Proton Saga Overview

The Proton Saga was introduced in 1985 as Malaysia’s first national car and has since been through numerous updates. It’s now categorized as an A-segment sedan competing against cars such as the Perodua Bezza, Perodua Axia, ad Hyundai i10. With its reliability, driving dynamics, and budget-friendly price, the Proton Saga has been favored among Malaysians for over three decades. The latest generation Saga retains Proton’s excellent ride and handling while getting some noteworthy tech updates, especially in the cabin.

General Information

Proton Saga Variants

There are four variants of the Proton Saga; the 1.3L Standard MT (manual), 1.3L Standard AT (automatic), 1.3L Premium AT (automatic) and the R3 Limited Edition (automatic). The Standard MT variant has a 5-speed manual transmission while the rest have a 4-speed automatic transmission.

Proton Saga Pricing

The price of a new Proton Saga starts from RM34,800 for the Standard MT, RM37,800 for the Standard AT, RM41,800 for the Premium AT, and RM44,800 for the R3 Limited Edition.

Colors Available

There are a total of six colors available on the Proton Saga. Colors available on the Standard and Premium variants are Snow White, Ruby Red, and Jet Grey, while colors available only on the Standard AT and Premium are Armour Silver and Rosewood Maroon. Being an exclusive release, the R3 Limited Edition is only available in Quartz Black.

Proton Saga Basic Features

Interior

Considering its price, the Proton Saga has decent interior styling and finishing. Available on the Proton Saga Premium and Standard AT are new headlining and ceiling foldable assist grips, an LED map lamp, as well as a sun visor with a built-in ticket holder and mirror. Standard across all variants are a new meter combination with multi-information display and Eco Drive Assist, power windows, electric door mirrors with LED turn signal lamps, N95 cabin filter, steering wheel with tilt adjustment, and a modern center panel with conveniently located buttons.

Exterior

On the exterior, the Proton Saga sports an infinite weave grille as do all Proton cars, a bee-sting antenna, as well as a new rear bumper and spoiler with rear garnish. Exclusive to the Proton Saga Premium and R3 Limited Edition variants are special 15-inch alloy wheels and LED daytime running lights (DRLs). Additional trims on the R3 variant are exclusive rear R3 emblems, a sporty body kit, and R3 body stickers.

Cabin Space

The Proton Saga measures 4,331 mm long, 1,689 mm wide, and 1,491 mm tall. It has a respectable 420-liter boot that is expandable via the foldable rear seats. The current generation Saga also has remote boot release allowing access to the boot without having to unlock the car.

Infotainment system

The Standard MT and AT variants get a standard infotainment system while the Premium and R3 variants get a floating 7-inch touch screen monitor with Bluetooth connectivity, 16 GB of internal storage, smartphone connectivity, as well as steering switches for audio and hands-free telephone functions. Additional on the Standard AT variant and above are three USB ports. The touch screen infotainment system in the Saga is a welcome upgrade that punches above this car’s price.

Proton Saga Driving Performance 

The Proton Saga is powered by a 1.3-liter, 4-cylinder engine with variable valve timing (VVT) producing a max power of 95 PS at 5,750 rpm and max 120 Nm 4,000 rpm. Being a compact sedan, the Proton Saga has a fairly good fuel economy. The manual variant consumes 5.4 L/100 km of fuel while the automatic consumes 5.6 L/100 km of fuel. In terms of acceleration, the manual variant sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 12.2 seconds while the automatic is slightly slower at 12.1 seconds.

Proton Saga Safety Features

Desite having a low price point, the Saga has all the basic safety features a modern car should have. Standard across the range are two front SRS airbags, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters, rear seat ISOFIX and top tether anchorage, rear parking sensors as well as immobilizer and anti-theft alarm. Exclusive on the Proton Saga Premium and R3 Limited Edition variants are Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control System (TCS), Hill Hold Assist (HHA), front parking sensors, and a reverse camera.

The Proton Saga is a great car for its price. It’s comfortable, spacious, fun to drive, and is now equipped with more tech than ever. For drivers looking for a versatile yet fun sedan that won’t break the bank, the Saga is an excellent choice.