Comparability is the thief of pleasure, as they all the time say. The Proton Saga has been the prime instance of this – because the nationwide carmaker’s first automobile and its perpetual best-seller with over 2.1 million examples discovering consumers, it needs to be feeling fairly smug about itself. If it weren’t for that meddling Perodua Bezza…
It didn’t use to be this manner. Launched in 1985, the Saga shot to the highest of the gross sales charts and continued to determine close to the top of the standings, whilst a lot newer fashions got here to the fore. Even as soon as the seminal Perodua Myvi arrived in 2005 and Perodua stole the gross sales crown from Proton, the Saga might depend on being the only entry-level sedan available on the market, bolstered by an all-new Base Line Mannequin (BLM) in 2008.
All that modified with the arrival of the Bezza in 2016. Smaller on the skin however greater on the within, and providing Japanese powertrain know-how and near-unshakable resale values, the little four-door proceeded to usurp the Saga as Malaysia’s favorite sedan. Extremely, regardless of being largely unchanged, the Bezza is doing even higher now than it did then, changing into the outright best-seller as demand from ride-sharing (i.e. Seize) drivers surged; it now sells over 100,000 items yearly.
Now, 40 years on from the start, there’s a new Proton Saga, priced from RM37,990 to RM48,990 till December 31. Nearly solely redesigned and loaded with new options – together with a extra highly effective and environment friendly engine – it’s poised to steal gross sales from its sworn rival at a time when a substitute for the Bezza nonetheless appears a methods away. However is that this MC3 overhaul really ok to try this? We drive the automobile to the heights of the Belum rainforest to search out out.
Profitable the on-paper comparability – for as soon as
For the primary time, the brand new Saga really enters the comparability recreation in a beneficial place. We’ve written in minute element concerning the automobile a number of instances, and for the sake of brevity (that is already a really lengthy assessment), you’ll be able to merely learn our complete launch report to search out out every little thing you might want to know. Suffice it to say, the Saga presents extra tech, an extended checklist of security tools and an engine that’s way more highly effective than the Bezza – with out making a gift of a lot by way of gas effectivity. It seems good…on paper.
Let’s recover from the disappointing bit first. Regardless of the “all-new” tag, it’s clear to everybody that the brand new Saga has undergone extra of a heavy facelift. The construction – save for hot-press-formed (HPF) metal reinforcements on the B-pillars and flooring cross member, together with an advanced-high-strength metal roof cross member and high-strength metal door bars – may be very a lot carried over from the 2016 mannequin, and you’ll hint the automobile’s roots all the way in which again to the Savvy from 2005.
This has resulted within the Saga retaining some uncommon old-car quirks – as you’ll learn additional alongside on this assessment – however in all different features it has been introduced bang updated. That is the primary mannequin to obtain bits from the Superior Modular Structure (AMA) that may underpin all of Proton’s indigenously-designed merchandise transferring ahead, together with a brand new electrical structure that powers the brand new tech and driver assists.
We’re instructed that future fashions – rumoured to type a brand new Saga household – will obtain vital structural modifications within the quest for modularity, so hopefully means we received’t see the identical limitations which have hampered this MC3 (the third “minor change,” as Proton’s personal inner nomenclature denotes) sedan.
These fashions embody an SUV and an MPV, each of which will probably be provided as a hybrid with a model of the eMas 7 PHEV‘s powertrain, in addition to a doable hatchback spinoff of the brand new Saga. All will probably be designed with left-hand-drive conversions in thoughts.
It’s because Proton has world aspirations for this structure, with Geely rebadging its fashions for abroad markets (because the Chinese language conglomerate now not has any A-segment fashions it could depend on) as a substitute of the opposite manner round. In actual fact, Geely has already confirmed that the Saga will enter its first main LHD market in years, with a Philippine launch slated for 2026.
Fashionable design touches on an outdated physique
All that’s to return – for now, we’re judging the brand new Saga because it sits, nonetheless slightly gawky with its too-big grille and bubble-shaped glasshouse. There are some neat touches, nonetheless – the projector LED headlights (that are commonplace, by the way in which) present a contemporary look and incorporate cool cascading dual-bar LED indicators, whereas the L-shaped daytime working lights that movement into the “Ethereal Bow” grille bar is a pleasant flourish.
