The Proton Iriz is a B-segment five-door hatchback produced by Malaysian national carmaker Proton. Officially launched on 25 September 2014, it served as a key strategic model for the brand in the compact hatchback market. The roots of the Iriz trace back to the EMAS concept car penned by Italdesign Giugiaro at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show; codenamed the Global Small Car (GSC) internally, high hopes were pinned on it to serve as a formidable challenger to the Perodua Myvi. However, across its 11-year market run, the Iriz never quite achieved that ambition. On 9 September 2025, the final Iriz body shell bearing chassis number #97576 rolled off the production line at the Tanjung Malim plant in Perak, marking the official end of production and drawing the curtain on its 11-year model lifecycle. Following its discontinuation, Proton's current line-up is left without a hatchback offering for the first time since 1994.
Positioned as a B-segment compact hatch, the Iriz sports a clean, taut exterior with a compact, athletic stance. The front fascia adopts a dual-tier grille layout: a slim upper section complemented by a wide lower air dam. Flanking the grille are sharp, swept-back headlamps that lend it an aggressive front end. Following its second major facelift in 2021, the Iriz adopted Proton's signature 'Infinite Weave' front grille with red accents, alongside the updated round 'Thundercat' Proton emblem. The side profile features pronounced character lines, with sharp creases across the front and rear fenders accentuating its muscular look. At the rear, it gets a prominent tailgate spoiler. On the rugged Active crossover variant, black wheel arch claddings were added to exude an SUV-inspired vibe, complemented by full-LED headlamp units.
Inside, the 2021 facelift introduced a revised centre console featuring a floating touchscreen infotainment display akin to the updated Saga. The Active variant further livens up the cabin with distinct colour accents for a bolder visual appeal. A front centre armrest came standard across the range.
The Iriz is powered by Proton's in-house developed naturally aspirated CamPro VVT petrol engines. The 1.3L VVT engine puts out 94 hp (approx. 70 kW) and 120 Nm of torque, while the 1.6L VVT engine pushes out between 107 and 109 hp (approx. 80–81 kW) and 150 Nm of torque. Power is sent to the front wheels via a Punch-sourced CVT or a 5-speed manual gearbox. The 2022 facelift line-up comprised three distinct variants: the base 1.3L Standard CVT, the 1.6L Executive CVT, and the crossover-styled 1.6L Active CVT. While on-paper outputs were modest compared to class rivals, continuous recalibrations and refinements over the years yielded marked improvements in throttle response and fuel economy.
Notably, the platform spawned the competition-spec Iriz R5 rally car built by MEM, powered by a turbocharged Mitsubishi 4B11T engine, which clinched notable victories on the British rallying scene. However, production iterations such as the hot R3 edition, a turbocharged road car, and an all-electric variant never moved beyond the prototype phase and never saw series production.
The standout attribute of the Iriz has always been its exemplary ride and handling. Developed with chassis engineering input from Lotus, it earned widespread acclaim for its sharp, confidence-inspiring dynamics. The car remains planted at highway speeds, paired with a communicative, well-weighted steering rack. Its rigid chassis, reinforced by Hot Press Forming (HPF) high-tensile steel, delivered exceptional torsional rigidity and earned it a strong safety reputation. The Iriz was frequently lauded as an underrated gem—compact in footprint, yet delivering the ride maturity and composure of a larger car.
Equipment levels on the Iriz varied across the range. The entry-level Standard variant made do with a standard audio head unit without a screen. Stepping up to the Executive variant and above brought an 8-inch floating infotainment touchscreen paired with a reverse camera. The range-topping variant featured Proton's "Hi Proton" voice command system. In terms of upholstery, the Standard got full fabric seats, the Executive stepped up to full leatherette upholstery, and the Active featured a sportier semi-leather fabric combination. A leather-wrapped steering wheel was exclusive to the Active variant. Keyless entry with push-start button was standard from the Executive variant up. Tyre sizes were standardised at 185/55, running on 15-inch alloy wheels on the Standard and 16-inch wheels on the Executive and Active variants.
Safety was among the strongest USPs of the Iriz. The entire line-up came equipped as standard with 6 SRS airbags, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control System (TCS), Hill Hold Assist (HHA) and full active braking aids (ABS + EBD + BA). However, advanced driver assistance systems such as Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), despite being tested on early mules, never made it to the showroom floor. While the Iriz outclassed most segment peers in passive safety and structural integrity, the absence of an Advanced Safety Assist (ASA) suite left it on the back foot against tech-laden Perodua competitors in its later years.
From its debut in 2014 until its phase-out, the Iriz registered cumulative sales of around 92,450 units (as of May 2025). At launch, the Iriz retailed between RM42,438 and RM62,888, with prices settling in the RM42,800 to RM57,300 bracket by 2026. Despite its qualities, sales figures never quite reached target expectations. By September 2025, monthly deliveries dipped to just 278 units, following 283 units recorded in February 2025. By comparison, the venerable Saga regularly surpassed 6,000 units a month over the same stretch. Industry analysts attributed its modest sales performance to several factors: Perodua's preemptive launch of the budget-friendly Axia just 10 days prior; unrealised export ambitions for the UK, Australia, and Continental Europe; and a lag in adopting active safety tech.
Even so, the Iriz enjoyed extensive upgrades over its 11-year run, including major updates in 2019 and 2021 backed by Geely's investment, which notably polished overall refinement and smoothed out the CVT calibration. The platform also successfully underpinned the third-generation Persona sedan in 2016, which proved a hit with the market. With the departure of the Iriz, Proton is set to introduce an all-new Saga-based hatchback to plug the market void. Celebrated as an honest, driver-centric hatchback, the Iriz provided Proton with invaluable engineering expertise in crash safety and dynamic tuning, ensuring its enduring legacy among Malaysian motoring enthusiasts.
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