Hey guys, I recently got my Proton Persona and already travelled 1300km in 2 weeks. I would like to share my experience/review as well as the after-sale service experience. I hope this will help any potential buyers make their decision if the product suits them. To make it easy I am breaking the review into several parts as below:

1.0 Car design

Visually, the car looks nice from the front but towards the back, it has a weird disproportionate look to it. I like the design of the light, but the rest of it seems a little weird. But after awhile, you get used to it and start to like it.

2.0 Cabin Design & Space

2.1 Seating comfort

Looking at the interior, it looks great considering the price. My version is the premium variant so there was leather, and in the door, there was a leather like material. The way the seats hold your body made it really comfortable when sitting and even driving. Even in the back, my family said it was really comfortable. But from my opinion, it looks a little cramped from the back appearance wise, but when you sit down it feels like there is space. When comparing to my previous car which was a Perodua Viva, I felt that it was even bigger than Persona from the rear space. However, after sitting in Persona's back seat it does feel like there is space. I must warn you though that when the front seats move backwards a little the backspace is reduced tremendously. I got a feeling that it is mainly due to the size of the seats (correct me if I am wrong).

2.2 General aesthetic

The two-tone door and dashboard, with the faux leather like material, made the cabin look modern. In overall it's quite comfortable and I have no complaints in this area.

3.0 Sound system

The Proton Persona comes with its usual Blaupunkt speakers. I came from my Perodua Viva and also a Myvi whereby the speakers sucks beyond imagination. I am an audiophile abit and to my relief the Persona's speakers was not disappointing there is a certain level of depth and clarity to it which is awesome! But as for the player, it sucks!! Some of the issues I found with the player on my car are:

- The volume increased itself to max once
- The bluetooth sometimes can connect sometimes cant connect
- The USB playback is jerky sometimes it hangs (They updated the radio firmware and issue still persists)
- The screen at one time was completely non responsive, and was hung at one screen turn off engine turn on still same had to bring to SC to do factory reset.

(I am planning to utilize the warranty gao gao and ak them to change the player)


4.0 Driving Experience & Performance

4.1 What I didnt like?
When I first got the car, I was very satisfied with the performance. I have driven a Perodua Viva, and Myvi and there is something really pleasant and fun when driving a Proton Persona. However, it was strange when I reached around 200km one fine morning, the car had a jerky feeling when moving from idle. It feels like as though the car was abit noob in releasing clutch. I didnt like this feeling, I will mention how I solved it in the next part of the review.

Also when coming down even a tiny slope engine braking kicks in immediately. This was very annoying, but there is a simple solution that you must continue to pressing the throttle and the engine breaking disengages. So problem solved here (to me).

4.2 The handling is awesome!

The car's handling is superb!! I can only give you my feeling based on comparison with Perodua Viva, Myvi, Toyota Vios, and Honda City. And honestly, the handling beats all of them... I drive alot meeting clients and all, and I still remember in a MyVi I have to break abit when approaching curvy roads otherwise the car will feel like its tilting. But on the Persona it gripped the road and went around the curvy road without any feeling driving around 90 km/h it was extremely enjoyable in my opinion. I drove a Toyota Vios and City before and I dont feel the same experience in terms of handling in the Proton Persona. Proton's much praised Lotus Ride & Handling is really something to shout about here.

There was one time where a Nissan Almera was behind me and the driver was high beaming me along the highway, I couldn't switch lanes because I was driving around 90km/h and there was a lorry on my left. The Nissan Almera was tail gating me, I was waiting for an opportunity to switch lanes. But I approached a curvy turning road and I continued driving while I noticed that the Nissan Almera had to slow down (being unable to handle the curvy road) and I could still maintain at 90km/h like a breeze and went quite a distance and changed lanes after coming out of the curve. To me, this was an awesome feeling !!

4.3 Performance-wise

In this area I must say that I am a very fuel conscious driver, I do not drive like a racer. I press the throttle gently and move from stop out of traffic lights slowly while other cars sprint away. However, there are situations where I needed to overtake cars and Persona could do that without a sweat. The car accelerates well but the sound dampening really masks it giving it a very elusive feeling. To me, I like it because comfort is very important. I would say that there is a balance of comfort and performance here. The car has enough power reserve to do well for road driving.

I must say there was one bad experience where I was trying to come up a hill and it felt a little sluggish if compared to a MyVi. It must be that the car is heavy. But not to worry there is still power there because I was hardly pressing the throttle hard enough as I mentioned I am a fuel conscious driver. The fastest I have ever took this car so far is at 100km/h

4.4 Noise Vibration & Harshness

In terms of absorbing road bumps persona beats Viva, and MyVi hands down. I am not so sure about if compared to Vios and City, but to me it is good enough. In terms of noise the car is silent at speeds below 90km/h whereby after that there is some noise. But the noise is still so much more dampened than a MyVi. I did drive a Honda City (an older one) from KL to Singapore and the noise was louder than the Persona at between 90 - 120 km/h. So to me it was satisfying considering the price of the car.

In overall the NVH is really satisfying and Proton kept this part of their promise here.


Before I conclude with the verdict, I will update in my next post (when I am free) with some of the issues I found with this car - the solutions and my first service experience at COSE.


Thank you for reading, hope it was useful.

Hey guys, I apologize for the delay been busy lately. Im ready to continue with my review on Proton Persona VVT Premium

Full Review:


Summary and Verdict

To summarise, I am dividing the car's features into PROS and CONS as below:


My Verdict:
When Proton introduced the new Proton Persona VVT, I feel that I can see Proton was desperately trying to change. And they manage to do it well to most aspects. Proton Persona is an all rounder balanced car for the price you are paying.