I additionally just like the 15-inch “arrow” wheels on the Govt (full silver) and Premium (two-tone), versus the curiously shuriken-like rollers on the outgoing mannequin. Eager onlookers will discover the shapelier Lotus Evora-derived door mirrors and the chrome strips on the door handles.
Tacked onto the Premium are aspect skirts that give the automobile a fuller-bodied look. In contrast to its Premium S predecessor, the top-spec model of the brand new Saga doesn’t include a whole bodykit with entrance and rear skirtings. That’s a curious selection on condition that many Malaysian sedan consumers see such a package as obligatory – despite the fact that to my eyes, the automobile is all the higher for it. We’re instructed that Proton is evaluating offering a bodykit as an choice sooner or later.
However by far probably the most spectacular side of the redesign is the massive, vast LED taillight bar. This, greater than anything, is the one design cue that drags the Saga into the current day, giving it heaps of presence from the rear. It doesn’t damage that it additionally supplies a familial hyperlink to the bigger S70.
Sadly, the total impact can solely be seen on Premium, as the opposite variants don’t obtain the illuminated strip on the boot lid, only a gloss black bar. This causes the rear of the automobile to look disjointed, as there aren’t even any extensions to assist full the taillight graphic, like there are on the bottom S70 Govt. It simply seems unfinished.
The lower-end variations additionally lose the exterior boot lid launch that was launched on the 2022 Saga (the MC2), which means that you simply nonetheless should both press a button on the important thing fob or attain inside and pull a lever, which isn’t very sensible.
That boot lid opens to disclose the identical 420 litres of baggage house, a lot smaller than the Bezza’s completely commodious 508 litres, however nonetheless decently sized – it suits each BM colleague Farid Awaluddin and my baggage and backpacks with loads of house to spare. The rear bench nonetheless folds flat in a single piece (no 60:40 break up right here), however there’s at the very least a brand new boot lid cowl that hides the outdated automobile’s unpleasant wires.
The unchanged boot house is not any shock given the largely similar dimensions. Whereas the 4,390 mm size is 55 mm longer – all of which, we assume, is on the entrance – the width is identical at 1,690 mm, and so is the wheelbase at 2,465 mm. The peak, nonetheless, has been bumped up by 10 mm to 1,525 mm, as the bottom clearance needed to be raised to guard the brand new engine, which sits decrease down in its bay. That has had the undesirable impact of creating the automobile look much more ungainly, particularly from its tonggek rear.
Total, then, the Saga has been freshened up somewhat properly, however there’s no denying that the essential construction is lengthy within the tooth and appears it – it’s worryingly near how historical the LMST appeared when it was launched in 2003. The MC3 is fortunately a a lot better automobile than that, and with it quickly being offered as a Geely abroad, the additional quantity will hopefully allow Proton to lastly afford a full redesign.
A completely spiffened-up cabin
The identical might be mentioned concerning the inside – the identical outdated environment however with brand-new furnishings. There’s a totally redesigned dashboard (with the identical fake stitching on arduous plastic; I assume some habits do die arduous) with a contemporary horizontal design, oval congkak board-inspired air vents and a somewhat elegant wave sample on the sprint and door playing cards, but it surely all nonetheless feels surprisingly acquainted.
Construct high quality on an entire is about on par with expectations. This being a sub-RM50,000 automobile, the Saga is solely devoid of soft-touch supplies, with arduous plastics current all through. You additionally received’t discover a soft-opening glovebox or lots of shiny metal-look trim.
Nevertheless, the automobile does really feel effectively screwed collectively. The door and seize handles are effectively damped, the air-con knobs are tight and emit a satisfying click on at every detent, and all of the switchgear have a troublesome really feel to them. It’s notable that even on the price range finish, Proton’s in-house-designed merchandise really feel of higher high quality than Perodua’s personal effort – the RM80,000 (excluding the battery leasing price) QV-E EV.
It’s also fairly apparent that there are bits within the cabin destined to be shared with dearer AMA-based autos – such because the aforementioned air-con controls and the gearlever with its stitched boot – as they really feel way more polished than the remainder of the Saga’s inside. This bodes effectively for these fashions.
Headline-grabbing screens, easy software program
In fact, the principle draw is the widescreen show panel that homes a seven-inch instrument show and a nine-inch infotainment touchscreen. The massive black bezels ensuing from the screens’ squarish side ratios do imply that I’d a lot somewhat have two particular person panels as a substitute of 1 massive piece, however there’s no denying that the latter is cheaper to supply and has higher showroom attraction.
