The start of a new Saga
An honest little sedan that does what it promises
Spacious for its size, simple instrument layout, more refined than many of its rivals 
Driving position isn’t great, engine doesn’t like high revs, no rear power windows Proton’s newest sedan has a lot of expectations to live up to
By Lionel Kong
THE ORIGINAL PROTON Saga goes down in history as one of the longest running cars ever produced in the modern automotive era. It made its debut in 1985 and soldiered on in Malaysian Proton showrooms until recently, when it was finally replaced by the new, second generation model.
You can’t argue with the original Saga’s premise though. As the car that launched Malaysia’s automotive industry, it was affordable, cheap to run, and spare parts were easy to get. The fact that it was based on a Mitsubishi Lancer also helped keep development costs low.
But things have to keep progressing, which is where the new car comes in. Its launch was highly anticipated in Malaysia, and production lines have been working overtime to keep up with the demand for the small sedan, which is based on a slightly lengthened Savvy platform.
It isn’t a flashy car and Proton has kept things honest in the cabin. There are no displays of high technology within, but essentials like electric mirrors and power operated front windows do come as standard equipment.
A 1.3-litre engine powers the car, and it’s a further development of the unit found in Proton’s Gen.2. A new air intake addresses the common complaint about the engine’s lack of midrange torque, and it does seem to have made the engine a better drive.
