2018 Proton Saga: Know what it has to offer

The 2018 Proton Saga is a worthy budget-friendly A-segment sedan which first appeared on the scene back in 2016. The car is primarily designed for the buyers who are new to the auto market and probably won’t spend a fortune for one. Plus, the fact that efficient sedans would woo more customers, Proton had a second factor to consider.

The Proton Saga is both efficient and budget-friendly and certainly qualifies as a top choice in its segment. Here are the top things about this new Proton that most of the new car buyers will be interested in.

The mechanism

The 2018 Proton Saga is powered by a 1.3-litre, four-cylinder, MPI engine, which is capable of making a maximum power of 94 hp at 5,750 rpm along with a peak torque of 120 Nm at 4,000 rpm. The power is sent down to the wheels via a 5-speed manual unit in the entry-level trim and a CVT (continuously variable transmission) gearbox in the other trims.

The engine isn’t outright responsive and is more inclined towards providing a frugal and efficient ride. This means, while you are on the highway, a sudden force of your right foot at the accelerator pedal will not give you the desired result, but will only rev the engine higher before gradually picking up the acceleration.

Design

The design of the Proton Saga is quite simplistic and amazing. The fanciness has been kept to a bare minimum. The front end gets a reshaped headlamps over the outgone model, while the grille design appears to be inspired by the original 1985. The lower bumper is reworked greatly and appears to be cockier.

The rear end is classy with a pair of split tail lights and a chrome strip on the boot lid handle. The C-pillar is more slanting than before, resulting in re-shaped rear doors. Comparing with the previous generation model, this Saga is longer, wider and shorter, but is still built on the same wheelbase as the same platform of the second generation model has been used.

Some mechanics include rear fog lamps on both front and rear for all the trims while the front fog lamps are given on the top two trims only. However, front and rear sensors are given at both ends.

Performance

The 2018 Proton Saga feels extremely good to drive. It is very frugal, burning a litre of fuel for every 17.9 km on the highway. However, the manual unit gets this efficiency higher at 18.5 kmpl.

Despite the lack of outright power at the heart, the Saga does pretty well to hold on to a constant speed. Moreover, while you are behind the steering, you won’t feel nervous at high speed as the suspension is firmer than before, bidding adieu to the softer springs on the older model.

Interior

Getting inside the 2018 Proton Saga, things look very pleasant. The layout is so-designed to make the car be more cost-effective with the use of decent quality plastics all around. The top-end trim gets a 2-DIN head unit while the other three get a single DIN unit. Front seat slide and recline and rear seat bench fold are given as standard across all the trims. There are a total of six cup and bottle holders all around.

Safety

The Proton Saga is a mixed package in terms of the safety front. Despite having a good 4-star rating on the Global NCAP, the safety features aren’t significant. Though vehicle immobilizer, audible seatbelt reminder, and front airbags are standard on all trims, the car lacks some other features. The likes of ABS, EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution) and brake assist are given in the top two trims only while traction control and hill hold assist are elusive to the top trim only.

Final words

The Proton Saga was launched as a direct competitor to the Perodua Bezza and still continues to be so in the Malaysian market. Of course, it did make life difficult for the competitors owing to its affordable price tag and above par features. And guess what, it is just as attractive as its elder sibling, the Proton Persona.