Malaysian car brand, Proton, made its return to South Africa in 2022, launching 2 compact SUVs including the X50 and X70.
Now, the firm is expanding its local offering with the arrival of the Saga sedan which will rival the likes of the Suzuki Dzire, Honda Amaze and Kia Pegas.
In terms of dimensions, the Proton Saga measures 4 335 mm long, 1 690 mm wide and 1 515 mm high with a wheelbase of 2465 mm.
A total of 3 Proton Saga derivatives are available in South Africa and all are powered by the same naturally-aspirated 1.3-litre petrol engine with 70 kW and 120 Nm of torque on offer. The standard base Sage is paired with a 5-speed manual transmission but a 4-speed automatic transmission is also offered in standard guise and on the range-topping Saga Premium derivative. Claimed fuel consumption is 6.7 L/100km.
The Saga’s interior offers basic functionality.
The 2 Saga Standard derivatives ride on 14-inch wheels with the manual derivative fitted with wheel covers and the automatic derivative gaining alloy wheels. The Saga Premium gains 15-inch alloy wheels as well as LED daytime running lights to complement the standard Halogen headlights across the range.
Moving inside, the feature set is fairly basic. The Standard derivatives don’t have mounted steering wheel controls and only the Saga Premium offers a multifunction steering wheel. Electric windows are standard across the range as is manual air conditioning and cloth upholstery.
In terms of infotainment, the Saga Premium has a 7-inch touchscreen system while the Standard derivatives make do with a basic radio but Bluetooth connectivity is standard for all Sagas.
Safety features for all derivatives include 2 front airbags, ABS with EBD and Brake Assist. The automatic derivatives further gain traction control, hill hold assist and hill descent control.
Proton Saga 1.3L Standard M/T – R199 900
Proton Saga 1.3L Standard A/T – R219 900
Proton Saga 1.3L Premium A/T – R239 900
A 5-year / 150 000 km warranty is standard and service plans are sold as an option.
Buy a Proton on Cars.co.za
Proton X70 (2022) Review
All-new Proton X50 In-depth Review – Specs and Features, Price, Fuel consumption, Comparison to rivals