Ratings: 2022 Proton Persona facelift - Smoother CVT, could be a better choice against used City/Vios

Launched alongside the 2022 Proton Iriz is the facelifted 2022 Proton Persona range. Much like the hatchback, it's got an exterior nip-and-tuck, and some updates under the hood as well.

Like its twin, the Persona's line-up has been slimmed too: manual transmission is no longer an option, and all three variants on sale today are all equipped with a Punch CVT. With us on your screen today is the range-topping Premium 1.6 variant.

We're happy to report the Persona has improved a fair bit, enough to gain a slight bump in scores compared to the pre-facelift. 

Back then, the pre-facelift Persona scored 160/250, while this time, the 2022 Persona nets 165/250.

Keep in mind that scores and judgements here pertain only to the model's respective segment and not the new-car market in its entirety.

2022 Proton Persona: Driving Performance - 33/50, Charms on the road

There's been very small tweaks to its overall dimensions - the 2022 facelift is 4 mm wider (4,366 mm versus 4,362 mm), and 10 mm taller (1,564 mm vs 1,554 mm).

Beyond that, the Persona is virtually unchanged underneath. Ground clearance still remains 165 mm, or 155 mm if you spring for the base Executive variant with 15-inch wheels.

Those are certainly not figures to lose sleep over, and as a result the driving experience is good ol' Proton. If you want a B-segment sedan that excels in having a communicative chassis, then the Persona is one of the best you can get in its class.

So good handling stays, and along with that is the 1.6-litre, naturally-aspirated four-pot mill. The 109 PS and 150 Nm output is unchanged, good enough to complete the 0-100 km/h test in 12.1 seconds - 0.1 second slower than the Iriz Active, and 0.4 seconds slower than the pre-facelift Persona.

This could largely owe to the larger and slightly heavier 16-inch wheels, an inch up from the pre-facelift's set.

The Punch CVT is one of the many quality improvements made to the Persona. Like we mentioned in our Iriz review, it's improved so much it's hard to hold the twins against it anymore.

Part of the raft of changes made to it are the revised calibration, Eco and Sport modes, and the inclusion of Neutral Idle Control (NIC), which helps keep the transmission cool by disconnecting the clutch as the car idles.

Fancy terms aside, the transmission is a much smoother unit now. It creeps naturally when you release the brakes, and it gently accelerates as throttle is applied. It can still get lurchy in uphill, bumper-to-bumper traffic, but it's miles better than the previous CVT.

Also read: 6AT mulled, is the Proton Iriz / Persona’s CVT that bad? Here’s what’s new

Eco Mode disengages the clutch during coasting below 70 km/h, and this helps in promoting fuel consumption. In that respect, there has been some improvements.

As far as Sports mode is concerned, it really isn't all much: it increases the revs, but then you'll also get a very annoying drone.

2022 Proton Persona Premium: Ride Comfort - 36/50, Excellent suspension

Proton's capabilities in balancing ride comfort and handling is apparent as the Persona strikes a fine line between both. Being virtually the same car underneath, the Persona offers just a pleasurable drive as the Iriz Active, but not as taut, probably due to its slightly extra length.

If the size isn't obvious already, the Persona is the better one among the two for family duties. The leatherette seats - now trimmed in the same colour as the Nappa leather units in the Proton X70 - provide one with firm support on the sides and through its decent seat base.

The seating position however may take some getting used to. I thought the seat was jacked up when I got into it for the first time, but no, the elevated seating position is something you'll either appreciate or dislike when you test the Persona out.

With a sufficient recline and made out of the same supple materials as the fronts, the rear is an equally nice place to sit in. Its slightly more comfortable here, as the exhaust drone that's apparent in the Iriz isn't too noticeable in the Persona.

Even still, the cabin insulation of the Persona is great - slightly better on every level compared to the pre-facelift model.

2022 Proton Persona Premium: Quality and Features – 27/50, Could be better

Besides the slightly improved looks, the Persona also gains the X70's Space Gray. It's a colour that makes the Persona look rather upmarket, particularly when combined with the tasteful brown and black interior.

For the extra cash over the Standard and Executive variants, you'll get LED headlights (not full-LED, turn signals and parking lamps are still bulbs), 16-inch wheels, a black roof, and the bootlid spoiler in black.

