Proton Gen.2 Reviews

The Corolla-sized compact is the start of a change of life at Proton.The Malaysian brand is looking to make its own way in the car world, and not just by trumpeting its ownership of the Lotus sports car company and Italy's wonderful MV Agusta motorcycle brand.The Gen2 is the first in a new generation of Proton cars. It's a product from a new generation of management, a new design from a new generation of local designers and the signpost to a future without help from the Mitsubishi cars and systems that got it started.Proton says the Gen2 is proof the company can go it alone in the 21st century.It shows plenty of promise, featuring styling that is clean and attractive, its own Campro engine, suspension by Lotus and a distinct Proton personality.It's a Proton package, from the first design sketches to the final assembly at the company's huge new assembly plant outside Kuala Lumpur.And it's a good drive. Here is a car that's surprisingly sporty. It has compliant suspension with great grip and nice feedback.Proton Australia has also done a good job on the pricing after earlier mistakes, starting the Gen2 at $17,990 and holding even the flagship H-Line car to only $20,990.But the Gen2 has a long way to go on the quality front.The basic assembly work is fine, but there are some glaring flaws in components and cabin parts that point to the inexperience and – perhaps – incompetence of Malaysia's supplier companies.The car has to be marked down over mismatched plastics, faulty switches, scratched gearknobs, and general squeaks and tizzes.When you add the need for premium unleaded fuel for an engine that is only a 1.6 in a field of 1.8s, and the potential for longer-term quality problems, the Gen2 is not going to make a breakthrough in Australia.That's a pity, because it has plenty of strengths and Proton is trying to build a solid following.It has cash and commitment in Malaysia, and has learned from mistakes, including silly names and poor pricing. But still the Gen2 isn't going to worry the class-leading Mazda3 or even the Hyundai Elantra.Vfacts sales figures for January show its place in Australia. Proton sold 49 Gen2s against small-car sales leader Mazda3 (2781). Toyota sold 2593 Corollas and Holden 2459 Astras.So Proton is at the bottom of the class on sales, but it will improve.It has lots of new models under development, and has plans to push its name and representation in Australia, so it's perhaps best to see the Gen2 as the start of something new.

Knowing that Lotus has its parent company in Malaysia also gets a lot of attention, primarily disbelief.But that's life in the British car industry, which has seen virtually all its big brands succumb to offshore ownership.Lotus owner Proton doesn't dwell on history, rather it picks up on its British arm's substantial engineering excellence and injects it into its latest five-door hatch, the Gen.2.Yes, that's its name. Though for following traffic, the bootlid says CamPro Gen.2, proving that the erratic English of a 1960s Japanese car industry is not dead.For heaven's sake . . . CamPro sounds like the nickname for a South-East Asian prostitute and Gen.2 sounds like her daughter. Wombat would have been better.But what's in a name? The car is well designed, freshly styled with a blunt Mazda-like nose and a sweeping tail that is a bit Volvo S60-ish.It's not a big car, though there's ample room for four adults and the boot is both spacious and extendable, thanks to the split fold-down rear seats.Proton designers neatly trim the cabin in soft beige hues, so it's all quiet pastel and airy and welcoming in a warm and fuzzy sort of way.The dashboard gets top marks, with easy-to-read instruments, Blaupunkt radio/CD that looks as though it came out of a Citroen, and an unusual vertical stand for the ventilation and airconditioning controls that is straight out of a Lotus Elise.But there's no glovebox – an underdash tray holds your gear – and only one cupholder.The seats are remarkable in having virtually no lateral support – but more of that later.A bit fell off, but I put it back, indicating quality control is the next priority.The best thing about the Gen.2 is its ride. It rates as one of the best rides in its class and has handling that will put cars costing three times its price to shame.The steering feel is excellent, as are the ratios; the road holding is sharp and the body stance is flat; and the engine – though well down on power – is an eager player for some quick motoring.Even the brakes are all-wheel discs, so the taut chassis is somewhat of a big, yet welcome, surprise.But while you're enjoying that handling, your body is not. The seats are well finished, but have no lateral support and a shallow cushion, which don't produce much comfort. In effect, the car's handling is way above your ability to sit there and exploit it.The engine appears to have all the credentials, though at 82kW it's down a bit on its rivals. However, it gets along without fuss and it accelerates faster than you expect.The manual gearbox linkage is a bit notchy, though the ratios are well suited to the little engine.It's a pretty good car at an exceptional price that outpaces the Koreans.The final comment is that Proton's use of a space-saver tyre is inexcusable and, like any other carmaker who wants to go cheap on the Australian public, should be made illegal on safety grounds.