Much less spectacular is the dearth of an anti-reflective coating that ends in the clear overlaying recurrently throwing again unflattering reflections of the driving force (me); this has the added impact of lowering the distinction of the already cheap-looking shows. Not nice beneath our harsh solar, it needs to be mentioned.
As for the screens themselves, the instrument show is clearly laid out and fuss-free. It allows drivers to shortly test their instantaneous gas consumption and the common gas consumption and pace for each “brief drive” (for the reason that begin of the journey) and “lengthy drive” (since reset), though the small fonts make the information slightly troublesome for me to learn at a look. Not fairly so positive concerning the “conventional dials,” which are supposed to mimic analogue dials however characteristic zero indices, making them completely ineffective for discerning data.
The infotainment system, in the meantime, is a simplified model of the Atlas working system present in different Proton fashions, with out the power to make use of exterior purposes reminiscent of Spotify. Some doubtful remaining English translations (together with the outdated chestnut, “automobile setting” as a substitute of “settings”) apart, this interface is definitely the preferable one to make use of, with giant, clear icons and easier-to-navigate menus – little question helped by the less options and the surfeit of bodily controls versus fashions just like the facelifted X50.
We’ve just some minor niggles, all of which pertain to the implementation of wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as good as it’s to have at this value vary. Firstly, the icon to entry this performance from the house display screen is exceedingly small – you’ll be able to’t merely faucet on the massive rectangle round it that claims “Apple CarPlay” or “Android Auto.” There’s additionally no different strategy to simply entry the smartphone mirroring screens other than tapping on the telephone icon, which brings you to your telephone’s name menu.
Extra annoying is the truth that we’re having a little bit of bother connecting to each Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, because the immediate to allow both system would sometimes fail to seem on the touchscreen. Our telephones do finally join, nonetheless, and we’ve no subsequent issues, the Saga displaying not one of the lagging or GPS accuracy points seen on some competing methods.
We’ve additionally heard of homeowners which have had their infotainment methods freeze and restart mid-drive, reportedly as a result of a difficulty when connecting to the most recent iPhone 17 fashions. That is positively regarding, and Proton needs to be recommended for offering a repair so shortly, alerting customers to an replace final week. However we must also level out that even big-name manufacturers are usually not immune from software program crashes and system restarts; it’s occurred greater than as soon as on my Hyundai Ioniq 6, for instance.
Sub-optimal driving place continues to frustrate
Past the spectacular tech, the Saga’s inside is fairly barren in additional methods than one. As ever, the Malaysian market loses out on air-con directional management (and with it, the entrance demister), and even the auto-down driver’s aspect window is reserved for the Premium – and naturally, you’ll be able to’t get auto-up home windows in any respect.
The shortage of those fundamental options could also be stunning to these used to dearer automobiles, however given every little thing else the Saga presents for the cash (significantly in all-singing, all-dancing Premium trim), it’s a value value paying. It’s the driving place – one of the crucial apparent areas compromised by the carried-over construction – that’s the extra urgent matter.
You continue to sit very excessive up relative to the remainder of the automobile, making you are feeling as in the event you’re sitting on high as a substitute of within the automobile. It’s because there’s a cross member working beneath the entrance seats, stopping them from being mounted any decrease. This does at the very least grant you nice ahead visibility, and to Proton’s credit score, the addition of the X50’s flat-bottomed steering wheel means it now not feels prefer it’s dumped onto your knees.
However mockingly, the one main addition meant to enhance the driving place has really made it worse. See, the Premium positive aspects a brand new seat peak adjuster that strikes the complete seat by merely ratcheting a lever on the aspect, somewhat than solely transferring the seat base utilizing a Carpal tunnel-inducing knob.
Nevertheless, the brand new mechanism has inadvertently lifted the driving force’s seat even larger, making you are feeling much more such as you’re driving round in Noddy’s automobile. Each Farid and I agree that the older mechanism within the different fashions seats us decrease, giving us not solely extra headroom but additionally a extra purposeful driving place. The larger seats versus the Bezza do make for extra snug locations to take a seat on longer journeys, so there’s that.
Elsewhere, cupboard space is curiously missing, with slim door bins and a slim centre console offering valuable little house to stow a smartphone whereas driving. The cupholders, made bigger because of them being organized diagonally, takes up useful actual property under the sprint, so the one areas left are beneath the handbrake – not perfect for apparent causes – and the rear cupholder aft of the USB ports.
