2022 Perodua Bezza

Perodua Bezza 2021-2022 Review

The more you start to think about the Perodua Bezza, the more you realize how interesting Perodua’s existence and development in Malaysia has been. It’s important to understand that Malaysians, like many Asians, have historically preferred the sedan body style above all others. That may be a little different now with the shift towards compact crossovers and SUVs, but the sedan still reigns supreme for many applications.

That then makes you wonder why Perodua took so long to produce the Bezza – their first sedan, based off of the same chassis that underpins the Perodua Axia. Launched back in 2016, the Bezza has gone through minor changes in terms of variants and equipment, with a major facelift being launched at the start of 2020. Variants were streamlined to just four, and buyers can still choose between a 1.0-litre petrol engine or a 1.3-litre petrol engine.

The Perodua Bezza is an especially important vehicle to Perodua as it represents the first vehicle that they produced which had no other roots in any other Japanese model – it’s simply impossible to say that the Perodua Bezza is a rebadging exercise. It showed Malaysians and the world what Perodua was capable of doing, and the launch of the third generation Perodua Myvi after the Bezza further drove that point home.

Perodua Bezza 2021-2022 Specifications

As you would expect being based off of the Perodua Axia, the Bezza shares many key dimensions. It packs a wheelbase of 2,455 mm, with a width of 1,620 mm and a height between 1,510 and 1,525 mm – all metrics identical to the Axia as we know it. The length is naturally different, being 4,150 to 4,170 mm long – over 450 mm longer than the Axia courtesy of a full-sized boot.

The 1.0-litre variant of the Bezza uses the same 1KR-VE found in the Perodua Axia, producing the same 67 hp and 91 Nm of torque. Moving up the range will get you to the 1.3-litre variants, which use the 1NR-VE four-cylinder dual VVT-I petrol engine found in the Perodua Myvi 1.3. The outputs are a healthy 94 hp and 121 Nm of torque.

Only the 1.0 G variant comes with either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission, while the 1.3 X and 1.3 AV are available solely with automatic transmissions. If you’re planning to travel longer distances and carry more cargo with the Perodua Bezza, the 1.3-litre models are definitely the ones to consider as the extra torque helps to move any extra load.

Perodua Bezza 2021-2022 Exterior

Despite sharing the same roots, the Perodua Bezza looks radically different from the Axia. The front bumpers are far from identical – unlike certain Japanese models that have sedan and hatchback variants of the same model. You won’t find it difficult to tell them apart from afar, and that shows that Perodua put effort into the design.

That being said, the Bezza can be a little awkward looking from certain perspectives. The elongation of the body for the sedan form can seem a little strange when you realize that the body is a little narrow for the length and the overall lines are at the rear are a little more haphazardly added on. With a little bit more meat in the fenders and a slightly wider body it would feel just right, but for the time being it looks more utilitarian and function-over-form.

LED headlights are standard across the range, and the 1.0-litre variants get 14-inch alloy wheels, while the 1.3-litre models get 15-inch alloy wheels instead. Fog lamps only come with the 1.3-litre models, as do the blacked out B-pillar for a more sporty look. The front grille on the 1.3 X and 1.3 AV models are a gloss black and chrome finish, while the 1.0-litre variants get a gloss black and silver finish.

Perodua Bezza 2021-2022 Interior

What will surprise you when you get into the Perodua Bezza for the first time is that the interior isn’t a carbon copy of that of the Perodua Axia either. It’s intriguing as it doesn’t seem like a particular efficient form of production, but the Bezza definitely feels more elegant in its layout and separation of dashboard elements when compared back-to-back with the Axia – even the driver and passenger side air vents are a neat design not commonly seen in more budget-oriented cars.

Also a contrast to the Axia is the fact that the top-spec Bezza 1.3 AV gets leather seats instead of the fabric of the other variants. Other than this and the actual front seat design, the Bezza is fairly flat in its specifications across the interior – all get chrome-finished door handles, with silver armrests for the doors and very marginal difference in the door trim finishes. Only the 1.3 AV gets the nicer touch-screen head unit and steering wheel switches.

Perodua Bezza 2021-2022 Safety Features

One of the major inclusions to the Perodua Bezza with the facelift at the beginning of 2020 was the ASA 2.0 system – which basically brings high-end active safety systems to the everyman’s sedan. Unfortunately it is limited to the 1.3 AV model, but even so it is impressive that Perodua chooses to offer such a package even at this price point.

Key items are the pre-collision braking up to 80 km/h, pre-collision warning up to 100 km/h, pedestrian detection up to 50 km/h, front departure alert, and pedal misoperation control. The most rudimentary form of this system first came with the Perodua Myvi, and this particular second-generation revision was rolled out with the Perodua Aruz. Other than the ASA 2.0, both the 1.3 AV and 1.3 X get vehicle stability control as standard.

Perodua Bezza 2021-2022 Strengths and Weaknesses

Value, value, value – that’s eternally going to be the strong suit of cars at this price point, and the Perodua Bezza is no different. Whether you’re looking for the most cost-effective sedan on the market in the form of the 1.0 G manual, or the cheapest car with active safety systems – which the 1.3 AV currently claims – you can see the common trend is the punch it packs for the price you pay.

On the other hand, the Perodua Bezza does feel like it needs another generation to fully dial in the styling and design. It may be Perodua’s first true home grown effort and they should be proud, but there’s no denying that in the pursuit of practicality they had to forgo some of the more stylistic aspects of car design.

Perodua Bezza 2021-2022 Price

The pricing of the Perodua Bezza puts it firmly between the Perodua Myvi and the Perodua Axia – or more specifically, there is overlap at either end of the range. The most expensive 1.3 AV variant goes for RM 48,536, while the 1.3 X costs RM 42,551. The 1.0 G automatic runs you RM 35,391, whereas the manual variant is slightly cheaper at RM 33,456.

Perodua Bezza 2021-2022 Features

As mentioned earlier, the Perodua Bezza is fairly flat in terms of functionality across the range of variants. Where the 1.3-litre models stand out are with keyless entry and start, and front corner parking sensors. All models get reverse sensors, while the 1.3 AV gets an additional reverse camera as part of the multimedia head unit.

Perodua Bezza 2021-2022 Fuel Consumption

Much like the Axia, the Perodua Bezza returns some surprisingly good fuel consumption figures – as quoted by Perodua. The most efficient variant is the 1.0 G manual which will net you 22.8 kilometres per litre, while the automatic variant runs you 21.3 kilometres per litre. With the 1.3 X you get 21.0 kilometres per litre (the lowest), while the 1.3 AV comes with Eco Idle to boost consumption ratings to 22.0 kilometres per litre.