How is the Proton Iriz still on sale 7 years later and is it still relevant?

The Proton Iriz is a relic compared to most of its rivals in the B-segment. Launched in 2014 as Proton’s true attempt at its global car project after the shortcomings of the Proton Preve, the Iriz was almost universally praised by the motoring media initially.

Things were going great for Proton and the Iriz was seen as a major turning point for the company in producing a well-packaged hatchback. Moreover, it was Proton’s most proper rival against Perodua after two failed attempts with the Tiara and Savvy.

Also read: Proton tried fighting Perodua with the Tiara and Savvy, and lost miserably

Then Perodua launched the third-gen Myvi in 2017 and it blew Malaysians away almost immediately. Sales took off as the then all-new Myvi maintained its lead as the country’s most popular supercar.

Still, Proton managed to continue selling the Iriz and even updated it in 2019. With yet another update set to arrive later this year with a revamped exterior, interior, and a new variant, there seems to be no end in sight for the hatchback.

Here comes the big Y…

Why indeed is Proton still continuing with the Iriz? It was supposed to be a close rival to the Perodua Myvi but the sales figures show a different side.

Perodua sold 66,330 units of the Perodua Myvi in 2020 alone. Meanwhile, Proton only managed to move 7,636 units of the Proton Iriz in the same year. The only thing close between the rivalry is that both companies are Malaysian.

Also read: Proton Iriz: 7k units sold last year, can Proton hit 10k units in 2021?

With tepid sales, shouldn’t the Iriz be given the chopping block instead of yet another update? Well, to put it simply, Proton isn't as dominant now as its glory days (i.e. loaded with cash). Instead of developing a brand-new model from scratch, the other option is to continue updating it which is more cost-effective.

As ageing as the Iriz is, Proton still thinks there is more life to be squeezed out of the hatchback which we'll explain below.

Pride of achievement

Perhaps out of Proton’s quartet of locally-developed line-up, collectively called PIES (Persona, Iriz, Exora, Saga), the Iriz was and still is Proton’s pride and joy. The Iriz was developed by Proton themselves and in essence, it’s a truly Malaysian car.

Step inside one and you might realise why the motoring media praised it a lot. Chuck it in the corner and you’ll be surprised at how well it treats the bends not just for a Malaysian car but also in its segment.

This was supposed to be Proton’s own car to set the automotive world alight. It had some input from famed Italian design house, ItalDesign Giugiaro and prior to its official unveiling, some test units were spotted in Europe doing winter tests and calibrations.

In the end, Proton’s globalisation plans with the Iriz were put on hold. Perhaps for the best if it can’t even be popular in its own home market.

Turning something good, even better

The Iriz might be a bit of a left-field choice compared to the Myvi. Also, who wouldn’t want to support an underdog right?

Also read: Used Proton Iriz for RM 24k. In the market for a used one? Here are some tips

Some might think that Proton should’ve seen this coming after years of controlling dominating the Malaysian car market but the Iriz is indeed quite a decent car. Not perfect, but a good car in its class.

Also read: Pros and Cons: Proton Iriz – Excellent ride and handling, but the CVT is a pain

This new update would see some improvements, perhaps in the form of a more conventional 4-speed AT similar to the Proton Saga. It might be early to wave goodbye to the CVT gearbox for now but perhaps it’s a good change considering how its chief rival is still using a 4-speed AT.

Also read: 4AT vs CVT: Two steps forward, one step back?

Aside from the supposed improved transmission, another improvement would be in the form of the safety features. Both the Proton Iriz and its sedan twin, the Persona have been awarded with 5-star ASEAN NCAP ratings based on the 2017-20 protocol.

Though both cars were awarded with 5-star ratings based on the pre-2017 protocol, the later protocol assesses safety features including AEB and blind-spot assist. These are features that could be offered on the new Iriz.

Updates that will generate buzz

Remember when Proton unveiled the Iriz R3 as a merely dressed-up Iriz with yellow graphics and not much else? In spite of what some people might criticize on Proton’s decision to slap the legendary R3 badge on a kitted-up car, you do see some fans praising it.

The same goes for the upcoming updated Iriz. Apart from the updated designs, all eyes will certainly on the Iriz Active. Until the official photos are unveiled, I’ll keep my thoughts on the faux-crossover look to myself.

Besides, the Perodua Myvi might be Malaysia’s favourite car but it remains largely unchanged since 2017. The 2020 update saw the Myvi received A.S.A 2.0 and a new colour but not much else.

Generally, most people would be attracted to change and the Iriz’s newest updates might see all eyes fixated on the Malaysian Tiger. It won’t be as huge as its debut 7 years ago but is it enough for it to continue a little longer? Watch this space.