Fortunately, the presence of wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto means you’ll be able to hold your telephone in your pocket. However that received’t assist if you wish to cost it, and in the event you do, it is best to know that the only entrance USB-A port is mounted uncomfortably near the driving force’s left knee.
On the again, the Saga continues to supply respectable however not excellent head- and legroom. The entrance seats have cleverly scalloped backs to unlock some knee room, however you received’t be capable to make full use of it because the protruding base will stop you from sliding your ft additional ahead. The rear bench can be flat and presents little in lateral or lumbar help, though the brand new adjustable headrests present a modicum of additional consolation.
Primary driver assists with Tesla-style show
A fast phrase on the driving force assists which were added to the Premium, which incorporates staple items reminiscent of autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, rear collision warning and auto excessive beam. This places it on par with the Bezza, which has had comparable methods since 2020.
Not a lot we are able to say aside from the truth that the methods are unobtrusive (we’ve the lane departure warning switched off right here), and that there’s a shock Tesla-style show exhibiting the encompassing automobiles. One small comment – the blind spot indicators use naked LEDs that appear to shine straight into your retinas if there’s a automobile or bike current. Nonetheless, it’s higher than nothing, I suppose.
Becoming a member of the checklist of options on the range-topper are six airbags, including aspect and curtain airbags for the primary time and pulling the Saga forward of the Bezza by way of security – it’s good to see Proton taking the lead on this space as soon as once more. The curtain ‘baggage have resulted in a noticeable bulge within the headliner, so in the event you’re a kind of individuals who use the seize handles whereas seated on the again, your hand will probably be proper in entrance of your face.
Extra energy, however that is no sports activities sedan
The image will get a lot rosier as we draw back from Proton’s Centre of Excellence showroom in Shah Alam. Below the bonnet lies a brand new Geely-sourced BHE15-CFN 1.5 litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine, which Proton is badging as Clever Inexperienced Know-how (i-GT). Goodbye, outdated CamPro, you’ll not be missed – the Saga will get a startlingly trendy mill for the primary time.
No, you don’t get direct injection right here, however the engine does incorporate some snazzy new options reminiscent of Atkinson-cycle operation, twin variable valve timing and an electrical water pump to enhance effectivity with out sacrificing energy. Pleasure of joys, there’s additionally lastly a maintenance-reducing timing chain (on a Proton!), replete with a toothed design to scale back noise and vibration.
The on-paper figures actually excite – 120 PS at 6,100 rpm and 150 Nm of torque from 4,000 to five,000 rpm are 25 PS and 29 Nm up over the Saga’s arch nemesis, the Bezza 1.3, and a 25 PS and 30 Nm improve over the outdated automobile. It’s arduous to overstate simply how a lot of an enormous leap these numbers are, because the Saga isn’t merely extra highly effective than earlier than – it’s jumped a whole measurement class by way of outputs.
However these of you salivating on the notion of a Saga sports activities sedan ought to mood your expectations, as this engine isn’t a firecracker like Honda’s Okay-series and even Proton’s outdated CPS. For one factor, it doesn’t rev significantly excessive, topping out at simply over 6,000 rpm. It additionally doesn’t present a noticeable shove within the again once you mash the throttle.
As a substitute, the facility builds steadily, and earlier than you realize it you’re travelling manner sooner than you’d’ve within the outdated Saga – there’s simply extra torque in all places. That is accompanied by a a lot smoother engine observe, one that’s far much less gruff than that of the previous CamPro VVT. Much less sporty, maybe, but it surely makes the automobile really feel extra “regular,” extra according to different automobiles from bigger makes.
Thoughts you, that is nonetheless a buzzy engine, as exhibited by the vibrations coming from the accelerator previous 3,000 rpm. This, along with the unusually heavily-sprung pedal, make the Saga a extra tiresome automobile to drive lengthy distances than it maybe needs to be. Much less of this vibration may be felt by way of the steering wheel this time round, as a result of the Saga has switched from a hydraulic energy steering system to an electrical one, serving to to alleviate among the pressure.
The BHE15-CFN’s raucous nature is accentuated on fashions with the Aisin-sourced four-speed computerized gearbox. The shortage of speeds make for widely-spaced ratios – each downshift that comes as I flex my proper foot is met with a hovering rise in revs, and the transmission holds onto a gear for a contact too lengthy earlier than shifting to the following. Dare I say it, the brand new Saga might have outgrown the standard four-speeder.
