Review: 2024 Proton Persona - The best 'starter executive car' for Malaysians?
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- Опубліковано 23 лип 2024
- With so many other cars in the B-segment having shot up in price to creep up to and beyond RM100k, the Persona holds steady while receiving updates and feature-adds that greatly bolster its spec sheet and curb appeal.
Has Proton actually refined the Persona formula to become something of a diamond in the rough? In 2024, it's worth revisiting this little four-door that packs quite a big punch for its modest price.
Not to be overly dramatic, but the Proton Persona could be the last of its kind - well, alongside the current Proton Saga, of course - as the last of a great line of truly Malaysian made (buatan Malaysia) four door sedans before a full Geely-based transition is complete.
All the more reason to look at the Persona with a little bit of extra patriotic fervour.
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0:00 - Introduction
0:28 - The Proton Persona in 2024
1:01 - Still the 'do everything' starter sedan?
1:40 - Convenience features & interior
2:25 - Boot space & practicality
2:47 - What you get for your money
3:49 - Engine & powertrain
5:44 - Some insights with Mr Desmond of Proton
10:28 - Closing thoughts
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I'm a Proton S70 owner and I love it. But if the car never came into Malaysia, the Proton Persona is, without a doubt, the choice I will go for!
This car only need ADAS system, middle back headrest and change the backlight then boom.. Perfect cheap family sedan
I think...you have a great presenter there in Jim Kem. Super fluent English with superb line delivery in terms of tone and cadence. Oh yeah, and the car seems like good value, too. However, stories of the Punch CVT come to mind, which gives me pause concerning vehicle longevity. Granted, these stories that I heard are quite dated but has Proton done anything to address that?
The stories about punch CVT wasn't about longevity nor reliability. It was more about refinement, as it always jerking and sometimes the clutch could suddenly disengaged during slow "creep" driving in traffic jam. They said they've fixed it, but I don't know since I won't be upgrading to another Persona.
I've bought my persona MC1 2019. Already had 130k km. So far no issues with the CVT gearbox. Driven hard everyday over the speed limit. I notice, many gearbox issues were on the prefacelift version
This latest iteration of the Persona model is an improvement of the one before. Good job by Desmond and team and keep up the good work - the kaizen approach by one of your previous bosses should continue.
Good review Jim. Been over this clip a few times.
Glad that you’ve driven the previous gen persona. Used to have both gen of Personas in my house and I really miss the last gen Persona.
Fun to drive, trusty engine and gearbox, sit low to ground, very communicative steering and the prowess of Lotus RnH, even though not as updated and roomy as the current one.
I owned a 2017 standard/ base model for five years. No issues whatsoever. It racked up 125k km of fuss free milage in five years of ownership. Bulletproof. Highly recommended.
Thank You Mr Jim Kem for the wholesome review.
I own a 2019 persona premium, no problems at all until today, i only got 2 complaints about this car. 1.The maximum wiper speed is not fast enough for heavy rain at highway. 2.Fuel consumption is abit high. Other than those 2 complaints, its a good car, its comfy, cheap to maintain, quality no issues, speed not fast but not slow too.
As a former 2017 base model owner, I concur.
In my opinion, the current persona has almost everything we need, decent interior, good enough space for a family of 4, good handling but the only thing is that campro engine, I have heard and seen many people complaining about the engine.
It would be great if they can swap the engine with the geely 1.5 NA engine for the facelift persona
Current campro engine still ok what?
Thanks for the review, I own it since 2022 still good except accessories easily spoil.... LED bulb
I own this car for a year now, previously my daily driver is a Ford Ranger 2019. Need time to adapt from a turbodiesel 6speed to a 1.6NA CVT, but once I adapt then its a 10/10 experience. The body is solid, handling is insane for its price point, the ride quality and cabin is excellent. Even the center console and interface is miles better than competition on the same price point. I've been going up and down Genting, and the handling never disappoints. I sometimes drives till 180km/h and yet the stability of the car is rock solid. Only a RM100k+ car could match the comfort and stability of the car.
The chassis is heavier than competitor, and used HPF tech to strengthen it. Its 200kg heavier than a MYVI. So its understandable why the fuel consumption is higher, but its only noticeable on stop go traffic in town. For long range drives its quite fuel efficient.
The CVT gearbox so far never felt jerking or lag, its super improved compared to the first gen in 2016. But CVT is CVT, you cannot press foot to the metal and must be gentle in throttle, but 180km/h is achievable as the 1.6 engine also has sufficient power.
Only two issue so far, radiator coolant need to check regularly and the driver power window could malfunctioned (but got 10yrs warranty for it)
Owned the 2016 version of this new model. I'd say, Persona have come a long way. Driving the latest one, it feels like a different car altogether until you notice the styling, handling, and engine behavior doesn't change much. Only the NVH and maybe the CVT has been greatly refined. Plus a few new features like infotainment, led headlight, and a very comfortable leather seats (minus the missing adjustable headrest at the back). I'd still skip to S70 anyway.
Please consider having three proper headrests at the back to save people from whiplash injuiries in rear collisions. At the moment the two protuding headrests are not going to help normal adults because large part of their heads will not have headrest support. Middle passenger does not have any support.
yeah that is so weird to me cuz the Iriz, its sibling has the headrests for the rear passenger but not in the Persona
I love your review, clear and straight to the points. Keep it up 😊
Thank you! 🙏🏼
My brother in law got the 2023 model and only thing he changed is the rear LED bar light…Service regularly and change the CVT oil it will serve you well…Recently the mileage is 40k plus although he got a 650cc bike…recently he go for dyno tuning doing some stuffs and gained 3 hp & 4 nm more,Not bad for standard car
If would be great if you could pass by the information for mr desmond to please, facelift the persona with a better and slicker design ( especially) the door side panels and for saga, just give it the LED headlights. That car is already near perfect for it price point and segment.
Best car for all the family
Is this Punch CVT ??
I am recent Proton Persona MC2 owner, only concern the Punch CVT, hope it can last long, at least mileage, 200,000 KM?
i heard that only the pre facelift (before 2022) that have that problem, they've tuned the CVT for the current facelift
Persona no doubt is value for money but it misses out on 2 key aspect. refinement and efficiency for its class. Those who values refinement will opt of budget Japanese and those values efficiency will go for perodua. Believe the new S70 has both in place
Ni ada lah "musuh" MIB .... hehehe
Step 1: Turn on Sports Mode
Step 2: Drive a twisty road
Still remember my 2018 new persona, proton still fail to solve the cvt jerking issue. Now it is collecting dust in somewhere around my office parking basement. Fun car, but big fail for aftersales service. Funny things, I have to book prior almost 2 months for checking and inspection. That's the reason I already abandoned that car.
Persona is a great car.... when it works.... when it not? Well...
It always works for me 7 years of owning one. A word "rare" for problem could be an overstatement, as I hardly encountered any. Perfect beater car for "do it all". Just don't expect "refinement" out of it. S70 would be a leap of an upgrade in every way.
Is it berbaloi to make this car a Grab car
Better buy Perodua Bezza / Myvi for Grab
Better go for a Bezza, fuel consumption benefit is significant
High rpm and high fuel consumption.
1st gen persona is much better
After sales still sucks, please improve
The proton manufactured models like Saga, Iriz and Persona have this problem?
@stbernard1196 yes