Proton Iriz – Hits & misses

The Proton Iriz has been on sale in Malaysia since it was first introduced back in 2014. The popular and well-liked B-segment hatchback has witnessed record sales growth in the country, with its audience base expanding with each passing year. To help boost its success even more, Proton executed some revisions for the Iriz’s 2017 incarnation, which made it a better car than its predecessor.

However, earlier in 2019, the carmaker unveiled the latest avatar of the Iriz. The new facelift has brought along some minor but timely updates to the Proton Iriz - it’s now better equipped to handle its competitors - including the Perodua Myvi and the Kia Picanto. So, without further ado, let’s find out some of the new Iriz’s good and not-so-good characteristics.

Proton Iriz Hits

Exterior styling

Now while many good-looking hatchbacks follow a low and wide design theme, it’s clear that the new Proton Iriz has been sketched keeping the ‘tall-boy’ philosophy. However, most tall-boy designs tend to look awkward and unappealing - attributes that the new Proton Iriz doesn’t suffer from. In fact, the facelifted Proton Iriz is the best-looking iteration of the model thus far. Some of the most immediately identifiable exterior tweaks come in the form of a revised front end which now gets new headlamps, refreshed chrome grille design with a posh weave pattern, and a revised and more presentable front bumper with extra, expensive-looking trim bits, and LED DRLs.

The only real styling highlights along the side of the facelifted Iriz are the new, dual-tone alloy wheel design and a contrasting black roof. At the back, the facelifted Iriz’s tailgate sports a thick, glossy black piece of trim with “Proton” branding on it, and there’s a refreshed rear bumper with a well-integrated air diffuser and air vents - both of which are just cosmetic. However, the overall styling of the Proton Iriz is quite likeable.

Decent engine and performance

The Proton Iriz can be equipped with one of two engines: there’s a 1.3-litre four-banger with 94 hp and 120 Nm, and a 1.6-litre unit that chucks out 107 hp and 150 Nm of torque. While the base variant of the Iriz is only available with the lower-powered motor and 5-speed manual transmission, the 1.6-litre unit comes fitted with a CVT as standard. Also, while Proton may not have intended to make the new Iriz any faster than its rivals, it seems to have turned out that way. If prodded with a stick, it will take this hatchback a reasonably decent 11 seconds to get past the tonne-mark, and with the maximum velocity hovering around 170 kmph, this car is certainly no slouch.

Trim options and price

Depending on your budget and the choice of engine-transmission combination you go with, the facelifted Proton Iriz is available in various trims, with prices ranging from as low as RM 36,700, to as much as RM 50,700 for the full bells & whistles Premium trim. And those who opt for the latter will be treated to features such as a brand-new, 7-inch touch-infotainment system with voice commands, online music streaming, navigation, high-speed 4G & Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth and smartphone connectivity. The top-of-the-range Premium trim also gets a leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel, semi-leather seat upholstery, and a two-tone exterior with an attractive-looking black roof.

Safety features

The facelifted Proton Iriz (top trim) comes with vital safety equipment such as front, side & curtain airbags, Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control System (TCS), Hill Hold Assist (HHA), front & rear parking sensors with a reversing camera, impact sensing door unlock mechanism, and ISOFIX anchor points.

Proton Iriz Misses

Interior Space

While the space on the inside of the facelifted Proton Iriz is pretty average for the class - especially considering its overall exterior footprint -- the actual usable room on the inside all depends on the occupants’ body size. The seats have been improved over earlier versions, but the Iriz’s seats are still not very satisfactory. This is primarily because the seats, specifically the rear ones, don’t offer much in the way of under-thigh support if you’re a tall individual.

Material quality and finesse

One of the more acute disappointments with the facelifted Proton Iriz comes once you start to touch and feel the materials used for the dashboard, door panels, switchgear, etc. It’s the quality (or lack thereof) of the interior of this hatchback that comes across as inconsistent and a little unfulfilling. Yes, it’s quite affordable and that, by default, implies that not all of the in-cabin materials would feel good. But, it’d have certainly been nice if the facelift brought along some higher-grade materials into the cabin. And while the carmaker claims that it has installed more insulation all throughout the car, the cabin of the Iriz can still feel a touch too noisy and unrefined, even at city speeds. Finesse is something that future variants of the Iriz can improve upon.