A much more convincing CVT this time round
Shock, horror – the CVT-equipped Premium is definitely the extra pleasing automobile to drive. Proton has gone again to Punch Powertrain for the highest variant’s transmission; sure, the identical one it ditched in favour of a slushbox in 2019. It has been a contentious resolution, not least as a result of the corporate is returning to a clutch-operated unit that had dogged earlier fashions, somewhat than the extra fascinating torque converter.
Engineers on the occasion inform us that Proton selected Punch this time round as a result of it was way more receptive to {hardware} spec modifications than it had been earlier than – beforehand, the Belgian provider would merely present the transmission and Proton needed to tune the automobile round it. Right here, the 2 firms have labored collectively to develop a CVT that matches the Saga and its new engine, with a wider ratio unfold being the important thing change.
In the actual world, this one tweak has enabled the CVT to maintain the revs constantly decrease than the auto; on the nationwide pace restrict of 110 km/h, the engine is being held at round 2,600 rpm, versus 2,800 rpm on the auto-equipped Govt we’re additionally sampling. These 200 fewer revs might not appear to be a lot, however they make all of the distinction at freeway speeds.
The CVT can be extra content material in letting the automobile surf on the engine’s slug of mid-range torque, as a substitute of wringing the mill out to realize pace. This helps to make the Saga really feel way more refined – even with the throttle nearly fully opened, the revs solely rise for lower than a second earlier than dropping. Crucially, this retains the engine out of the three,000 to five,000 rpm vary the place it feels probably the most uncouth.
You may assume that the stepless transmission’s extra laidback manner would consequence within the automobile being slower, however you’d be improper. We time each automobiles (not with any specialist tools, I’ll admit, simply an iPhone stopwatch) from zero to 100 km/h on a humid floor, and the perfect the auto can muster is 13.8 seconds – partially as a result of the second-to-third shift happens simply earlier than the 100 km/h mark. The CVT Premium takes a whole second out of the century dash, with a finest time of 12.6 seconds.
As reference, the Saga has an official zero-to-100 km/h time of 11.6 seconds, and that discrepancy may be put right down to an absence of grip because the Atlas AS380 tyres scrabble for traction within the moist. By the way in which, regardless of providing comparable outputs to the Honda Metropolis petrol (125 PS, 145 Nm), the Proton could be trounced by the (way more costly) Japanese B-segment sedan, which completes the identical benchmark in 10.2 seconds.
The uncooked numbers solely inform a part of the story, as a result of this CVT can be a giant enchancment from items in previous Protons with regards to step-off response. Certain, the clutch operation nonetheless feels barely robotic subsequent to a torque converter, making the engine rev larger when transferring away from a standstill or reversing.
However whereas earlier Punch CVTs would wrestle to place the engine’s energy into precise ahead movement, this one is way extra responsive and, crucially, isn’t a hindrance in stop-start driving; maybe the brand new engine’s elevated muscle helps to paper over any deficiencies. And whereas the Premium nonetheless rolls again on very steep inclines the place the “creep” perform isn’t sufficiently sturdy sufficient, the hill begin help may be very beneficiant in holding the automobile nonetheless, offering ample time to maneuver from the brake pedal to the throttle.
Surprisingly achievable gas economic system claims
Efficiency is one factor, however way more necessary is gas consumption, and that is one space the place the Saga exhibits a drastic enchancment. We begin the drive within the computerized Govt, travelling the overwhelming majority of our route on the North-South Freeway, and even with prolonged stints cruising above the pace restrict, the automobile returns a powerful 5.8 litres per 100 km (17.2 km per litre). This proves that Proton’s declare of 5.1 litres per 100 km (19.6 km per litre) mixed for the auto fashions may be very a lot achievable, for as soon as.
The lengthy freeway stretch additionally allows us to gauge the automobile’s refinement. Street noise is saved to a relative minimal at larger speeds, though the wind noise does get fairly immense – as I discussed, the A/T’s engine roar and vibration is extra of a difficulty. If you wish to tamp the noise down, you should purchase sound-insulating panels for the bonnet, boot lid and all 4 doorways, totalling as much as RM605.
