The Proton Persona has been a relatively popular model for Proton. After all, over the past couple of months, the Persona was able to top the B-segment sedan sales charts.

Just recently, Proton unveiled the updated 2022 Proton Persona, bringing with it a host of quality-of-life improvements, including LED headlights, larger 16-inch (up from 15-inch) alloy wheels, and a revised cabin.

Also Read: Priced from RM 45k, CVT-only 2022 Proton Persona facelift (MC2) launched, MT dropped

Naturally, prices of the updated Proton Persona have gone up a bit, though it still remains well below the RM 60k mark.

That said, if a brand-new Proton Persona isn’t quite your preference, there are other options such as a used Honda City or Toyota Vios within the same price bracket.

New car warranty for a better peace-of-mind

No matter how you look at it, having a brand-new car makes sense for first-time car buyers – it is a fuss-free purchase. Unlike a used car, there’s no sketchy history or missing service records to worry about.

All you need to do is to fuel up and follow the maintenance schedule diligently and the brand-new Persona will be a reasonably reliable partner for a couple of years.

The flipside, of course, is the Proton Persona’s Punch-sourced CVT. Prior to the model’s launch, rumours were ablaze mentioning that the updated Persona would drop its much-criticised CVT in favour of the Proton Saga’s four-speed torque converter unit.

Now that Proton has launched the model, the rumours have been debunked – the CVT lives on. Despite that, Proton has claimed that the Punch CVT has a new TCU which is said to improve driveability. The earlier unit was very unrefined and jerky in stop-and-go traffic.

Also Read: Review: Proton Persona, is the facelift enough to save it?

Used car depreciation has done its part

On the other end of the scale are a used NCP150 Toyota Vios or GM6 Honda City. The top-spec variant of these models was priced slightly above the RM 90k mark when new, but depreciation has taken its course and are now priced very close to a brand-new Proton Persona.

At this price point, you’re looking at a six-year-old GM6 Honda City or a five-year-old NCP150 Toyota Vios.

Safety-wise, the top-spec GM6 City 1.5V gets our vote, as this model offers six airbags and the all-important stability control. The NCP150 Vios, on the other hand, did not get stability control until the 2017 model year.

Also Read: Used 7-year-old Honda City (GM6) for RM 40k - common problems and maintenance?

While these models typically have rock-solid reliability, being a used car, you will need to set aside a budget to replace wear and tear items; more so if the mileage is on the higher side.

Once the wear and tear items have been replaced, you’ll be able to enjoy an almost-new-car-like experience, owing to these cars’ reputation for reliability – just refuel and service on time.

In fact, although on the older side of things, there is no concern when it comes to spare parts shortage. You can get spare parts from your nearby parts stockist with ease.

Granted, you will need to do your due diligences when shopping for a used car. No two used cars are alike, so check everything, including whether the car has been in an accident or flood. If and when possible, get a used car directly from the owner to reduce the possibility of a tampered odometer.

Also Read: Buying used cars: 6 signs of flood damage

Also Read: Buying used cars: 5 signs a car has been in an accident

Also Read: Worried about mileage tempering when buying a used car? Here's how to check

With the current lockdown still in full force, inspecting a used car physically before purchasing is almost impossible.

As such, if you want to buy a car online but want none of the risk associated with it, enter Carsome's Promise, which includes a 1-year warranty, Carsome Certified inspection, and a 5-day money back guarantee.

Also Read: Buying a used car online? Here's how to avoid accident or flood-damaged cars