Proton
Malaysian budget brand Proton sells a line-up of three small cars in the UK. The Savvy features unique looks, and all cars are cheap, but best of all Proton owns Lotus, which makes sure all Protons ride and handle well.
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Proton Savvy
The Savvy is one of the cheapest new cars on sale today. The Savvy does feature a unique look, and, as Lotus is owned by Proton, the ride and handling is acceptable. The main reason for buying a Savvy is that it’s cheap to buy and cheap to run. But while this may be true, the Savvy isn’t particularly well built or reliable, and it will lose its value very quickly too. Its 1.2-litre petrol engine is gruff, unrefined and not particularly powerful, and the small interior features harsh, scratchy plastic.
Proton Satria Neo
Like the rest of the Proton range, the Satria Neo looks pretty good and features handling that’s been tuned by Lotus. There’s a single trim level and just one petrol engine to choose from. Cabin quality is poor, and space is at a premium for passengers and in the boot. The engine is unrefined and noise seeps into the cabin all the time, becoming tiresome on longer journeys. As well as having poor residual values, the Satria Neo is the least competitively priced of the Proton range.
read more about Proton Satria Neo
Proton Gen-2
All of the Proton Gen-2 marketing material is keen to emphasise the fact that this budget family car's handling was tuned by Lotus. And it does show, as the car corners and rides well. The looks aren’t too bad either, although the hatchback is better looking than the saloon, and the Gen-2 is well equipped for the money. However, that’s where the positives end. The driving position is uncomfortable, and rear seat passengers suffer from limited headroom. While the interior is well designed, it's built from poor quality, scratchy plastic, and engine and wind noise become very tiresome at speed. Residual values are also a concern.
