2019 PROTON SAGA LAUNCHED – RM33K-RM40K

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After a long wait and numerous leaks, the latest baby from PROTON’s stables has finally joined in the fun. The PROTON Saga is a critical model for the company, being one of the marque’s fastest sellers and marking the entry point into the PROTON lineup. With these latest updates, the Saga is now set to put up an even greater fight than ever before, particularly against its arch rival, the Perodua Bezza.

The 2019 PROTON Saga lineup has been cleaned up, with the removal of the ‘Executive’ variant for this iteration. Instead, the Saga will be available as a Standard in Manual (RM32,800) or Automatic (RM35,800), as well as an automatic-only Premium model (RM39,800). These new prices are a slight reduction over the outgoing model, and PROTON is keen to point out that when combined with the added value that comes with it, the price reductions are rather significant.

Style-wise the Saga has only been given a small nip and tuck. The front sees the incorporation of the Infinite Weave grille pattern that is now part-and-parcel of every new PROTON model, as well as a revised front bumper with a more pronounced air intake. The Premium model loses its front foglights though, with PROTON offering up LED daytime running lights, a first for an A-segment saloon.

Down the sides there are new-design alloy wheels (14-inch for Standard models and 15-inch for Premium cars), while the rear sees the logo deletion in favour of the wide PROTON script we’ve seen on their newer cars, as well as a new boot-lip spoiler and more sophisticated rear bumper design.

Inside there are more significant changes, starting with the seats. They remain a fabric-only affair, but they’re now wrapped in a higher-quality and softer cloth that should serve families quite well. There’s also new headlining and soft-operation roof-mounted grab handles for passengers, as well as a new LED-lit cabin dome light that sits just above the driver’s central mirror.

But up front is where the biggest changes have taken place. The top-half of the centre stack is now completely new, housing a free-standing 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with the aircond vents moved below (Standard models get a non-touchscreen radio instead). Between the two sits a plastic panel with ‘PROTON’ lettering across it, which looks rather swish. The 7-inch touchscreen isn’t the fully-fledged GKUI infotainment system like in other PROTONs, so no 4G connectivity and ‘Hi PROTON’ voice command here, but it does offer Android smartphone mirroring. Standard across the range is Bluetooth connectivity, while the Premium model gets things like a reversing camera and four speakers thrown in as well.

There’s also a new instrument cluster sitting ahead of the driver, with two new white-backlit dials flanking an information display that’s now capable of displaying average fuel consumption, opened doors, distance to empty, and others. It’s not a full-colour screen like you get in say an Iriz or a Persona, but it’s not half bad, and is a marked improvement over the outgoing car. You still get a multifunction steering wheel with rake adjustment, though reach adjustment remains a luxury the Saga does not afford.

Under the bonnet there have been some updates, but not to the engine itself. The Saga continues to offer a 1.3-litre VVT petrol engine with 95PS at 5,750rpm and 120Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. This engine is now paired to either a 5-speed manual in the base-model as before, or a 4-speed automatic gearbox sourced from Hyundai. This is a significant change for the Saga, addressing some of the biggest bugbears with this model. The 4-speed automatic promises improved noise, vibration & harshness (NVH) levels and responsiveness – there’s even a Sport mode, should the mood take you.

The new Saga has also been treated to a brake upgrade, with larger discs in the front and bigger drums in the rear, taken off the PROTON Iriz. Critically, all cars now benefit from anti-lock brakes, electronic brake distribution, and brake assist, previously unavailable in Standard models. The Premium offers additional front parking sensors, TCS, ESC, and Hill-Hold Assist, though all models continue to offer two airbags.

The 2019 PROTON Saga is now available in five colours, namely Snow White, Jet Grey, Armour Silver, Ruby Red (the ‘hero’ colour), and Rosewood Maroon.

Although PROTON has chucked a whole bunch of new kit into the Saga, the value proposition has gone up significantly. The new Saga is available with very attractive packages, like the free 1st year (or 3-time) servicing, attractive financing rates (from 2.98%p.a.), and a comprehensive insurance package (betterment cost waiver for up to 10-years, agreed value coverage for up to 12-years, key-care coverage of RM1,000 value, flood relief allowance of up to RM1,000, and even personal-accident coverage for the policy-holder for up to RM15,000.

Not bad eh for an entry-level car?

We absolutely cannot wait to sample the 2019 PROTON Saga, and pit it head-to-head with the Perodua Bezza in the near future. We commend PROTON on these massive improvements for their most affordable model, in keeping with the same goals to mobilise the masses and offer the best bang-for-buck, just like the original Saga did back in 1985.

For the best deals on a new car, be sure to hit up our Facebook page, and we’ll put you in touch with one of our verified dealers to ensure that you get the best deal at the best price on your brand-new ride.

2019 PROTON SAGA SPECS CONFIRMED – 3 Variants, 4AT & 5MT, Prices TBC

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With just hours to go before the wraps are pulled off, it seems that netizens are beside themselves with excitement as PROTON prepares to launch its updated entry-level Saga.

