Proton Iriz

Overview

With the Iriz, Proton has proved that small doesn’t need to be a compromise when it comes to the overall feel. While the Iriz is the smallest offering in Proton’s lineup, it is still premium enough to give cars from one segment a run for their money in terms of value for money. In Malaysia, Proton has made the Iriz available in two engine options – while the 1.3-litre engine is available in three different variants (Standard MT, Standard CVT, and Executive CVT), the more powerful 1.6-litre engine is offered in two variants (Executive CVT and Premium CVT).

Interior & Features

Compared to the cutesy styling on the outside, the Proton Iriz gets a rather conservative and mature interior layout, which is aimed at pleasing the masses of all the age groups. It is packed with some really nice and premium features for its segment.

The driver’s cockpit looks quite simple with a sober looking three-spoke steering wheel and a blue backlit instrument console. However, the 7-inch touch screen infotainment system at the top of the center console flanked with trapezoidal vertical AC vents makes the dashboard look wide and premium for a car of this size and class. In terms of features, the Proton Iriz is equipped with some premium features like push-button start with keyless entry, electrically adjustable and foldable rear view mirrors, remote trunk release, touch screen infotainment system with reverse camera, navigation, voice commands, and smartphone integration and driver seat height adjustment.

Due to the compact dimensions, fitting a fifth passenger in the cabin can be a squeeze, and the boot space too is at a premium as well.

Exterior

With the new update which the Iriz has received for the year 2019, Proton has retained the cutesy stance and compact dimensions of the car, while at the same time, has spruced the exteriors to make sure it looks updated and fresh.

Out goes the plain looking front grille, and in comes a wide smile-like grille, which engulfs the long and sleek horizontal headlamps on the outer edges. There is nice curvy chrome garnish which starts at the top edges of the headlamps and extends till the bottom center, which makes the front fascia look wide.

However, the glaring omission of projector headlamps, which were available in the previous version, is a disappointing surprise. The front bumper too has been restyled to make it look sporty, and thankfully, they do come integrated with new daytime running LEDs.

The side profile of the Proton Iriz remains almost unchanged, with the rounded side glasses and door mounted rear view mirrors being exactly the same as they were in the previous iteration. However, the alloy wheel design has changed.

The rear profile of the Iriz was something which looked out of place in the overall design, and while Proton has redesigned it a bit, it still looks a bit quirky. While the rear still comes with edgy and vertical tail lamps, the boot lid now comes with a thick black cladding, which comes with the ‘Proton’ font in wide form. The roof mounted spoiler tries to add some flair to the rear hatch.

Ride & Handling

The Proton Iriz comes fitted with Macpherson struts with stabilizer bar at the front and a torsion beam axle at the rear. The slightly stiffer setup for the suspension ensures that driving the Iriz is effortless and enjoyable.

Engine & Fuel Consumption

The Proton Iriz can be availed in one of the two petrol engine options under its hood. The smaller 1.3-litre mill gets both the options of a 5-speed manual gearbox and a CVT transmission and belts out 95 PS of power and 120 Nm of torque. On the other hand, the more powerful 1.6-litre engine comes with only a CVT gearbox and generates 108 PS of power and 150 Nm of torque.

Braking & Safety

One of the richly equipped in terms of safety features in its segment, the Proton Iriz has front, side, and curtain airbags, ABS with EBD, brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control, hill hold assist, reverse parking camera with sensors, engine immobilizer and ISOFIX mounts for child seats, on offer.

Verdict

The Proton Iriz puts up a strong case for itself as a perfect urban hatchback with its cutesy styling, compact dimensions, smart and feature-rich interiors, and spirited performance, thus making it feel a cut premium over its competitors.