In my honest opinion a car is always a liability and depreciates in value, this is why I was not willing to spend an extra 17,000 for a low spec Vios. When I drive the car I want to be happy and enjoy all the features and the Proton Persona provides that to me.

It is certainly a value for the money but when you buy this car you will have to be ready to face some quality issues and tolerate the after sale experience.

(Refer to my next post for the After Sale Experience)

A new car's experience is not complete without the after sale experience. Get ready because here is where the "colorful" experience begins. I will divide my experience into several sections below:

1.0 Car Delivery
I got my car, happy to see it but SHOCKED to see a dead cockroach in the car! My dealer is Regal Motos Sdn. Bhd.

2.0 First Service Experience
Reading all the experiences of our forum buddies, I decided to send the car to COSE. Calling them, I was greeted by their friendly receptionist who assisted me to make a service appointment. They are super duper busy, that I had to book one week in advance just to make it! But they do send you SMS reminders..

Visiting COSE, I was happy to see that there is a dedicated parking bay for servicing vehicles (but limited), they provided water and even nasi lemak, there were WiFi and even ample of plug points available for use. There is even a vending machine where all drinks (hot and cold) are RM 0.50. You can also request for a free car wash.

I made the appointment at 8.15am, but I had to wait until 8.40 before my number was called. I found that to be abit weird because I already made an appointment but they treated me like a walk-in customer. Oh well...

2.1 Demoralized Service Advisors
I think after all the issues Proton Service Advisors faced, my one SA seems really demoralised. There was no smiles, no enthusiasm nor passion. But he did his job. I can't say that all service advisors are the same, I saw some are always smiling and patient but I was unlucky.

2.2 Issues Complained During First Service and Applied Solutions:
- The jerky feeling was resolved by doing CVT adaptation, the jerkiness is not absent but significantly reduced.
- Noise kit was installed on the dashboard, but the issue persists and then I only found two new vibrations later.
- Jerky USB playback was "treated" by upgrading the firmware, only to find new issues:


3.0 Frustrating Experience

1. To fix any vibration issues on the dashboard, it takes minimum 2 days. So okay I left my car there for two days expecting the issue to be resolved. But nope the issue is still present, and then now I have to leave the car for another 2 days for my next visit because the issue is still not solved!

2. The receptionist in Proton COSE only "sounds friendly". I asked to be connected to by service advisor but I only got disconnected, or they will say they will say they will ask my service advisor to call back but I waited for 2 days and nobody called back!

3. After my first service; my front left light, rear left car plate light, the rear tail light was not working. I only noticed it the next day, so I brought it again to the service centre only to be told that it may be a wiring issue and I "may" need to wait until the next day. So I returned with a grab car only to be told later in the evening (with a relief) that the issue was solved and it was just a burnt fuse. (Really tiring and frustrating)

4. My service advisor did not know what was the follow home light, even after I showed the instruction manual he didn't know what it was. I needed his help to enable it because mine was not enabled by default.

4.0 Proton Service vs Perodua Service

In my visit to Perodua Service, I don't get any nasi lemak but all their service advisors are friendly enthusiastic and professional. They even walk to my car and are very willing to hear to the issues, and after the issues are resolved they will even show and explain their solutions and check with you if the issues are resolved.

I really hope Proton improves in this area. I am taking action by writing a formal complaint to Proton via official channels.

Sure gladly, here are all the QA issues I found with my Proton Persona.

1. Left rubber on roof was loose, they fixed this on the first service

2. Boot lamp was not working, they fixed it also on the first service

3. After the first service, the next day; front left light, left tailgate light, car plate number light stop working... I sent to the service centre the next day they fixed it (Refer to my frustrating experience here). The issue is with the fuse...

4. One week later, issue no.3 occurred again.

5. Three sources of vibrations coming from dashboard area, this is still not resolved.

6. The player is jerky in USB playback, bluetooth is not 100% stable (now it works fine for me).

7. CVT was jerky below 15km/h, they fixed it with CVT adaptation during first service

I plan to bring all these issues up again during my next visit. Issue no.5 takes minimum of 2 days to fix. Not easy for those who depends on their car heavily for transportation. All the above issues are QA issues, meaning that it is not present in ALL Proton Persona. On my cousin's Proton Persona none of the issues above were found except for no. 6.

On the other hand, one guy I met in the COSE service centre was extremely frustrated and angry to find 18 defects. He made a complaint directly to Proton Quality Assurance and I heard they are replacing his car completely.

I experienced this and mentioned it on my review. Same issue present on my cousin's Persona. I accepted the fact even if I claim warranty for this the new unit may also experience the same issue.

Me and my cousin agreed among ourself once warranty end we are changing players.

What to do when Proton Infotainment Hangs ?

If the player hangs and is not resolved after restarting and switching off the engine and still hangs;

1. Take a pin (you can use the SIM ejector pin)
2. Open the memory card cover
3. There is a small hole below the card slot, be sure you are looking at the right hole (you don't want to poke the wrong hole, the other hole is the microphone hole.)
4. Use the pin and press into the hole and this will do a soft reset on the player.

Be sure engine is off when you do this. Switch off the engine, release your leg from the pedal and press the Start switch and the battery will be activated to run the player.

This was what the Proton Service showed me when my player hung. You can do the same also if the screen has lost calibration and goes crazy.

Bro can you share how you achieve such low FC, 1km less almost like Hybrid. How you drive ? Is this 100 % highway ? You switched off AC whole journey ? Can teach us ? Hahahah