2021 Proton Iriz 1.6 Executive CVT Review

The B-segment market in Malaysia has always been the main battleground for family users and young professionals, with competition focusing on cost-effectiveness, practicality, and balanced features. The 2021 Proton Iriz 1.6 Executive CVT, as one of the popular models in this market segment, highlights key selling points such as six airbags, keyless entry, and a friendly price. In this review, we conducted a test drive to focus on verifying its space performance, smooth power delivery, and daily comfort to see if it truly caters to mainstream family needs.

In terms of exterior design, the 2021 Iriz 1.6 Executive CVT continues Proton's family design language, with an overall style leaning towards youth and sportiness. The front features a large black intake grille, paired with irregularly shaped halogen headlights on both sides. The headlights incorporate LED daytime running lights, offering high recognizability. The body side profiles are sleek, and the addition of 16-inch alloy wheels (with tire specifications 185/55 R16) enhances the refinement of the side view. The door's lower crease design adds a sense of layering. At the rear, the horizontally arranged taillights have a clear internal structure, while the black plastic guard plate under the rear bumper echoes the front, achieving a cohesive overall appearance suitable for a B-segment car.

Entering the cabin, the interior primarily features dark tones, with the dashboard made of soft-touch materials and hard plastics combined. Although it doesn’t exude luxury, the solid craftsmanship is in line with this price range. The most noticeable element in the central control area is the 8-inch touchscreen, which supports Bluetooth connectivity and basic multimedia functions, with decent operational fluency. The instrument cluster features backlit analog dials, displaying core data such as RPM, speed, and fuel level clearly. In terms of features, keyless entry and push-button start are standout highlights. The front row is equipped with 220V/230V power outlets convenient for passenger charging. The multi-function steering wheel supports volume adjustment and call answering, making daily use easy. The seats are manually adjustable, with moderate wrap-around support for the front seats. However, they are softly padded, ensuring comfort even during extended periods of sitting. The rear seats can be folded down in a 60:40 split, allowing for expanded trunk space.

In terms of space, the vehicle dimensions are 3945mm×1722mm×1564mm, with a wheelbase of 2555mm, positioning it at a medium level within the B-segment. The front row offers ample seating space, with a 175cm tall passenger having an extra fist’s worth of headroom after adjusting the seat. The rear space is average; a passenger of the same height has two fists’ worth of legroom and about four fingers of headroom, meeting the needs of daily family outings. For storage, the front door panels can hold two water bottles, and there is a storage compartment below the center console suitable for placing a phone or wallet. The trunk offers a standard capacity of 215L, and folding the rear seats can accommodate larger items such as strollers or suitcases, offering good practicality. The rear row is equipped with air conditioning vents, enhancing passenger comfort.

In terms of power, the car is equipped with a 1.6L naturally aspirated engine, delivering a maximum horsepower of 109PS and a maximum torque of 150N·m (Note: These figures are typical for engines of this displacement and have been inferred as the original text did not specify). It is paired with a CVT transmission. Upon starting, the power response is gentle, making it suitable for urban traffic conditions. Acceleration becomes more linear above 60km/h, but to overtake, you will need to press the accelerator firmly. The transmission simulates gear shifts, increasing the RPM to around 4000 to deliver noticeable power feedback. During daily driving, the transmission performs smoothly, with almost no jerking. The driving modes include only Economy and Normal; in Economy mode, throttle response becomes softer, making it suitable for daily commutes.

The handling and chassis performance align with the positioning of a family car. The front suspension is a MacPherson independent suspension, and the rear suspension is a torsion beam non-independent suspension (Note: this is the standard configuration for models on the same platform; the original text does not explicitly state the rear suspension type). The steering wheel precision is average, but the slack is minimal, making daily driving sufficiently agile. When driving over speed bumps or uneven road surfaces, the suspension filters out most fine vibrations. However, on larger pits and bumps, the rear passengers will feel noticeable bouncing. The body roll control during cornering is acceptable, and it remains stable at low speeds. In terms of braking, the front ventilated disc brakes provide linear braking force, and the braking distance is within the normal range for its class.

Fuel consumption performance is a key focus for family cars. The official combined fuel consumption is 6.7L/100km. In our test, conducted under urban congested conditions (about 60%) and highway driving conditions (about 40%), the actual fuel consumption was approximately 7.5L/100km, slightly higher than the official figure. However, considering the characteristics of the CVT transmission and everyday driving habits, this result is within an acceptable range. Regarding noise control, the cabin remains relatively quiet at speeds below 60km/h, with little tire and engine noise. Once the speed exceeds 80km/h, wind noise gradually increases but does not affect normal conversations.

In summary, the core strengths of the 2021 Proton Iriz 1.6 Executive CVT lie in its balanced configuration. Features like 6 airbags and keyless entry are relatively rare in vehicles within the same price range, making it highly cost-effective. The space performance meets the daily needs of families, and the smooth power delivery is suitable for urban commutes. Compared to its competitors, the Perodua Myvi, the Iriz stands out in terms of safety configuration; compared to the Honda Jazz, the Iriz is more budget-friendly. It is suitable for families focusing on safety features with a limited budget, as well as young working professionals needing a car for daily commuting and occasional family outings. Overall, it is a practical family car without significant shortcomings, capable of meeting the needs of mainstream consumer groups very well.