Proton Saga: Top reasons to buy

Ruling the Malaysian roads since the mid-1980s, the Proton Saga has seen over three decades and still doesn't find it troublesome to find new homes across the country. The latest evidence comes with the news that Proton Saga grabbed the title of the best-selling model for Proton in 2019 with 38,144 sales. Moreover, the B-segment sedan found 3,892 new homes in December 2019 itself. And, with the newest iteration of the Saga already doing good, there's should no doubt about the fact that it would be on the wishlist of many more Malaysians. So, what makes the Saga the go-to B-segment sedan in Malaysia? Why should you consider the Saga over its competitors such as the Perodua Bezza? Come, let's discuss the major reasons that make the Proton Saga a sedan worth buying in 2020.

Affordability

One of the major factors behind the Proton Saga racking up high sales figures year after year is its price. As of now, Proton offers the B-segment sedan in three different variants, Standard MT, Standard AT, and Premium AT. The table below mentions the Proton Saga price for the sedan's different models:

Variant	Price
Standard MT	RM 32,800
Standard AT	RM 35,800
Premium AT	RM 39,000

Starting at just RM 32,800, the Proton Saga remains to be one of the cheapest, or shall we say most affordable cars in Malaysia even in 2020. Even though the Saga does not feature an exemplary design language that can allure many, the B-segment sedan does its job rather well by offering a wide range of color options including Rosewood Maroon, Ruby Red, Snow White, Jet Grey, and Armour Silver. Also, the presence of a new Proton X70-like front grille, LED DRLs, a rear spoiler, and other elements do provide the sedan with a bit of flair. Again For a sedan that ranges from RM 32,800 to RM 39,000, the Proton Saga isn't a bad deal at all.

Comfort & Convenience

Following the affordability that the Proton Saga possesses, it is then the level of comfort and a host of convenience features which form another major reason that should tempt you to get yourself a Saga. Starting with comfort, there is plenty of space inside the B-segment sedan thanks to a long 2,465 mm wheelbase. As for the overall dimensions of the Saga, have a look at the following table:

Proton Saga Dimensions (mm)
Length	4,331
Width	1,689
Height	1,491
Wheelbase	2,465

Moving ahead, with a large wheelbase comes a spacious interior and the experience of riding of a roomy sedan is further enhanced by the Saga's comfortable seats that feature a new fabric upholstery. Both knee room and headroom have been taken care of, and the passengers at the back are supposed to have a great time reaching the destination. Since we are discussing rides, the boot space at 420 litres is more than enough for your luggage.

But then, a spacious cabin is not all that makes for a comfortable ride, right? With that said, let's bring in the Saga's suspension setup to the table. Responsible for providing the occupants with a smooth and bump-free ride quality are MacPherson struts with a stabiliser bar up front and a torsion beam setup at the back. Furthermore, other elements at work in offering a convenient ride inside of the Proton Saga specs include a tilt-adjustable multifunction steering wheel with audio controls, front & rear power windows, luggage lamp, height-adjustable driver's seat, foldable rear seat, 12V power socket, LCD multi-information display in the instrument cluster, LED cabin lamps, sunshade with ticket holder & vanity mirror, and others. Taking care of entertainment needs is a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system that comes with smartphone connectivity, Bluetooth, four speakers, and 3 USB ports, 1 for data and two for charging.

Powertrain performance

For a car of Proton Saga's size, not much power is required, right? Still, we have seen way too many automakers equipping these B-segment sedans with underpowered engines and ruining the whole experience. The case with the Proton Saga is, however, better the worst that we have seen, and the sedan houses potent enough engine. Proton offers all three variants of the Saga with the same engine and two different transmission options.

Specs | Variant	Standard MT	Standard AT	Premium AT
Engine	1.3-litre in-line DOHC 4-pot VVT	1.3-litre in-line DOHC 4-pot VVT	1.3-litre in-line DOHC 4-pot VVT
Power	95 PS & 120 Nm	95 PS & 120 Nm	95 PS & 120 Nm
Transmission	5-speed manual	4-speed automatic	4-speed automatic

The 1.3-litre in-line DOHC 4-pot VVT on the Proton Saga is capable enough for the sedan and does its job efficiently. Also, the sedan comes with the ECO Drive Assist function that helps in attaining a better mileage. In the pre-facelift avatar, the Proton Saga used to feature a CVT. But now, it gets a Hyundai-sourced 4-speed torque converter that makes its way to the Standard AT and the Premium AT models. The new four-speed automatic also features a new P-R-N-D-S layout instead of the previous unit's P-R-N-D-3-2. Moreover, the fuel tank capacity sits at 40 litres, and that should be more than enough for even long-distance travelling.

Safety equipment

The last reason that makes the Proton Saga a car worth buying in the B-segment is the safety column on its specs sheet. Not only the sedan is well equipped with many safety features but also flaunts a four-star ASEAN NCAP safety rating.

The long list of safety features present on the Proton Saga comprises of numerous basic and high-end peculiarities such as dual front SRS airbags, Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control System (TCS), Hill Hold Assist (HHA), ISOFIX child seat mounts, front seatbelts with pre-tensioners & load limiters, and front & rear parking sensors with a reverse camera. Also, present on the Saga is an engine immobiliser and an anti-theft alarm.

So, does the Proton Saga make a case strong enough for you to head over to a Proton dealership near you and take home a new B-segment sedan at just RM 32,800 to RM 39,000? Well, we bet it does. The Proton Saga offers a perfect blend of comfort, convenience, performance, safety, and most importantly, astounding affordability. For more such stories and other updates from in and around the automobile space, stay connected with ZigWheels Malaysia.

Also Read: #10YearChallenge - Proton Saga 2010 vs 2020