When Malaysia first embarked on the domestic manufacture of automobiles the quality of the original models left something to be desired. Proton jokes in Kuala Lumpur were as prevalent as they were unkind, and the BBC’s Top Gear lampooned one particular model for its inability to go round corners.

Since those early days Proton has come a long way. What really turned things round was when the company purchased the English sports car builder, