia. The car itself is based on the Proton Iriz hatchback and is the messenger of the “affordable safety” moto of the company. Proton offers the Persona with a choice of three trims - Standard, Executive, and Premium. While all three differ in terms of the interior and exterior spec, they all run on the same engine. Dual airbags, ABS with EBD, and Electronic Stability Control are all offered as standard on the Proton Persona. There is also Hill Hold Assist, Brake Assist, ISOFIX child seat mounts and three-point seat belts for all the occupants of this five-seater car.

A crash test conducted by the New Car Assessment Program for Southeast Asian Countries or ASEAN NCAP as it is popularly known awarded the Proton Persona 2017 model a perfect five stars. The Persona tested was a base trim. A score of 14.7 was awarded to the Persona out of the maximum 16 available for Adult Occupancy Protection or AOP. An 82 per cent compliance score was achieved by the Persona for Child Occupant Protection or COP. In fact, the top spec Premium trim of the Persona comes with six airbags in all. These ratings were nearly the same as the donor car, the Iriz.

ASEAN NCAP officials were quoted saying that the structure of Persona is rigid and while it doesn’t factor in their tests, the pedestrian protection too looks to the be on mark. The aim here is to ensure that if the car were to hit a pedestrian, then there should be minimum damage to him. The bumpers and hood should be made of energy absorbing materials.

ASEAN NCAP chairman, Prof Dr Wong Shaw Voon said, “With the Proton Persona, Proton provides options for the consumers to choose, ranging from hatchback to sedan, without compromising any safety performance. Although the Persona is an extended rating, ASEAN NCAP had verified the results by examining the crash data from the development test by Proton at MIROS PC3 and comparing it with Iriz’s crash data,”

His colleague ASEAN NCAP secretary-general, Khairil Anwar Abu Kassim agrees and says, “There have been tremendous improvements in the safety level of cars manufactured in Malaysia and also the ASEAN region in general, since the establishment of ASEAN NCAP. We can now see excellent safety levels have been incorporated among new locally produced cars. Proton Persona is one good of example of such cars.”

All being said, this answers the main question - the Proton Persona is indeed a safe car. Both for the grown-ups as well as their kids. It makes sense to buy this car then which retails for RM 46,000 to RM 60,000.