Proton Iriz – Old vs new

The Proton Iriz is one of Malaysia’s favourite cars and competes against the even more popular Perodua Myvi. The current outgoing avatar of the Proton Iriz has been with us since 2017, and while it was doing relatively well for itself, Proton realised that the sales of its star B-segment hatchback wasn’t really picking pace. Also, it became apparent that customers wanted even more bang for their buck. In response to all this, the Malaysian carmaker decided to update the Iriz with a facelift for its 2019MY, in hopes that it will lure buyers away from its hot-selling Perodua Myvi rival.

The 2019 Proton Iriz also promises to iron out some of the issues that had been plaguing earlier models of this hatchback. With the official launch just around the corner, hope and expectations are high. But for now, let’s take a look at what’s exactly different between the outgoing model and the new upcoming one.

What’s new on the outside?

Viewed from afar, most won’t be able to ascertain the old Iriz from the new. However, once you start paying attention, there are some remarkable differences between the two. Let’s start up front, first. Head-on, the 2019 Proton Iriz differentiates itself with a much sharper and more aggressive face as compared to the older model’s softer, more rounded front end. Then there’s the new sleeker, more angular design for the headlights, though the projector units have now been ditched for a regular set of halogen lamps. The front grille now stands taller and is graced by a ‘winged’ chrome strip which merges neatly into the top of the new headlights. The restyled bonnet now features a gentle ‘ripple’ effect, while the upgraded front bumper houses a shallower centre air dam flanked by faux vents with thin strips of LED DRLs.

Proton hasn’t bothered changing the side profile of the new Iriz much, save for the new 15-inch alloy wheels, shark-fin antenna, and absence of a bolted-on side skirt. Around the back, however, the story is completely different. The only things that the 2019 Proton Iriz shares with its predecessor are its funky taillights and roof-mounted rear wing. Apart from that, you now get a glossy black piece of trim on the rear hatch with “Proton” lettering on it, which replaces the brand insignia found before. There’s also a new “Iriz” branding as well. The rear bumper has also been redesigned and features a new, squared-off portion which incorporates a couple of vertically-aligned pseudo vents and a faux air-diffuser kit.

What about the interior?

Compared to the exterior, the interior of the 2019 Proton Iriz is more or less the same as the outgoing model. This means the general design and layout of all the buttons, dials, and instruments remain exactly the same. Also, since Proton hasn’t made any changes to the car’s dimensions, the space available for passengers and cargo remains untouched. However, this doesn’t mean that everything in this interior is exactly identical to the old one. The top-spec Premium trim of the 2019 Iriz features an all-new instrument cluster with larger, more upmarket multi-function display. The whole design of this cluster has been improved as well, making it far more legible than the previous-gen’s muddy unit.

Also new are the snappier 7-inch touch-infotainment system, perforated-leather steering wheel, frameless rearview mirror, and the X70-derived leather-wrapped gear lever. Other features consist of semi-leather seats, manual air-con, engine push-button start, electrically-operated mirrors, and internet connectivity. As for interior quality and build, it doesn’t seem like any marked improvements have been made. You still have to make do with the scratchy, low-rent plastics that seem to be just as abundant as before.

Does it drive any better?

The 2019 Proton Iriz isn’t an all-new car as such, but more of an incremental update or facelift. Therefore, it remains mechanically almost identical to the outgoing Iriz. The front-wheel-drive hatchback comes with a choice of either a 1.3-litre, or 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engines. Both are matched to a CVT gearbox in all the variants, except for the base trim which can be optioned with a 5-speed manual. The smaller of the two engines produces 94 hp with 120 Nm of torque, while the 1.6-litre makes 107 hp and 150 Nm of torque. Proton claims that the new Iriz gets improved NVH insulation, better braking, and fuel efficiency.

Conclusion

The 2019 Proton Iriz will undoubtedly be a better car than its forerunner and as a result, should leave the carmaker better-equipped to deal with competition.