When Proton launched the facelifted Iriz in August, the real star of the show was this – the Iriz Active.
This was quite an interesting move for Proton. They’re already got a B-segment crossover SUV winner on their hands in the form of the X50, so they probably realised that there was indeed a market for that sort of styling.
Indeed, the Iriz Active is mostly distinguished by its design elements. However, it’s also worth noting that Proton has positioned the Active as the highest trim in the range.
This means that if you want all the bells and whistles on a Proton hatchback, you’ll have to get it with this crossover styling package.
Proton actually redesigned the bumper to give it a more rugged appearance. You can see they used different finishes to achieve that crossover look. But what really distinguishes the Iriz Active are the body mouldings used around the fenders and skirts. These blend in perfectly with the front and rear bumpers. Little touches like a black roof, black roof rails and a black rear spoiler tie the Iriz Active’s look together.
All of these new styling touches would have cost Proton quite a bit of money to develop, test and put into production. Which would explain why there’s about an RM7,000 gap between the Iriz Active and the Iriz Executive models.
However, Proton has added value in other places to make the Iriz Active a more appealing product. For one, this is the only variant to come with LED headlights and dual-tone alloy wheels. But inside, there’s even more to talk about. Starting with the steering wheel, you get media controls at your fingertips, as well as leatherette wrapping and red accents.
These red accents are actually distributed throughout the car’s interior. From the embroidery on the front seats to the door trims, floor mats, and even seat belts. The seats get semi leather upholstery for a more upmarket feel and the pedals have aluminium trim pieces for a more sporty look.
Finally, there’s the infotainment unit. The 8” unit here gets a few features not available on other versions of the Iriz including Voice Command, Online Navigation, Online Music Streaming, Online Weather Forecast, in-car Wifi as well as 4G connectivity to make this all possible.
So, whether you’re attracted to the crossover look or looking for the most equipment you can squeeze out of a small car, the new Proton Iriz Active is a great place to start.
