Perodua Bezza 2018 Review

In Malaysia's A-Segment sedan market, value for money and practicality have always been the core considerations for consumers. Many first-time car buyers or urban commuters are looking for a model that is budget-friendly, fuel-efficient, and spacious enough. The 2018 Perodua Bezza 1.0 Standard G AT is one of the popular choices in this segment. Priced at less than RM37,000, it offers features like keyless entry and automatic headlights, which are rare at this price point. Additionally, its official fuel consumption rating of 4.7L/100km is quite appealing. This time, we have the chance to test the actual car, focusing on its performance in daily driving, space practicality, and whether its features truly meet user needs. Let’s see if it’s worth considering for budget-conscious buyers.

From an exterior perspective, the design of the 2018 Bezza 1.0 Standard G AT leans towards simplicity and practicality. The front features Perodua's trapezoidal family-style grille, paired with combination halogen + LED headlights on both sides. Although it lacks fog lights present in higher trims, the automatic headlight function is convenient for daily use. The side of the car has straight lines, with a length of 4150mm and a 2455mm wheelbase, which are standard dimensions for an A-Segment car. The 14-inch tires also align with its entry-level positioning. The rear design is relatively rounded, with horizontally arranged taillights. Although the overall style may not stand out, it is visually pleasing and suits the low-profile nature of a family car.

Inside the car, the interior predominantly uses dark-colored plastics. While the materials are basic, the panel gaps are fairly consistent, avoiding a noticeable cheap feel. The dashboard layout is clear, with two speakers on the top and rotary dials for manual air conditioning in the center, making the controls intuitive and easy to adapt to. The multifunction steering wheel supports basic functions like volume adjustment and answering calls. Despite being made of plastic, the steering wheel provides a reasonably comfortable grip. The instrument cluster has a backlit analog design, with clear displays for the tachometer, speedometer, and fuel gauge, ensuring a stress-free experience when reading information during daily driving. Notably, it comes equipped with a keyless entry system, which is uncommon in cars of this price range and adds convenience to daily usage.

Space performance is one of Bezza's highlights. The front seats offer manual adjustment, and for a passenger with a height of 175cm, there remains a fist's worth of headroom, ensuring no feeling of confinement. The rear seat space is surprisingly spacious, with the same-height passenger enjoying two fists of legroom and more than one fist of headroom. Even with three adults seated in the back, it doesn’t feel overly cramped. The rear also includes ISO FIX child seat anchors, making it convenient for families to install child safety seats. In terms of storage, the front door panels can hold two water bottles, and while the central armrest compartment isn't very large, it’s sufficient for smaller items. The trunk has a capacity of 508L, which is larger than many competitors in the same segment. It can easily fit two 20-inch suitcases plus some miscellaneous items. Additionally, the rear seats support a 60:40 split-folding, making it capable of carrying long items when needed.

In terms of performance, this model is equipped with a 1.0L naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine, delivering a maximum power of 68PS and a peak torque output at 4400rpm. It is paired with a 4AT transmission. During daily driving, the initial acceleration is not very strong but is adequate for city commuting, allowing the car to start smoothly with light throttle input. At low speeds, the transmission's shifting logic is fairly smooth, without noticeable jerks. However, once the speed goes beyond 60km/h, the ability to accelerate further weakens, and overtaking requires pressing the gas pedal harder to bring the engine's RPM above 4000, enabling sufficient power response. Considering its positioning as a family commuter car, this level of performance is sufficient.

The handling and chassis performance are aligned with the tuning direction of a household car. The steering wheel has a relatively light turning force, making it easy for female drivers to handle, and it is reasonably precise without obvious slack. The chassis adopts a front MacPherson independent suspension and a rear torsion beam non-independent suspension, with an overall tuning leaning towards comfort. When passing over speed bumps or bumpy roads, the suspension filters out most of the finer vibrations, ensuring that passengers inside the car do not feel overly jolted; during cornering, the body roll is controlled within a reasonable range without obvious swaying, maintaining basic stability. In terms of braking, the response of the front ventilated disc brakes is quite linear, and when you step on the brake pedal, the braking force is released smoothly, providing confidence during daily driving.

Fuel consumption testing was one of the key points of this review. We drove approximately 50km each on urban roads and highways, with urban segments including congested traffic conditions during rush hours, and highway segments maintaining speeds between 90-110km/h. The final calculated actual fuel consumption was about 5.2L/100km, which, although slightly higher than the official 4.7L, is already quite good considering real-world road conditions. After filling the 36L fuel tank, the range can easily exceed 600km, reducing the hassle of frequent refueling.

In terms of ride comfort, this car’s performance is fairly standard. On urban roads below 60km/h, tire noise and engine noise are controlled quite well; however, once the speed exceeds 80km/h, wind noise gradually becomes more noticeable, especially around the A-pillar area. Still, it is within an acceptable range and won’t affect normal conversations among passengers. The seat padding is on the harder side but offers good support, so long drives do not feel too tiring. However, it does not include a rearview camera, only a rear parking sensor, which may require extra attention to the surroundings when parking, especially for novice drivers.

Overall, the core advantages of the 2018 Perodua Bezza 1.0 Standard G AT lie in its high cost-effectiveness and practicality. With a price of less than RM37,000, you get features such as keyless entry, automatic headlights, and a large trunk space, which are more advantageous than the base model of Proton Saga in the same class. Although its power isn’t very strong and the interior materials are basic, for households with a limited budget or urban commuters, its fuel efficiency, adequate space, and practical configurations fully meet daily needs.

The most suitable audience for this car would be young families purchasing their first car or office workers needing a reliable commuting vehicle. If your budget is below RM40,000 and you value fuel efficiency, space, and basic configurations while not prioritizing power or luxury, then the Bezza 1.0 Standard G AT is a good choice. It doesn’t have any particularly standout features, but it also doesn’t have any obvious shortcomings, making it a balanced car for everyday use.

In summary, the 2018 Perodua Bezza 1.0 Standard G AT is a "practical" A-segment sedan that delivers more than expected in terms of usability and convenience at an affordable price. While it makes compromises in power and interior quality, these are not key concerns for its target audience. If you need a reliable, economical car for daily commuting, it is worth considering.