Could the 2022 Proton Saga have been improved further?

We have seen the latest version of the Proton Saga and wonder why it wasn't new?

 When Proton teased on social media a month ago about the arrival of a ‘new’ Proton Saga, many Malaysians were eager to see what it would look like and will it be as interesting as the X50 and X70. Since the partnership with Geely Auto, Proton Cars have benefited from Geely’s technical know-how and also from the global design team. This is why till today, the already ageing Proton X70 is selling well and the more recent X50 is still a hot topic amongst car buyers looking for a vehicle below RM100k.

When the last Saga model was launched in 2016, it was designed to revive Proton Cars image and sales in the Malaysian market (pre-Geely Auto). It was a rather unusual design but had all the elements needed for a compact family sedan. High roofline, large boot and a frugal 1.3L engine with minimal technology for better reliability and lower selling price. It was designed to continue the heritage of being a simple commuter car and also a taxi and or ride hailing machine.

Then, immediate rival Perodua had the Bezza sedan in showrooms. Yes, it was smaller and less spirited, but it had the Perodua reliability and resale value record and so sales surged, leaving the Saga with some decent market response.

Also read: 2022 Proton Saga vs Perodua Bezza: The better compact sedan

 Then in 2019, after Geely Auto had taken shares in Proton Cars, a revised Proton Saga arrived in showrooms and the decision to retire the issue filled CVT and use a conventional 4-speed gearbox was made.

Plus, it got a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, uplifted design features and noise, vibration and harshness improvements. This pushed sales up and it gave the Bezza a ‘tough fight’.

 With more than 123,000 units sold to date and a healthy 33.1 per cent of the A-segment market share, the Proton Saga was a good seller and very profitable for Proton and Geely.

Now, for 2022, Proton releases a facelift instead of an all new Saga. This was the disappointment for the ‘eager’ Malaysians that were taken by the earlier mentioned social media hype.

On the exterior just new alloys and grille whilst on the inside just materials, colour matching and some infotainment tech upgrades. Oh, yes, the auto entry and exit, remote boot release, N95 cabin filter, electronic stability control and button ignition are included. This is not what budget car buyers in Malaysia were looking forward to. 

They wanted an all NEW Proton Saga, which many thought would be a Geely Auto model rebadged for Malaysia like with the X50 and X70. They wanted an all new design and why not. Successful car manufacturers always look at a complete model change every 4 to 6 years. This Saga is already 6 years old. 

In early 2018, Geely Auto showed their Geely SL (pictured above) compact sedan. It is larger than the Saga and has all the new technology features seen in the X50. This would have been a fitting new Proton Saga for Malaysians.  

Meanwhile, it is clear that Proton management sees a cost issue with a brand new model and with a facelift Saga, the profit margin is healthier and customers will keep buying the Saga, simply because the choices are very limited in this budget range in Malaysia. 

Also read: Should you wait for the 2023 Proton Exora or not?