The spec sheet, leaked to us from an avid #MalaysianMotorist

Preliminary specsheets have been sent to us via one of our readers who sought to remain anonymous, and it’s helped to confirm a few things. First, we can now confirm that the 2019 PROTON Saga will replace its problematic CVT automatic gearbox with a 4-speed automatic slushbox from Hyundai, while the 5-speed manual will soldier on. We can also confirm that the 7-inch touchscreen infotainment headunit, LED daytime running lights, and 15-inch wheels will remain exclusive to the Premium model; Standard variants will make do with a “Standard” infotainment unit, two speakers, and 14-inch wheels, but all cars now get a remote trunk release and a flip-type key fob.

We can also confirm that there will be 5 colours available for the new Saga, namely Snow White, Armour Silver, Jet Grey, Rosewood Maroon, and Ruby Red.

UPDATE: The 2019 PROTON Saga has been launched in full, with prices starting at RM32,800 for the Standard M/T and rising up to RM39,800 for the Premium A/T. Details on our latest post.

SPIED: ’19 PROTON Saga In Showrooms Ahead Of Launch

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It seems that PROTON’s all ready to reveal its newest baby, a heavily-updated version of the current-generation Saga that’ll go a long way in righting a few wrongs. The PROTON Saga is a favourite among the MalaysianMotoring team (both videographers own one, albeit different generations) and with the newest model, PROTON aims to address bugbears that have bothered current-gen Saga owners for a while.

These spyshots, courtesy of our friends at Funtasticko reveal much about the new model. For starters, the exterior has been given a light going-over in the same vein as the updated PROTON Iriz & Persona, with a new colour palette (this one is called Rosewood Maroon and we like it), updated bumpers front and rear (with the fronts now gaining LED daytime running lights for the Premium variant), and new alloys (14″ for entry-level variants and 15″ for the Premium).

Inside the changes are pretty major though, with a floating central touchscreen infotainment system, with the full ‘Hi PROTON!’ GKUI system in the Premium, and the usual non-touchscreen system for the lower tiers. There’s also an updated instrument cluster ahead of the driver that now features a more modern speedometer & tachometer, as well as a dot-matrix driver’s information display nestled between the dials. Looks rather snazzy, doesn’t it?

While there’s been no official confirmation from PROTON, we’re made to understand that under the skin, the ’19 PROTON Saga will continue to use the same 1.3-litre VVT engine as the outgoing car with no major changes to the engine, but the Punch-sourced CVT-automatic gearbox has been swapped out with a 4-speed auto unit from Hyundai. This should improve NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) levels in the car dramatically, as well as address the Saga’s current issues of lacklustre transmission response, particularly in town and when driving spiritedly.

It may also hamper fuel consumption over long-distance drives, but that remains to be seen.

PROTON has yet to release official pricing for the ’19 PROTON Saga, but with the launch slated for later today, the wait shouldn’t be all too long now.

PROTON X50 Coming August 2020? – Report

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While PROTON runs on a high with a whopping 61% increase in sales in the first half of this year, Malaysians are keeping their eye on the horizon. The ‘X50’ is set to be the next SUV model from the marque, offering all of the appeal of the larger X70 with a more approachable pricetag. The X50 will be based on the Geely Bin Yue, a car that has been spotted testing on local roads several times already by eagle-eyed spotters.

An article on The Malaysian Reserve, citing an insider source, says that the company is indeed in the process of getting the X50 out to market, but it’ll take a little bit more time than for the X70. For the larger car, the first phase (which is still ongoing) saw the full importation of the car from China, where it’s built in right-hand drive alongside its left-hook brethren. This made the most sense at the time of the investiture agreement between Zhejiang Geely and PROTON Holdings as one of the clauses was that PROTON had to produce a Geely-based model, on sale, within one calendar year.

Also considering the sheer volume the base Geely Boyue enjoys in its home market, it wouldn’t have come at considerable cost to them to tool it for RHD. Furthermore, the Malaysian government had agreed to give PROTON a special tax allowance for the CBU X70, as to permit a faster turnaround time and competitive pricing.

However, the X50 will employ a different route. With the upgrading works at PROTON’s Tanjung Malim plant on schedule, the X50 will be a fully-CKD model, assembled here in Malaysia. That move will purportedly save PROTON & Geely some RM200-million in required changes to the plant in China to produce the X50 in RHD, and by tooling Tanjung Malim to produce the car in such a configuration, would also allow PROTON to engage in export activities to the right-hand drive markets that they compete in.

It is speculated that the X50 will carry a pricetag between RM70k-RM85k, which would make it a very attractive proposition indeed, particularly considering that the (larger & more utilitarian) Perodua Aruz tops out at RM78k.

It’s clear that the gentlemen’s agreement between Malaysia’s two local automakers, who now sit as the 1st and 2nd best-selling marques on local shores, is turning out well. There will always be a Perodua for those looking for no-nonsense zero-hassle motoring, and a PROTON for those keen on more sophistication, dynamics, and luxury.

2019 GEELY BIN YUE SPORT – GALLERY