Perodua Axia vs. Proton Iriz - The better pick

Perodua and Proton are among the top and most successful car companies in Malaysia. And that makes them each other’s prime rivals. Since both of these brands have been in the market for many years now, they know the market inside-out, which makes their rivalry even more intense and interesting.

And in the middle of this battle, it is us the consumers who are benefitted as brands roll out more and better products at competitive prices. Clear examples of this phenomenon are the Perodua Axia and Proton Iriz. And today, we are going to compare the two cars.

Exterior 

Which is better-looking, Perodua Axia or Proton Iriz?

Ans. Well, looks are quite subjective, but we can’t ignore the fact that the latest Axia is very appealing, especially the Style variant, which kind of has a self-explanatory name. Perodua added some features that make this variant look apart from the rest. These features are-

• Body cladding all around
• 15-inch alloy wheels
• Wider tyres
• Style-specific grille design
• Fake skid plate

On the other hand, the Proton Iriz has its own features that help it lure potential buyers. These include-

• Large stylish headlamps
• LED fog lamps
• Rear roof-mounted spoiler
• Unique rear design

Interior

Since both the Axia and Iriz and A-segment cars, space on the inside is very limited. They are best suited for accommodating four adults. You might be able to fit a third person at the back, but that wouldn’t be comfortable for long.

Some interior features of Perodua Axia are -

• Keyless entry
• Engine start/stop button
• Touch-infotainment head unit with Bluetooth, USB, HDMI
• Built-in navigation
• Perodua’s ‘Smart Link’ smartphone mirroring technology
• Attractive fish-scale pattern on seats

What interior features does the Proton Iriz have to compete?

Ans. Well, there aren’t any high-end features as such. Things like touch screen infotainment system with smartphone connectivity options, navigation, bottle holders, etc. are common in this car as well. However, to add a bit of premium-ness, the Iriz gets semi-leather seats and leather-wrapped steering wheel.

Engine 

Perodua’s latest Axia is available in six variants, and the same engine powers all of them. Perhaps, this is one of the reasons that enable Perodua to price the Axia as low as RM 24,090! Powering the Axia is a 1.0-litre engine that churns out 67 bhp and 91 Nm.

Switching over to the Iriz, this car is available in two engine options - a 1.3-litre mill that has 95 PS and 120 Nm, and a more powerful 1.6-litre engine which provides 109 PS and 150 Nm.

Following is a detailed engine spec comparison -

Engine specs	Perodua Axia	Proton Iriz
Type	1.0-litre DOHC w/ VVT-i	1.3-litre/1.5-litre w/ DOHC, VVT
Total displacement	998 cc	1332 cc / 1597 cc
Max power output	67 bhp @ 6000 rpm	95 PS / 109 PS @ 5750 rpm
Max torque output	91 Nm at 4400 rpm	120 Nm / 150 Nm @ 4000 rpm
Transmission	5-speed MT or 4-speed AT	5-speed manual / CVT

 

Safety features

This is the area where the new 2019 Perodua Axia excels in its segment. In fact, when launched, the new Axia was highly praised for its advanced safety features that are Advanced Safety Assist (A.S.A) 2.0 and Pre-Collision Warning and Braking with pedestrian detection.

You will not find any such safety features in the Proton Iriz specs sheet. However, it does get all the other ones that are expected from a car of its segment and which are also common between it and Axia. These features are-

• Dual SRS airbags
• ABS with EBD
• Vehicle stability control / Electronic stability control
• Traction control
• Front parking sensors
• Rear parking sensors
• Reverse camera

What is the starting price of the Perodua Axia?

Ans. Interestingly, the Perodua Axia price starts at RM 24,090, which perhaps makes it the most affordable car in the country. However, with this price, you get the most basic E MT model.

Following is a detailed price comparison -

Perodua Axia variants	Perodua Axia price	Proton Iriz variants	Proton Iriz price
E MT	RM 24,090	1.3L Standard MT	RM 36,700
G AT	RM 33,490	1.3L Standard CVT	RM 39,700
GXTRA AT	RM 34,990	1.3L Executive CVT	RM 44,700
STYLE AT	RM 38,890	1.6L Executive CVT	RM 46,700
SE AT	RM 38,890	1.6L Premium CVT	RM 50,700
AV AT	RM 43,190	-	-

 

Also Read: 2019 Perodua Axia - Top features