Paint thickness and panel gaps are pretty level-pegging for cars of this level. No obvious imperfections to be found.

The brown upholstery is one of the cabin's biggest changes.

It's a better look than the pre-facelift's beige undertones, and this colour should also be a bit more resistant to grime over time compared to the brighter colours of before.

Shared with the Iriz is the new 8-inch floating-type touchscreen infotainment headunit sitting on the centre, as well as the digital air-cond controls.

And since they're the exact same headunit, the comments don't differ. The screen quality is not great (very reflective, hard to see when it's bright out), touch registration can get iffy, and the 'Hi Proton' voice command feature isn't as fully-fleshed out as it is in pricier Protons, so it comes off feeling like a gimmick.

Sound quality is good, and a little tweaking of the equaliser nets good results. We reckon stock settings might be good for most, with clear vocals and deep bass.

Also read: Top 5 best-sounding in-car audio system we’ve tested

Unfortunately, there's some quality foibles that detract from an otherwise nice interior. Parts of the Persona's cabin squeaks and rattles - particularly on the centre console, where the headunit sits - a similar fault can also be heard on the Iriz Active.

The other issue is the Persona gains no ADAS features, making it the only B-segment sedan currently sold that has no such features. Even the cheaper Perodua Bezza has ASA.

Creature comforts in the Persona include automatic headlights (only for Premium), and as far as safety goes you'll get 6 airbags, and the standard suite of anti-lock braking system (ABS), traction control (TCS), and electronic stability control (ESC).

2022 Proton Persona Premium: Interior space – 29.5/50, Enough for most

Beyond its good handling, it's got the space too. Long distance travels with your family and their luggage will be comfortable affair.

The leatherette seats feel a bit more plush than they are in the Iriz, with more than enough support for most. However, those who are a little more big-sized might find them a bit too tight.

Cushioning is slightly firm, but not at all hard. Getting in and out of is not difficult for kids and elders alike too as the doors open wide, a fact helped along by the tall hip point.

The inclusion of the centre armrest is a much appreciated one, adding on extra space inside and helps with comfort in long-distance drives.

Nothing much to complain about when it comes to spaciousness - there's about two tennis balls of legroom, while about one-and-a-half tennis balls worth of headroom for me who's 175 cm tall.

Cupholders - 7 in total - are not the largest and best used for small bottles. Cubby spaces are pretty regular, nothing too big or small.

Boot space is biggest-in-class, with 510 litres, edging out the Toyota Vios and Honda City (both 506 litres) and the Nissan Almera (482 litres).

Extra space can be eked thanks to 60:40 split-folding rear seats, and underneath the boot floor is a space saver spare tyre.

2022 Proton Persona Premium: Fuel consumption – 13.5/20, Slightly better now

Proton claims that fuel consumption is better by around 10 percent on the NEDC cycle, with Eco Mode further improving it to 8 to 10 percent. Still, these are through Proton's internal tests, and results in the real world often differ.

Our real-world tests, with the twins driven equally over city roads and highways, net the results below:

The 8.1-litre/100 km is a slight improvement over the pre-facelift Persona, which managed 8.4-litre/100 km. That's about a 4 percent improvement in fuel consumption.

2022 Proton Persona Premium: Purchase and cost – 25/30, Good value for its price

The Persona's prices range from RM 45,800 (Standard), RM 50,800 (Executive), and RM 54,800 (Premium). Much cheaper than any similar-segment Japanese make, which makes the Persona a compelling option on its own.

As far as maintenance goes, it also follows the Iriz Active's trend of being slightly pricier to service compared to its pre-facelift model, with the extra expenditure coming from more frequent coolant and N95 cabin filter changes.

2022 Proton Persona Premium: Conclusion – 165/250 pts overall

If you're looking for a new B-segment sedan that's cost-concious yet doesn't quite feel so, then the 2022 Proton Persona is as good as it gets.

But for all that's good in its comfort, slightly improved fuel consumption, and extra features, its faults are getting harder to ignore as the car ages. Lack of ADAS and a 7-year old chassis are two of the major pain points of the Persona.