2023 Proton Iriz 1.6 Executive CVT Review

In Malaysia's B-segment hatchback market, young families and commuters tend to prefer models that meet daily practical needs without compromising on features. As a flagship model from the local brand, the 2023 Proton Iriz 1.6 Executive CVT version directly targets this group. Its key selling points include premium features like six airbags and keyless entry. This test drive focuses on verifying its practicality in space, compatibility with its powertrain, and whether its features truly enhance the daily driving experience.

The exterior of the 2023 Iriz 1.6 Executive retains Proton's signature family design language, with an overall style leaning towards youthful sportiness. The front features a large black honeycomb-shaped grille, complemented by sharply contoured headlights on both sides. The headlight assembly integrates LED daytime running lights and automatic headlight functions, providing decent recognition. The side profile has smooth lines, with a waistline extending from the front fender to the rear, enhancing the sense of dimensionality. The 16-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels are well-proportioned with the body. At the rear, the taillight assembly adopts a horizontal layout, also incorporating LED elements, echoing the design of the front. A black trim panel below the rear bumper adds a touch of sportiness.

Inside the car, the interior features a predominantly black color scheme, with a straightforward and clear center console layout. The central area is equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen supporting Bluetooth and USB connections, with acceptable operational smoothness. The steering wheel adopts a multifunctional three-spoke design, with audio controls and call buttons on the left, and cruise control functions on the right (although this was not mentioned for the test drive model, it may be available on some versions). The instrument panel features a backlit analog design, displaying clear information such as speed, RPM, and fuel level. The seats are made of fabric and offer manual adjustment for the front seats. The rear seats can be folded in a 60:40 split, enabling an expanded trunk space when folded down. The front row is equipped with a manual single-zone air conditioning system, with straightforward rotary controls for operation. Though the rear does not have independent air vents, the airflow from the front is sufficient to cover the rear seating area.

In terms of dimensions, the car measures 3945mm in length, 1722mm in width, and 1564mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2555mm, placing it in the mid-range among vehicles in its class. In real-world seating tests, a 175cm tall passenger in the front row has approximately a fist and two fingers of headroom, with ample legroom. In the back row, headroom amounts to about one fist, and legroom two fists, making it suitable for daily family use. The trunk offers a standard capacity of 215 liters, expandable with the rear seats folded, making it easy to store a stroller or suitcase. For storage space, the front door panels can hold two bottles of water, the central armrest box has moderate capacity, while the rear door panel storage is smaller and can only accommodate small items.

In terms of power, it is equipped with a 1.6L naturally aspirated engine delivering a maximum power of 80kW (109PS) and a peak torque of 150N·m, paired with a CVT gearbox. In daily driving, the power response during initial acceleration is relatively smooth. When the accelerator is pressed deeply, the engine rpm climbs to around 4000rpm, where the torque output peaks, resulting in noticeable acceleration. However, beyond 5000rpm, the power reserve becomes slightly insufficient. The CVT gearbox performs well in ensuring smoothness with nearly imperceptible gear shifts, making it suitable for urban commuting. At highway speeds of 120km/h, the engine maintains a rotation speed of around 2500rpm, and noise control is fairly decent.

In terms of handling, the combination of front MacPherson independent suspension and rear torsion beam non-independent suspension is tuned for comfort. When passing speed bumps or uneven roads, the suspension filters out most of the jolts, but rear passengers may feel slight residual vibrations. The steering is light and the directional accuracy is average, making it suitable for female drivers or city driving. Regarding body stability, body roll is noticeable during high-speed cornering, and the suspension support could be improved. The braking performance is decent, with a relatively long brake pedal travel. The initial braking force is soft, but the latter part is sufficient, which requires some adaptation.

In terms of fuel consumption, the official combined fuel consumption is 7.4L/100km. During the actual test drive, the fuel consumption on urban roads (in congested conditions) was about 8.5L/100km, while on highways it was about 6.8L/100km, matching expectations.

Safety configuration is one of the highlights of the new car, equipped with six airbags, ABS anti-lock braking, vehicle stability control, hill start assist, front and rear parking sensors, and a reversing camera. In terms of passive safety, ISO FIX child seat interfaces are standard, making it convenient for families to install child seats. Among the active safety features, vehicle stability control provides a certain level of stability when driving on wet roads, but the lack of advanced driving assistance functions such as autonomous emergency braking makes it slightly behind compared to other models in its class.

In summary, the 2023 Proton Iriz 1.6 Executive CVT version stands out for its rich configuration, especially safety features. The six airbags and vehicle stability control are relatively rare in models of the same class. As for the price, the estimated starting price is around RM50,000, which makes it highly cost-effective. However, its drawbacks lie in its average power performance, mediocre handling, and limited rear space and storage capacity.

Overall, the new car is suitable for young family users with a limited budget who prioritize safety features and practicality, especially for those who need to balance safety, fuel efficiency, and everyday space. The positioning of this car makes it impossible to be top-notch in every aspect, but with its cost-effectiveness and practical design philosophy, it indeed meets the needs of most ordinary families.

To sum up, the 2023 Proton Iriz 1.6 Executive CVT version is a competent family car for daily commuting, ideal for young families or commuters in Malaysia's B-segment market looking for high cost-effectiveness and safety features.