Behind the Wheel
What’s Beza With The New Bezza?
We apologise for the cheesy title but the creative juices are still on holiday. Plus, does it really matter what we write because the refreshed Perodua Bezza will still fly off dealer lots. Since its introduction, 184,000 units were sold and the trend isn’t bucking soon with 5,600 deliveries expected by the end of January 2020.
You’ll notice the slicker look now but that’s just cosmetics. We’ll look at the real show-stealer in the facelift; Perodua’s Advanced Safety Assist (ASA) 2.0 active safety suite of systems. It comprises Pedestrian Detection (up to 50kph), Pre-Collision Warning (up to 100kph), Pre-Collision Braking (up to 80kph), Front Departure Alert and Pedal Misoperation Control.
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This makes the Bezza the most affordable sedan in the country with a form of active safety. However, you’ll only find it on the flagship AV model. All 1.3-litre models get stability control while ABS/EBD is now standard. The airbag count still remains at two though.
Now onto the sharper looks. The front wears a more aggressive bumper with faux vents housing the fog lights but no DRLs. On the bright side, the range gets LED headlights. The rear receives the same aggressive treatment as the front.
While the chrome strip on the boot used to be chrome, it’s now two-tone and the side skirts also get the same scheme. All side-view mirrors are power-adjustable with turn indicators but the AV’s pair is power-retractable as well.
Some minor upgrades in the cabin include the dashboard trim redesign for a fresher appearance. Entertainment in the AV is courtesy of a double-DIN touchscreen unit with a reverse camera.
You’ll only find keyless entry and push-start on the AV model, same goes for front parking sensors. Want leather seats with suede inserts? That’s exclusive to the AV too.
A complete carryover from the pre-facelift is the powertrain. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The 1.0-litre inline-three with VVT-i brings 67hp and 91Nm of torque to the table while the larger 1.3-litre with an extra cylinder deals out 94hp and 121Nm of torque. Dual VVT-i in the larger mill coupled with idle start-stop helps it hit 22km/l. A five-speed manual or four-speed auto can be paired with the smaller engine but it’s auto only for the 1.3-litre Bezzas.
Pricing for the Bezza is as follows (OTR w/insurance) with a five-year/150,000km warranty:
Bezza 1.0G Manual – RM34,580
Bezza 1.0G Auto – RM36,580
Bezza 1.3X Auto – RM43,980
Bezza 1.3AV Auto – RM49,980
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