That rude, obnoxious man, for example, will always remain so, even if he is really quite polite and reasonable, and was just having a bad day when you first met him. And so it is with most things, even cars.My first impression of the new Gen 2 Proton was that I thought the doors were going to fall off.Awkward, clunky, not easy to open. Not a good start.But try to put that aside. Take a step back and look at the design.From the outside, it looks good, not "astonishing" like the publicity promises, but it is sporty and stylish, and I love the Energy Orange paint job. A few people commented that it looked like an Alfa. Even the badging, they said, has similarities. Now check out the inside ... but you have to open those doors again.The interior is not as impressive. Too much plastic and there's not enough room for your legs.Even my short limbs were bruised after too many close encounters with the steering wheel height lever.And, yes, I know you can lift the wheel up and lower the seat, but that didn't help much, either.There are not enough compartments, just two narrow ones in the doors plus the centre console.And there is no glove box. None. Just a little ledge.The stereo controls on the dash are a bit space-age-ish but the sound from the Blauplunkt system is music to your ears and the wheel-mounted buttons are in the perfect spot. Airconditioning and fan speed dials are large and easy to use but look out of place on a central column under the dash.Even the sporty double veranda over the speedo looks odd, like Mickey Mouse ears.The handbrake resembles an upside-down stirrup and the one cup holder won't fit a water bottle.How does the rear section hold up? It's roomy and comfortable enough to keep teens quiet on a long drive (what more could you ask?) but the back doors are just as stiff as the front ones.Now for the hatch. The boot is huge but there's another door. And unless I've missed something, there is only one lever by the driver's seat to release the hatch, which is heavy to open and close.Why go further? Because beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I may just be a weakling when it comes to opening doors.The Proton Gen 2 is a great size for city driving but it also handles highways beautifully. At higher speeds, it holds the road, hugs corners and the 1.6-litre engine has enough power when you drop back a gear, to overtake with confidence.The trip computer is a nice extra, calculating fuel consumption and telling you how far you can travel before you have to fill up again.If only I could handle the doors.LOVE IT LEAVE ITProton Gen 2 LOVE ITPlenty of room in the back for growing teens.Huge boot.LEAVE ITThe doors (although that wouldn't be very safe).Clunky gears.No glove box ... not even a tiny one.Almost useless cup holder.Clock is almost impossible to read while driving.

Though it has moved on from borrowing engines and bodies from other companies, Proton sought help from Lotus (which it owns) to develop the small five-door Gen2 hatch and its new Campro engine.The 1.6-litre engine has a modest 82kW and 142Nm, considerably less than rival Toyota Corolla's 100kW and 171Nm.The Gen2 will take on Corolla, Holden Astra Classic and Nissan Pulsar and have a starting price of $17,990."We are a young company, but we are daring enough to build our own engine," Campro chief engineer Azari Che-Hassam says.A five-speed manual gearbox is standard with the Gen2. A four-speed automatic transmission is available for an extra $2000.Lotus also helped develop the suspension and steering for the Gen2, the first car from Proton's new Tanjung Malim factory.Engineers set out to give the Gen2 the best handling in its class, and a pleasant ride. The car's rigid body makes this possible.It will be offered in three trim levels, starting with the L-line at $17,990. It has airconditioning, power steering, front airbags for the driver and passenger, four-wheel disc brakes, keyless entry, CD sound and trip computer.The $19,500 M-line model adds anti-skid brakes and alloy wheels. Automatic models have cruise control.Spending $20,990 for the H-line adds side airbags, climate control airconditioning, rear parking sensors, fog lights and rear spoiler.Proton says the Gen2 was designed to reflect its sporty handling characteristics."We wanted to give it the face of a tiger, make it look very strong," Proton design boss Zafruddin Shamsuddin says.He says the Gen2 won't appeal to all buyers, but will catch the attention of those who want something sporty and sexy."Essentially, we set out to break the tradition of building one safe design for everyone," Shamsuddin says.ON THE ROADTHE Gen2 shows how fast Proton is growing. It also reveals it has some way to go to take on Japan and Europe.Let's start with the positives, and there are plenty.The Gen2 has a rigid body and has excellent handling characteristics.Punting it along a winding road down into Port Macquarie at last week's launch showed what a fantastic job Proton and Lotus engineers have done setting up this car.It is almost impossible to get it to misbehave. You can easily put it through corners at speeds that would make a Corolla buck and squeal, while the steering is solid and gives good feedback.The other positive is the comfortable ride, with the suspension absorbing many of the bumps without fuss.It's amazing that Lotus can help produce a pleasant ride when it's own car (Elise sportscar) can jolt out fillings at the first sign of a bump.Interior space is good, though rear headroom is not the best in its class. While some of the plastics could be better, the interior is the best to come from Proton.Stereo controls are trendy rather than easy to use, but the heating controls are big and practical.The body looks well constructed and the paint quality, which includes cool colours such as orange-bronze and purple, is excellent.So what's wrong with the new Malaysian model?Proton says the Campro engine was designed for commuting in cities such as Kuala Lumpur where motorists are happy with small engines and don't mind revving them.To put it simply, the Gen2 doesn't have enough grunt. You notice it a bit around town, but when you try to overtake or pull up a long haul the engine is lacking.It gets worse when the airconditioning is pumping.Proton is working on a Campro engine with variable-valve timing that gives it a meatier feel and improves performance.It will be offered in a premium Gen2 model next year, but should really be in the base car.And in April Proton will introduce an R3 performance model with exhaust modifications that will lift power slightly.With excellent handling, it's clear the Gen2 can handle more go.