2021 Proton Persona 1.6 Premium CVT Review

In Malaysia's B-segment sedan market, consumers are increasingly demanding balance—they want fuel efficiency for daily commuting without compromising on space and features. The 2021 Proton Persona 1.6 Premium CVT, as a popular choice in this segment, has attracted significant attention with features like six airbags, an 8-inch touchscreen, and a 5-year/150,000 km warranty. This time, we got our hands on the actual car to see if it truly meets the core needs of family users in terms of static experience, dynamic performance, and real-world fuel consumption.

In terms of appearance, the design of this Persona leans toward a steady yet youthful style. The front adopts Proton's family-style "Infinite Weave" grille design, paired with glossy black accents and sharp LED headlights on both sides, which make it highly recognizable. The side profile features smooth lines, with a waistline extending from the front fender to the rear, giving the car a sleeker look. The 16-inch multi-spoke wheels match the body proportions well, not appearing undersized. At the rear, the smoked LED taillights echo the sporty feel of the front, while the small spoiler on the trunk lid adds a touch of detail. Overall, the design avoids overly flashy elements but meets the "timeless" aesthetic preferences of most family users.

Stepping inside, the interior layout is clear and straightforward, with the center console slightly angled toward the driver, making it convenient to operate. Although most areas use hard plastic materials, the textured treatment and silver accents prevent it from feeling cheap. The 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system is the centerpiece of the interior. Its interface is responsive and supports Bluetooth connectivity and smartphone mirroring, which is convenient for daily use. Notably, it comes with voice control functionality, though it only supports air conditioning and music adjustments. This feature is rare in cars within the same price range. The seats are fabric, offering good support. Although the manual adjustment for the front seats isn't as convenient as electric adjustment, the rotary knobs have a refined resistance, making adjustments effortless.

Space performance is one of the primary concerns for family users. This Persona has a 2555mm wheelbase, offering rear legroom where a 175cm tall passenger would have approximately two fists' distance from their knees to the back of the front seats, ensuring they don't feel cramped. The rear floor's center hump is low, allowing the passenger in the middle seat to comfortably place their feet. The cargo space has a capacity of 510 liters, easily fitting two 28-inch suitcases along with some backpacks. The rear seats support a 60:40 split-folding function, making it adaptable for transporting longer items. In terms of storage, the door pockets can hold two bottles of water, the center armrest box is deep enough to store small items, and the front row is equipped with a 220V power outlet, which is practical for powering a laptop or air pump.

In terms of power, it features a 1.6L naturally aspirated engine with a maximum output of 109PS and a peak torque of 150N·m, paired with a CVT transmission. For daily commuting, the start is relatively brisk, the throttle response is linear, and it handles city driving conditions like following traffic or overtaking with ease. When switched to sport mode, the transmission simulates gear shifts, holding the RPM above 3000 for a more direct power output. However, as a naturally aspirated engine, it begins to feel slightly underpowered when accelerating beyond 100km/h on highways. Nonetheless, for everyday family use, this level of power is more than sufficient.

The handling and chassis performance exceeded our expectations. The steering wheel has moderate steering force with minimal dead zone, and the tire direction can be clearly felt when cornering, providing ample confidence. The tuning of the front MacPherson independent suspension leans towards comfort but does not lose its resilience; when passing speed bumps or uneven roads, the suspension quickly filters out most of the jolts, leaving no noticeable residual vibrations. The vehicle’s stability at high speeds is very good, and the steering wheel does not feel loose at 120km/h. The feedback from the brake pedal is linear, and the braking distance is average for this class but sufficient for daily safety use.

In actual fuel consumption testing, we drove 100 kilometers in congested urban conditions, and the displayed fuel consumption was 8.5L/100km. On highways cruising steadily at 110km/h, the fuel consumption dropped to 6.2L/100km. On average, the combined fuel consumption is about 7.3L, which is slightly better than the official figure of 8.1L/100km. In terms of noise control, tire noise and engine noise are not noticeable during urban driving. On highways, wind noise becomes slightly more prominent above 120km/h, but it doesn’t disturb normal conversations among passengers inside the car.

In summary, the core advantage of the 2021 Proton Persona 1.6 Premium CVT lies in its balance – it offers sufficient space, practical features, adequate power, and a 5-year/150,000km warranty that provides peace of mind for users. Compared to competitors in the same price range such as the Perodua Bezza or Honda City, its six airbags and voice control feature stand out as significant advantages, and its trunk capacity is also larger. However, its performance on highways is not as strong as the City’s 1.5L turbocharged engine, and the interior materials appear slightly basic.

This car is most suitable for families who value practicality and cost-effectiveness, especially those who need a reliable vehicle for daily commuting and occasional family outings. There are no significant shortcomings, and every aspect meets the basic needs of daily use. Furthermore, Proton's extensive aftersales network in Malaysia makes maintenance and servicing convenient. If you're looking for a family sedan that is "a safe choice with no regrets," the Persona is worth considering.