ADVERTORIAL: Proton's new affordable Persona set to excite

By CARSIFU | 11 November 2016


The second-generation Proton Persona comes competitively priced (on-the-road including GST and insurance) from RM46,800 to RM59,800.

Using an elongated Proton Iriz platform, the new Persona is available in three trims of Standard, Executive and Premium (with and without body kit) variants.

Proton Persona - 03
Colour choices are Cotton White, Fire Red, Sterling Silver, Graphite Grey, Quartz Black and new Carnelian Brown.

The entry-level Standard is offered with a choice of a five-speed manual (RM46,800) or a continuously variable transmission (CVT) for RM49,800, and is followed by the mid-range Executive (RM55,800) before topping out with the Premium (RM59,800) - both available with CVT only.

The Persona comes with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty.

Proton Persona - 21
The sedan reuses the same 1.6-litre VVT engine as before and gets mated to either a five-speed manual (Standard only) or CVT as before, but Proton said the engine’s been further refined for reduced Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) levels as well as improved fuel economy.

The 1,597cc engine produces 107hp at 5,750rpm and 150Nm of torque at 4,000rpm – fuel economy is rated as low as 5.6 (manual) and 6.1 litres per 100km (CVT) thanks to the inclusion of an ECO Drive Assist system to help drivers reduce consumption.

Proton Persona - 06
The Persona rolls on standard 15-inch wheels with 185/55 series tyres that obscure the disc (front) and drum (rear) brakes, while the MacPherson struts (front) and a torsion beam axle (rear) suspension gives it 155mm of ground clearance and takes care of ride and handling duties.

Sharing the platform used by Iriz, the Persona has the same wheelbase at 2,555mm, but has been modified to be 482mm-longer at 4,387mm, 2mm-wider at 1,722mm and 4mm-taller at 1,554mm.

Proton Persona - 02
The outgoing Persona, launched in 2007, came weighing in from 1,170 to 1,190kg and has a wheelbase of 2,600mm, while measuring 4,477mm-long, 1,725mm-wide and 1,438mm-tall.

Standard equipment across all variants include rear fog lamps, front and rear proximity sensors, driver seat height adjuster and Eco Drive Assist.

Proton Persona - 15
The Persona gets a five-star Asean NCAP crash-test rating, while standard safety equipment includes two airbags (six for the Premium variant), anti-lock braking system, electronic brakeforce distribution, brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control, hill-hold assist, Isofix anchor points, dual pre-tensioner seat belts and reverse camera exclusively for the Premium.

Proton Persona - 19
Other features include a 510-litre boot space, a spacious cabin, seven cup-holders and four USB ports (two for Standard variant).

Since the launch of the original model in 2007, some 250,000 units have been sold both locally and internationally.



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