The Premium is having a harder time in our palms, being pushed up hilly nation roads with loads of visitors lights, and each time it involves a cease it needs to be gunned fairly arduous to get again in control. Consequently, its considerably worse gas economic system determine of 6.9 litres per 100 km (14.5 km per litre) shouldn’t be similar to the Govt’s – we’ll have to attend till we spend some extra time with the CVT automobile to see if it could really hit the claimed determine of 4.9 litres per 100 km (20.4 km per litre).
Even when taken purely at face worth, nonetheless, the Premium’s gas consumption throughout the drive is fairly respectable. And even when it finally ends up being thirstier than the auto fashions in day by day use, I believe the CVT’s considerably higher refinement could be well worth the further gas used.
Proton journey and dealing with is again
However the actual shocker comes as we hustle the Saga up the sinewy roads resulting in the Belum Rainforest Resort. Whereas retaining a lot of the identical arduous factors and MacPherson strut entrance and torsion beam rear suspension as earlier than, the automobile has obtained a redesigned rear subframe cross member, together with revised springs and dampers and a larger-diameter rear anti-roll bar. There are additionally stiffer bushings on the rear, and the construction is a lot stiffer than earlier than that the entrance strut brace might be deleted.
These modifications could appear trivial, however the total impact they’ve on the dealing with is profound. Whereas the Saga beforehand felt a contact flighty on the rear, this new one shows commendable poise even when pushed in anger, and displays little noticeable physique roll. Certain, the modifications have resulted within the Saga using a contact firmer than earlier than, particularly over bigger pace bumps that the outdated automobile would’ve glided over.
However what little it offers away in pliancy it greater than makes up for in composure. The mountain roads are fairly damaged in locations, but the Saga stays true to its path and refuses to get knocked out of line. That is despite the rudimentary rear twist beam setup, with solely the patter over minor floor imperfections – significantly on concrete freeway surfaces – exposing the chassis’ lack of sophistication.
And we’re nonetheless satisfied Proton’s electrical energy steering engineers are training witchcraft. Switching from a hydraulic setup ought to’ve robbed the Saga of valuable steering really feel, however the EPS really provides suggestions to the rim, offering a stage of tactility lacking from the corporate’s Geely-derived merchandise. We’re instructed that the system (all-new and never derived from the Iriz and Persona) was developed from the bottom up and never merely an off-the-shelf Geely half – and it exhibits.
Plus, the additional precision and accuracy of the system makes the Saga really feel extra agile and incisive within the corners, even when we’d recognize slightly further heft. And whereas grip ranges from a budget Chinese language tyres are actually modest, the chassis appears to be tuned effectively to swimsuit the quantity of traction accessible, and never as soon as does the automobile really feel unruly or unsafe, even within the moist. The brakes, which initially felt a bit wood at low speeds, additionally come to their very own right here, providing loads of stopping energy.
The actual fact is, the tougher we push the automobile, the extra it appears to relish it – one thing that can not be mentioned about rivals (learn: Peroduas) on this value vary. The Saga has all the time been tuned for consolation and ease of driving first, however with no different in-house fashions in its lineup (at the very least, not but), Proton’s chassis engineers seem to have been given room to point out off their abilities right here. A return to type, certainly.
A price range sedan you’ll be able to now not ignore
Make no mistake – the MC3 is the Saga remodeled. Blessed with that new engine and an enormous tech and security improve, it’s a automobile that now not has any apparent flaws, at the very least in comparison with the Bezza. The much-improved effectivity is a significant boon, because it ought to make for considerably decrease working prices – necessary for the big swath of people that purchase these automobiles for his or her livelihoods. Upkeep prices are actually decrease, too, particularly subsequent to its rival; it seems Proton has lastly understood that each one these items add up.
However there’s one thing else. It’s clear Proton is now not content material with making in-house fashions which are merely “ok,” and has churned out its strongest value-priced mannequin in years. Nowhere is that this extra evident than within the Saga’s journey and dealing with – it didn’t have to be this good, however it’s, and it’s all the higher for it.
It is a automobile that’s shot by way of with actual engineering depth. And whereas there’s nonetheless no mistaking the Saga as something aside from a price range automobile, with each passing enchancment the automobile is changing into increasingly like a product that’s constructed to a value, to not an absence of an organization’s means. It’s a small however vital distinction.
Sure, it will’ve been nice if the brand new Saga was really “all new” – the compromises of the identical outdated physique construction are the one issues that allow the aspect down. However that’s a relatively small value to pay for a product that, in nearly all different features, units new requirements for the section. Effectively executed, Proton.
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