CLOSE UP REVIEW: New Proton Persona (Updated 3/11/16)

In this blog entry, I'm covering a CLOSE UP review of the NEW Proton Persona which just been launched 2 hours ago... The New Iriz based Persona's priced from RM46,000 to RM59,800. Do come back in a week's time for my Complete update/ review.

Updated 3 November 2016.  With my Own brief Test drive Review and Further Reviews from Other Blog Or website.


 

First Impression Rating:
Standard 7.5/10 (8.5/10 Manual)

Above Standard Player.

Executive: 8/10

Above: Executive Player

Premium: 8.5/10 - 6 airbags.  FULL Spec.

Above: Premium Player.

Points deducted for awkward proportioned Exterior design which makes the Wheels looks tiny.  Rear passenger legroom and THAT Punch CVT.

Above: Persona Standard.

Being built on a smaller platform, the new Persona naturally occupies a smaller footprint than its predecessor; its waistline shrinking from 4,477mm long by 1,725mm wide to 4,387mm long by 1,722mm wide. Wheelbase has similarly contracted, from 2,600mm to 2,555mm, although the new car is taller than before, rising from 1,438mm to 1,554mm.

Without further ado, let's proceed to the Youtube Playlist of the New Persona. Prepare at least 1 hour of your time to go through. I shall keep adding interesting videos of the Persona to the playlist...

All new Proton Persona 2016

1) 2016 Proton Persona 1.6 Standard MT/CVT

# 1.6 litre VVT engine

# 107 hp at 5,750 rpm, 150 Nm at 4,000 rpm

# 5.6 l/100 km for 5MT (at 90 km/h)

# 6.1 l/100 km for CVT (at 90 km/h)

# Ecodrive Assist

# Reflector halogen headlamps (height adjustable)

# Rear fog lamps

# Front and rear parking sensors

# 15-inch wheels in grey (with 185/55R15 Silverstone Kruizer tyres)

# Unpainted side mirrors and door handles

# Power adjustable wing mirrors

# Body-coloured B-pillars

# Remote key fob and manual key start

# Single-DIN head unit with Bluetooth

# Fabric seats

# Height adjustable driver’s seat

# 510-litre boot with space saver spare tyre

# Isofix child seat anchors with top tether

# Two airbags (front driver and passenger)

# ABS with EBD and BA

# Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

# Hill-hold assist

# Front disc brakes, rear drums

PERSONA 1.6 STANDARD MT

RM 46,800.00/ Metallic

RM 46,350.00/ Solid

PERSONA 1.6 STANDARD CVT

RM 49,800.00/ Metallic

RM 49,350.00/ Solid

___________________________________________

2) 2016 Proton Persona 1.6 Executive CVT

[Adds on from the above variants]

# Front fog lamps

# Body-coloured side mirrors and door handles

# Rear bootlid spoiler

# Double-DIN head unit with Bluetooth

# Gloss titanium chrome centre console housing

# Rear USB charging ports

# 60:40 split-folding rear seats

# Fabric door trim

PERSONA 1.6 EXECUTIVE CVT

RM 55,800.00/ Metallic

RM 55,350.00/ Solid

___________________________________________

3) 2016 Proton Persona 1.6 Premium CVT

Adds on:

# 15-inch wheels in silver (with 185/55R15 Goodyear Assurance tyres)

# Black B-pillars

# Keyless entry with push start button

# Touchscreen head unit (Android-based) with Bluetooth and reverse camera

# Leather seats and steering wheel

# Leather door trim

# Power retractable wing mirrors

# Six airbags (dual front, side and curtain)

# 2016 Proton Persona 1.6 Premium SE CVT

PERSONA 1.6 PREMIUM CVT

RM 59,800.00/ Metallic

RM 59,350.00/ Solid

Colour Choices:

Below Photos sourced from:

http://wangolds.com/Thread-Proton-Persona-Baru-Dijual-Antara-Rm47-000-Hingga-Rm61-000

(First appeared here, According to Google Photos.  These photos also appeared in Lowyat Forum, twitter)

 

Again, do come back for FULL REVIEW in a weeks time...

Updated 3 Nov 2016.

MY (Jefferson Lim's) OPINION:

Sorry for the Late Update, only managed to test drove the Manual variant Yesterday.

DRIVE TIME:

I finally Got the Chance to test drive both The 1.6 Manual Std and 1.6 Premium.  I was MINDBLOWN by the Excellent Sound proofing and Ride and Handling.  The main attribute goes to the Revised engine Mounting.  From 4 point In the Iriz to 3 point so that the Vibration's minimized and According to Proton, lower maintenance too.  Let's review the Getrag Sourced Manual 1st.

