Proton Ertiga


The Proton Ertiga MPV has been launching at Malaysia. Slotting under the bigger C-segment Exora, the B-segment Ertiga is priced at RM 58,800 for the Executive manual and RM 61,800 for the automatic model, while the top Executive Plus auto retails at RM 64,800. All prices are on-the-road inclusive of insurance and a five-year/150,000 km warranty.

As per the agreement with Suzuki, it’s pretty much identical to the Suzuki Ertiga, and bears nearly zero input from Proton’s engineers and designers – in a similar fashion to the Mazda VX-1. 


The Ertiga is meant to be a no-frills people mover, being far smaller in size and powered by a smaller engine. Measuring 4,265 mm long, 1,695 mm wide and 1,685 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,740 mm, it is 327 mm shorter and 114 mm narrower than the Exora. In terms of height, the Ertiga is a modest 6 mm lower than the Exora, despite the sizeable 185 mm ground clearance, meant for the rough rural roads of countries like Indonesia and India.

Against its other competitors, the Ertiga is 5 mm longer and 65 mm taller than its closest rival, the Perodua Alza, but the latter’s wheelbase is also 10 mm up. As for the Toyota Avanza, the Ertiga is significantly larger in almost all aspects, only being marginally beaten in height and ground clearance.


Proton’s version of the Ertiga wears the milder facelifted front fascia from the standard Suzuki variant, instead of the extroverted Peugeot-inspired face of the Ertiga Dreza. The Swift-style vertical swept-back headlights remain, but the grille is now wider to meet the lamps and gets a chrome bar running across.

The front bumper has also been redesigned with a friendlier face and larger fog lamp surrounds, with chrome trim on the Executive Plus variant. The side profile, remains nondescript, with the upswept window line and pronounced wheel arches being the only flourishes; the sizeable wheelbase grants the Ertiga a wheel-at-each-corner stance.


The rear of the car gets the tail light extensions and chrome bar seen on the facelifted model. However, the rear bumper is taken from Indonesia’s pre-facelift Ertiga, likely due to the need to incorporate a rear fog light for the Malaysian market.

Five-split-spoke alloy wheels are standard and measure 15 inches in diameter, shod with 185/65R15 GT Radial Champiro Eco tyres; they are identical to the Suzuki’s but come with centre caps carrying the new Proton logo. Four colours are available, including the Perdana’s hero Ruby Red seen here, Carnelian Brown from the Persona, Metal Grey from the Saga and Cotton White.


Inside, you’ll find an interior that has been carried over wholesale, with the exception of the Proton badge on the steering wheel boss. Up front is a dashboard derived from the Swift, albeit in a grey-and-beige colour scheme; disappointingly for an MPV, there’s just one cupholder in front, although the third row passengers get their own above the rear wheel arches.

Proton contends that as such, second-row passengers will make better use of the rear armrest. The seats themselves can be slid backward and forwards as much as 240 mm. Access to the third row is achieved by pulling a lever to tilt the second-row backrest and slide the whole seat forward.

As with most small three-row MPVs, boot space is tiny with all seats up, at just 135 litres (Alza is 83 litres); however, it expands to 400 litres with the 50:50-split third row folded (can be done without removing the headrests, unlike the Alza), and the second row can be folded 60:40 for even more room. There’s also a false floor at the rear hiding even more storage space – the full-size spare tyre is located under the car.


Kit count is almost identical on both variants – standard equipment includes front and rear fog lights, rear parking sensors, USB connectivity, two 12V power sockets (including one for the second row), a rear air-con blower (with dedicated cooling coils, a significant improvement over the Alza) and four speakers.

Plump for the Plus and you get the aforementioned seat height adjuster, power-folding door mirrors with integrated LED indicators, chrome interior door handles, two front seat back pockets (as opposed to one), a multifunction steering wheel and two tweeters to make it six speakers in total. There’s no Bluetooth, keyless entry or push-button start, unfortunately, even though those items are available in countries like India.

Safety-wise, all models get dual airbags, ABS with EBD and ISOFIX child seat anchors on the second row. Electronic stability control is not available, which is probably the reason why there is no Premium-badged variant with that feature. Proton’s version gets the Suzuki’s four-star ASEAN NCAP safety rating.


The Ertiga is powered by the Swift K14B 1.4 litre naturally-aspirated DOHC VVT petrol engine. The engine produces 92 PS at 6,000 rpm and 130 Nm at 4,000 rpm. Power is sent to the front wheels via either a five-speed manual gearbox or – the first in a long time for a Proton – a four-speed automatic transmission; the Executive Plus is only available with the slush box. Zero to 100 km/h is accomplished in 11.8 seconds with the manual and 13.9 seconds for the auto.

The Ertiga manages 5.7 litres per 100 km with the manual ‘box and 6.0 litres per 100 km with the automatic on the European NEDC cycle. These figures have enabled it to achieve the company’s first Energy Efficient Vehicle (EEV) certification, the first compact MPV in Malaysia to do so. In comparison, the turbocharged Exora CFE CVT uses 7.8 litres per 100 km.