Perodua Bezza 2020 Review

Malaysia's A-segment sedan market has always been a hotly contested space for essential users, with affordable prices, low fuel consumption, and practical space being the core demands. The 2020 Perodua Bezza 1.0 G (M), as the brand's main entry-level sedan model, with its price of RM 34,580, practical features such as keyless entry as standard, and Perodua's consistent reputation for reliability, accurately targets consumers on a tight budget who still seek balanced performance. This time, through a real-world test drive, we primarily evaluate its daily commuting practicality, whether its power is sufficient, and whether its features truly offer great value for money.

From the exterior, the 2020 Bezza 1.0 G (M) maintains the compact feel of an A-segment sedan, with body dimensions of 4170mm×1620mm×1525mm and a wheelbase of 2455mm, making it standard in its class. The front adopts Perodua's family-style design, with a large grille paired with horizontal trim bars, and sharply designed LED headlights on both sides, which are standard and provide decent recognition when illuminated at night. The side profile of the car features simple lines, while the 14-inch tires paired with 175/65 R14 specifications offer no sporty feel but align with its family-oriented positioning. At the rear, the tail lights echo the design of the headlights, and the trunk lid lines are smooth. The overall design leans towards practicality without excessive ornamental elements, adhering to its entry-level positioning.

Inside the cabin, the interior predominantly uses dark tones, with materials mostly hard plastics, but the assembly quality is decent and does not give off a noticeably cheap feel. The dashboard layout is clear, with the lighting control area on the left and a manual air conditioning panel in the center. The button and knob damping are moderate, making operations intuitive. A multifunction steering wheel comes standard, with volume adjustment and call answer buttons on the left side, making daily use convenient enough. The instrument cluster features a backlit analog display, with speed, RPM, and fuel level all displayed clearly, even under strong lighting. In terms of features, keyless entry is a highlight, eliminating the hassle of fumbling for keys. The front row is equipped with a 220V/230V power outlet, convenient for connecting small appliances. The rear seats support 60:40 split folding, offering flexibility to expand storage space. However, the absence of a central touchscreen and reversing camera is a noticeable drawback of this configuration.

In terms of space, the front driver's seat supports manual adjustment, and for a 175cm tall driver, once the seating position is adjusted, there’s still a fist worth of headroom and ample legroom. When the rear accommodates two adults, there’s about two fists of legroom and one fist of headroom. While it’s not spacious, short trips pose no issue. The middle seat, due to a slight floor hump, can feel cramped during prolonged usage. In terms of storage, the front door panels have cup holders and storage slots, and there’s an open storage compartment below the center dashboard for placing phones or wallets. The trunk has a capacity of 508L, with good depth and width, easily accommodating two 20-inch suitcases. Folding down the rear seats allows for longer items to be stored, meeting daily shopping or short-trip needs.

For performance, the 1.0L naturally aspirated three-cylinder engine delivers a maximum power of 69PS, with peak torque output at 4400rpm, paired with a 5-speed manual transmission. Acceleration feels sluggish at first, and the engine needs to rev above 2500rpm to feel noticeable acceleration, making it more suited for steady driving. During mid-speed cruising, such as maintaining 60-80km/h on urban expressways, power delivery is smooth. Overtaking requires downshifting a gear and pressing the accelerator deeply; once the revs climb to 4000rpm, there is a certain burst of power, but it lacks punch in the higher range. The manual transmission has clear gear positions with a moderate shift range, allowing even beginners to get used to it quickly. The driving mode only offers a standard mode, with no sport or eco modes available, and the overall tuning focuses on fuel efficiency.

In terms of handling and chassis, the front MacPherson independent suspension is tuned on the softer side, which filters out most of the minor vibrations when crossing speed bumps or bumpy roads, ensuring rear passengers do not feel noticeable jolts. The steering system uses hydraulic assist, and the steering wheel feels relatively heavy. Stability is good during high-speed driving, but maneuvering at low speeds requires more effort. The center of gravity of the vehicle is relatively low, and body roll is kept within a reasonable range when cornering, making daily driving stable enough. The braking performance is average, with the brake pedal initially feeling soft, but braking force releases linearly with harder pressing. During emergency braking, the vehicle body remains stable without a noticeable nose-dive effect.

In the fuel consumption test, we drove 50km each in urban traffic and on expressways, with the air conditioning running throughout. The actual measured fuel consumption is approximately 4.6L/100km, which is close to the official figure of 4.4L/100km, demonstrating impressive fuel economy. With a fuel tank capacity of 36L, the vehicle can achieve a range of about 780km on a full tank, reducing the refueling frequency, making it suitable for daily commuting.

Regarding driving comfort, engine noise is relatively noticeable when idling, especially with the unique vibrations of a three-cylinder engine. However, the wind and road noise control are acceptable while driving, and conversations inside the car remain unaffected at speeds below 80km/h. When speeds exceed 100km/h, wind noise gradually increases but remains within an acceptable range. The seats have firm padding but provide good support, so the lower back does not feel significantly strained during long drives. The manual transmission is smooth without any jerky shifts, and the clutch engagement point is clear, making it easy for beginners to handle.

In summary, the key advantages of the 2020 Perodua Bezza 1.0 G (M) are its affordable price, low fuel consumption, practical space, and standard features like keyless entry. Compared to the similarly positioned Proton Saga 1.3 Standard, the Bezza has better fuel economy and adds features like keyless entry and front sensors, while the Saga comes with a central touchscreen display. However, the Bezza is cheaper and Perodua provides a more comprehensive after-sales network, resulting in lower maintenance costs.

This car is suitable for users with limited budgets who need a practical vehicle, such as young individuals who have just started working or households looking for a second car. It is ideal for daily commuting, grocery shopping, or picking up children. It caters to consumers who don’t prioritize advanced features but value reliability and fuel efficiency. It’s not a car for pursuing performance or luxury but rather an entry-level option that meets basic family needs at a minimal cost.

In general, the 2020 Perodua Bezza 1.0 G (M) is a pragmatic family sedan with no significant shortcomings or standout features, emphasizing practicality at its core. If you’re looking for a reliable, fuel-efficient, and adequately spacious vehicle for transportation at a budget around RM 35,000, it’s a choice worth considering.