FOR years since 2008, the second-generation Proton Saga had enjoyed strong sales among first-time buyers looking for affordable cars below RM50,000 that could also serve as a good all-rounder vehicle.
But since 2016, the statistics have changed following the introduction of Bezza, the inaugural sedan offering from Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua).
Despite being based on the compact Axia, the Bezza has managed to maximise its practicality and usability elements, including a class-leading boot space capacity of 508 litres.
Often battered for its rather awkward proportions and stance (most hatchback-based sedans are, for that matter), the Bezza has now proved to be one of Malaysia’s favourites, with more than 184,000 units sold as of January.
And after almost four years, it is finally time for this A-segment sedan to be given a facelift.
WHAT’S NEW?
The Bezza is offered at RM34,580 for the base 1.0 G MT model and up to RM49,980 for the fully-loaded 1.3 AV AT, which has pretty substantial updates both in and out.
The exterior retains the original silhouette but there is a major restyling on the front fascia, where the headlights and fog light housings are now more squared, replacing the round-ish looks on the previous variant.
The headlights are of full LED units, too, but no daytime-running lights (DRL) are equipped.
Changes to the rear, however, are subtler and limited to a redesigned rear bumper that features sharper cutouts that mirror the front bumper.
The deeper rear bumper is also intended to provide more coverage to the exposed rear underside.
Personally, it is not very effective as the “tonggek” look remains.
But we have to understand that the car, again, is based on an A-segment hatchback and so there is not much that can be done. For that, there’s appreciation for Perodua’s effort in this sense. New wheels (X and AV variants only) and side-skirting completes the look of the 2020 Bezza, giving it a rather fresh new look.
Inside, there’s a new seat upholstery with pretty nice leather and suede inserts together with red stitching, giving the car a more premium and upmarket feel to it. Other updates include new instrument cluster graphics with white illumination, keyless entry, powered side mirrors (AV variant only), front parking sensors (X and AV variants), and new dashboard trims.
The Perodua Bezza now has the Advanced Safety Assist 2.0 (ASA 2.0), the company’s suite of driver-assist system, which is perhaps the biggest addition for the 2020 car.
So, how does the new Bezza drive? And the with all the updates and additions, along with RM50,000 price tag, is it going to be worth the RM10,000 extra over the RM39,800 range-topping Proton Saga?
THE DRIVE
We are going to look at the new Perodua Bezza from a perspective of comparing it directly against the Saga because let’s face it, these two cars have been a topic of heated discussions among Malaysians the moment the new Bezza surfaced (with the new Proton Saga launched several months earlier).
In terms of appearance, both cars have considerable changes over their predecessor but the Saga certainly displays better design proportions from every angle — and I believe most people would agree.
Equipment wise, it is down to what your preferences are; the Saga gets halogen headlights (a rather ancient equipment in this day and age) and a pair of DRLs down the bumper, but the Bezza is fitted with more modern headlights.
Meanwhile, on the interior, the Bezza offers a respectable cabin space for its package. The rear seats that was picked on for being too upright has been addressed and now angled at 27 degrees as opposed to 23 degrees previously.
Even though the Bezza’s seats are now wrapped in a plush upholstery, the seats on the Saga is a little bit better in the sense where the front seats are wider and provide more support, and the rear seats are more comfortable.
As for gadgets, the Bezza is decently-equipped with a 2-DIN touchscreen unit that provides the usual functions, including USB, navigation, Smart Link and Bluetooth connect features.
They work fine and are easy enough to use. The Saga has an interesting feature, though, which is voice command for its infotainment features. Not utterly practical but something extra and unique for this segment.
In terms of driving, there is nothing too fancy about the Bezza. The steering is on the lighter side and the ride is supple enough but the throttle response can be a little better.
At 94hp and 121Nm of torque, the 1.3-litre engine power delivery seems restricted and tuned more for fuel efficiency, compared to Saga’s engine (almost identical at 94hp and 120Nm of torque), which feels stronger despite weighing 100kg more than the Bezza.
Speaking of fuel efficiency, this is one of the areas where Bezza has the edge over Saga.
The new Bezza can easily return 14km to 15km per litre without trying, while the Saga makes only 12km per litre.
Handling wise, it was said that the Bezza has received some tweaks in this department but, to be honest, I could not feel any difference.
But the tweaks are believable as Perodua is known to impose upgrades and improvements throughout their model life cycles.
Another element that the Bezza had a clear advantage over the Saga is safety.
The ASA 2.0 is a perfect fitment for the Bezza as the majority of Bezza drivers spend their time driving in cities with stop-and-go traffic.
So things like pedestrian detection, pre-collision braking and pre-collision warning will come in handy.
VERDICT
Which car to get, you may ask?
As always, we should buy cars according to our needs, apart from the financial situation.
If you are going to drive a car for daily errands such as dropping and picking up kids from school, driving to work within the city or even drive for e-hailing, then the Bezza is a more ideal choice.
The car isn’t fussy but is an honest and practical machine that will serve all your needs.
However, if you value a little more driving satisfaction, travel often on the highways and want a more all-rounded car, then you should look at the Saga.
Is it worth spending extra RM10,000 for the Bezza?
Again back to your needs, if you are going to cover a lot of miles annually, then the fuel savings obtained will eventually make up for the pricing offset.
Regardless, I have to say that the 2020 Perodua Bezza is a properly-accomplished car.
Not only has it pushed the boundary of design, it also delivers in efficiency and safety values to its target audience.