The Manual's EVEN more FUN to drive with the absence of CVT Drone.  It's a FINE Product.  What a pity it only comes in Standard Variant.  It's too Basic for it's own good.  The Clutch's light which allows seamless shifting AND double clutching. Bodyroll's Minimal and I heard from my friend who worked in a Local Publication, NVH's Acceptable up to 190km/h at 5300rpm which's its top Speed.  

That's all I can comment as It's just a short 5 minutes (3km) Test drive.  I test drove in Proton Edar Mutiara Damansara.

REVISED RATING for MANUAL: 8.5/10.

As for the Auto CVT Premium, it's a revised Version of PUNCH CVT as seen in IRIZ.  Proton claimed it's a Much Improved one.  I test driven the Persona at Atiara Auto Taman Megah (Facing LDP). This round was slightly longer at 15 minutes - slight Jam at LDP Main road (5km).  Compared to the Manual, The Dreaded CVT Whine's present but it's much Softer and less annoying than The Iriz and Preve.  The Acceleration's Smooth and Linear if you are gentle on the Accelerator.  Stepping on the Accelerator hard and The CVT will whine.

I'm nitpicking, the CVT Whine is one of the only 3 Main drawbacks of the Persona.  The 2nd drawback's the Car looks Cartoonish being Tall And Narrow, thus making it's Wheel looks SMALL (under-tyred)
. 
Look at picture below and you'll understand what I'm trying to say.  The Design's Not propotioned.  

 (PHOTO Source: CAR Malaysia Instagram).

But then, this is the Issue faced by ALMOST ALL B-segment Hatchback derived Sedans.  I can only Name 2 Exceptions.  Honda City and Hyundai Accent.  The latter's NOT Available in Malaysia.  To be fair, at LEAST the Persona looks slightly better than Attrage, Ford Fiesta Sedan and Perodua Bezza (butt so raised up until Undercarriage seen).

INTERIOR:

The Dashboard and front seats were Lifted straight from Iriz but with Minor change in Materials and colour schemes.  The Air-cond knobs and switches have Slightly improved and cabin now slightly more airy.  Plastic quality also Slightly improved and now better built with less panel gaps.  The rear seat's shaped for Thigh support that it Eats up rear legroom.  Thank God I can slide my feet under front seats.  Rear seat Headroom Legroom's IDENTICAL to IRIZ.

That's all I can comment OR review.  I hope Proton can Loan me a Test car for Longer test drive.  But this is HUGE improvement compared to the Previous Persona (though slightly smaller interior space and missing rear Disc Brake and Multi-link suspension, at least it has Bigger boot) AND the Iriz.  

Like the IRIZ, the New Persona's ASEAN NCAP 5 stars across the Range.  Thanks to Traction Control standard Across the Range, 2 Airbags and Passenger seat belt reminder.  

CONCLUSION: 

Overall Rating's slightly changed from my 1st Impression.  
Std Manual 8.5/10, 
Std CVT 7/10,
Executive CVT 7.5/10
Premium CVT: 8.5/10.

I only highly recommend Either the Manual OR Premium. 

Welcome back Proton.  This is ONE of the Best B-segment car I've driven ESPECIALLY the Manual.  I love the Manual, it sort of REKINDLE my LOVE for Manual.  BUT SAD, Only Standard have this option.  The Persona have EXTRAORDINARY NVH (Noise-Vibration-Harshness) and Sound proofing and Well tuned Suspension.  Please test drive yourself to agree with me.  Like Proton tagline "It's in the Drive".  

End of my review.

Further readings:

1)  Autofreaks Persona Review by Eric Goh
https://www.autofreaks.com/reviews/test-drive-review-2016-proton-persona/

2) Car Malaysia Review: Scene 2, take 1.
http://carmalaysia.my/reviews/test-drive/proton-persona-review

3) Autofreaks Persona Standard Review by Eric Goh.
https://www.autofreaks.com/reviews/test-drive-review-2016-proton-persona-standard/

4) Paultan Review by Danny Tan.
http://paultan.org/2016/09/21/driven-2016-proton-persona-1-6-cvt/

5) Carlist review of Persona by Kon
http://www.carlist.my/news/review-2016-proton-persona-smaller-size-bigger-aspirations/41602

IF you want to buy this car, Please call:

1) W H Lim - 012-6852718 (Klang Valley and Penang)

2) Shawn Tan from Atiara - 017-3622829

Please mention referred by Jeff Lim for better deal.

That's all folks, thanks for having the time and patience to read this blog entry.  Partly Original Jefferson Lim production.  Copy like a man, please state Source like me.