2019 Proton Persona is here, starts at RM 42,600

KUALA LUMPUR: How long did we wait for the 2019 Proton Persona? Quite a bit, right? After the updated sedan was unveiled in images in the month of February, earlier this year, the car was also previewed at Malaysia Autoshow 2019. The revisited Persona has been getting a lot of attention lately and the Malaysian masses, especially the automobile enthusiasts, have been waiting anxiously for the newest iteration of the car. Today, Proton has finally given rest to our impatient wait and launched the much-awaited sedan. Interestingly, just like the X70 SUV, Proton streamed the launch event live on its official Facebook page and YouTube channel.

To be exact, the 2019 Proton Persona has received a total of 303 updates and the sedan has surely has benefited from the Proton-Geely partnership. On the outside, the front end of the Persona features a new “Ethereal Bow” grille which is inspired by the X70. Moreover, this new grille also boasts the “Infinite Weave” pattern. The secondary grille on the Persona is also updated and now gets a slimmer shape. The air-intakes, on the other hand, are larger than before and house the horizontally stacked LED DRLs. 15-inch two-tone multi-spoke alloys, a shark fin antenna, chrome Proton text, rear spoiler, and other minor updates complete the refreshed look of the 2019 Proton Persona.

There are ample changes that have been made on the inside of the sedan. For starters, the new Persona now gets the X70 like black-and-silver gearknob and a frameless rearview mirror. The upholstery is now semi-leather-semi-fabric and feels nothing short of premium. The most interesting update on the inside is the new touchscreen infotainment system. It is a version of the Geely Smart Ecosystem (GKUI) that has been developed in conjunction with ECARX. We saw this advanced setup on the X70 and now other Proton cars have also started to receive the same. The infotainment system comes with all the needed facilities like Bluetooth connectivity, online navigation, voice control, 4G connectivity via an eSIM, and smartphone mirroring, among others.

Under the hood of the 2019 Proton Persona is the same old 1.6-litre VVT naturally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol motor that produces 109 PS of maximum power at 5,750 rpm and a peak torque of 150 Nm at 4,000 rpm. Power delivery duties are handled by either a five-speed manual gearbox or a CVT unit. Recently, Proton announced that the maintenance of the Persona will cost you 32% less than other cars in the segment. The various 2019 Proton Persona models come at:

• Standard 1.6L MT: RM 42,600
• Standard 1.6L CVT: RM 44,600
• Executive 1.6L MT: RM 49,600
• Premium 1.6L MT: RM 54,600