Proton Saga

Introduction to the Proton Saga

The Malaysian car maker Proton has decided to enter the Indian market without any partner. It had been more than a year since Proton was planning to mark its debut in the country, but it wasn’t able to find a partner for its India operations, so far. Now, Proton is intending to enter India solo.

Initially, Proton is expected to roll-out its popular entry level sedan, Proton Saga, in the Indian market. According to the recent media reports, the company will manufacture the Proton Saga at the Surajpur Plant of Argentum Motors on a contract manufacturing basis.  

The Proton Saga model is based on basic structure of its younger sibling - Proton Savvy. The car is already available in the Singapore and Malaysian market with a 1.3L petrol engine, and it is capable of delivering a peak power of 95bhp along with a peak torque of 120 Nm. The Proton Saga is also available in an optional 1.6 liter petrol engine with a peak power of 114 bhp.

In India, the Proton Saga is expected to be rolled-out in the price bracket of Rs 7 to 8 lakh, where it will be competing with the likes of Maruti Swift Dzire, Ford Fiesta, Hyundai Verna, Honda City, Toyota Etios, Volkswagen Vento, etc. The Saga is expected to be rolled-out in the country by July this year.

Engine & Specifications of the Proton Saga

As mentioned above, the Saga model is expected to be available in two engine options. The lower powered 1.3L petrol engine of the car will be capable of delivering a peak power of 95bhp along with a peak torque of 120 Nm. On the other hand, the high powered version of the car will come powered by a 1.6L engine which will be delivering a peak power of 114 bhp. The powerful engine of the Proton Saga will come coupled with a five speed manual transmission gearbox.

Performance of the Proton Saga

Proton Saga is a powerful performer on the road, thanks to its superior engine characteristics. The Malaysian version of the car has been appreciated for its performance, with good mileage – the Proton Saga will be delivering a mileage in the range of 12 to 14 kmpl.

Moreover, the Saga will come blessed with a number of new age performance enhancing features including power steering, easy to operate paddle shift and many more. However, the company is yet to reveal the features that it will be offering in the Indian version of the car.

Exterior, Interior & Safety Features of the Proton Saga

The Proton Saga sedan is blessed with a charismatic exterior and a spacious interior. It comes equipped with a number of storage spaces inside including a glove compartment, door pockets on each door, two rear bottle holders , seatback pockets, a 1-DIN storage area below the 1-DIN CD player, and a compartment just below the steering wheel column. The Saga is further blessed with a number of safety features including central door lock, driver side airbags, seatbelt pre-tensioner, front and rear fog lamps and many more.