Perodua Bezza: Hits & misses

When launched in 2016, the Perodua Bezza became the first EEV (Energy Efficient Vehicle) sedan to be ever made by a Malaysian automaker. Ever since its inception, the Bezza has found quite a good number of homes in the country and has been one of more selling compact sedans in the market. The sedan features decent styling and convenience features along with a powertrain that does its job.

The sedan is being offered in Malaysia in five different variants and six colors. The Perodua price starts at RM RM 34,490 and goes up to RM 47,790. Just like any other car in the market, the Perodua Bezza also has some pros and cons in each aspect like the exterior, interior, and others. Let’s find out where the Malaysian sedan hits the sweet spot and where it lags.

On the outside

The Perodua Bezza features a design language that makes it look an old car. While there some nice features on the exterior of the sedan, the overall styling is quite bland and doesn’t appeal to a potential buyer. Upfront, there is a pair of upswept conventional halogen headlamps that flanks a black grille with chrome border at the top. Perodua could’ve installed much better-shaped projector headlamps and given the bumper a sporty look.

Moving on to the side profile of the sedan, there isn’t much going around here. There is a shoulder line that runs along the side of the car and a set of alloy wheels which look small. Instead of the 14-inch units, Perodua should have gone for at least 15-inch rims. Addressing the rear end, there are LED combination taillamps with guides. Also, there is a chrome strip that joins the two taillamps, which is a neat touch. Some other elements on the outside comprise of the side skirts, shark-fin antenna, chrome outer door handles, and front fog lamps.

On the inside

Much like the exterior, the interior on the Perodua Bezza is also a mixed bag. There is ample space inside the sedan and as the manufacturer suggests, the “8+1 seating configurations provide more space for your comfort and convenience”. The luggage space is also exceptional at 508-litre.

Some other bits and pieces that provide the occupants with a peace of mind include push start/stop button, multipurpose compartment, headphone, and USB slots, under-luggage compartment, multi-information display in the instrument cluster, and smart key with smart entry.

Moreover, there is also a multimedia system with Smart Link, navigation, and a reverse camera. Coming on to the misses on the inside, the sound insulation isn’t up to the mark and conversations become a tough ask during rains and on expressways. Furthermore, there are no steering mounted controls and the air conditioner can get very loud. The quality of the plastic used inside could have been better as well.

Under the hood

The Perodua Bezza comes with two engine options, a 1.0-litre VVT-i and a 1.3-litre dual VVT-i. The smaller motor makes 67 hp of maximum power at 6,000 rpm and a peak torque of 91 Nm at 4,400 revs. On the other hand, the larger 1.3-litre mill generates 90 hp and 117 Nm. Both the engines can be had with either a five-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed electronically-controlled automatic transmission.

Thanks to the Eco-Idle feature, both the engines are very fuel-efficient. However, the power on the sedan might just seem a little too low at times. Also, the gear ratio between the second and the third gear is relatively short. All in all, the stuff under the hood of the Perodua Bezza is just fine and gets the job done.

Safety

This is one aspect where the Perodua Bezza justifies its price and delivers well. The sedan has also received a 5-star ASEAN NCAP safety rating which further vouches for the level of safety on the Malaysian sedan. The presence of safety features like dual SRS airbags, ABS with EBD and BA, vehicle stability control, hill start assist, traction control, ISOFIX child seat mounts, and others make the occupants feel right at home. Nevertheless, a higher number of airbags than just two for the driver and the passenger would have done more good than bad.

How did you like the Perodua Bezza? While there a few cons, the pros still make the sedan a value for money car. We hope for the Malaysian manufacturer to address the cons sooner than later by bringing out a refreshed model.

Also Read:- Perodua Bezza: All a buyer needs to know