Should you buy the new Myvi or the new Iriz?

When Proton launched the revised Iriz in August 2021, they were looking at taking away some of the sales success of the Myvi. Initially, they did as the revised Iriz came with many exterior design improvements and some new sporty touches inside the cabin.

However, it was the updated ‘Geely’ supplied 8-inch touch screen infotainment that was the primary selling feature.

Voice command, online navigation, online music streaming, online weather forecast (which really did not help during the recent flash floods), and 4G in-car WiFi were the big selling points with many lower-middle-class buyers.

Priced at RM 54,800, this 1.6-litre compact car had all the necessary ‘toys’ to attract buyers looking for ‘smart’ features behind the wheel as they have seen similar functions being provided in luxury cars from BMW and Benz in YouTube videos.

All was good until Perodua decided to ‘rattle their cage’ in November 2021 with the launch of a revised Myvi that came with a higher level of active safety with the new A.S.A. 3.0 driver assistance system plus some new cabin features and a revised look starting from the steering wheel to the seat trim and more. Let’s not forget its all-new ‘face’ with revised headlamps and bumper treatment.

Perodua had scored a big plus with buyers in this segment as they upgraded the safety system, featuring the Perodua Smart Drive Assist (PSDA) system which was designed with the safety of the driver and pedestrian in mind.

PSDA included the Advance Safety Assist version 3.0, adaptive cruise control (ACC), Lane Keep Assist (LKS), Blind Spot Monitoring System (BSM), and the Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) (available in all variants except the lower 1.3L G variant).

This means except for one of the Myvi G variants, all other variants now had Autonomous Level 2 technology. Plus, this latest version of the Myvi carried a new gearbox system, a dual-mode CVT (Continuous Variable Transmission), which replaced the older and slower 4-speed transmission.

Yes, it was priced at RM 58,800 which was a little more than the Proton Iriz 1.6-litre and did not have a voice-activated entertainment system, but the added safety features were the biggest selling point.

Most Malaysians over the past 3 to 4 years have already seen the issues with the Geely/Proton voice-activated system and its issues have been highlighted over and over on social media.

So, the added RM 4,000 price for the revised Myvi was not an issue and Perodua enjoyed brisk bookings from launch with 4,300 plus orders on launch date, and its fast increasing as you read this.

And for the Perodua Myvi, you can clearly see below that the power delivery figures are just a little less which hardly makes a difference when on the road. Value-wise, the Myvi has always been the segment leader. It continues this tradition in a way that keeps it relevant to today’s market.

The fact that Perodua saw automatic headlights, blind spot monitoring, lane keep assist, rear cross traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control a ‘must have’ in a car with a selling price less than RM 59k means a lot.

It is definitely a fun little car with premium safety features and with the 5-years manufacturer’s warranty to make sure the ownership experience encourages repeat purchase, this RM 59k compact hatch should be given another look before dismissing it.

Yes, take the Proton Iriz 1.6L for a test drive and on the very same morning, you test drive this new Myvi and then sit and have lunch to decide which car you should be buying.

Specs	Proton Iriz 1.6L CVT	Perodua Myvi 1.5L AV
Engine	Inline 4, 16 Valve, DOHC, Petrol	Dual VVT-i Inline 4
Capacity	1597-cc	1496-cc
Gearbox	CVT automatic	Dual-Mode CVT
Max power	107 hp at 5750 rpm	102 hp at 6,000 rpm
Max torque	150 Nm at 4000 rpm	137 Nm at 4,200 rpm

 

Proton Iriz 1.6L CVT price	RM 53,751
Perodua Myvi 1.5L AV price	RM 58,800

 

Also read: Perodua Myvi: Old vs New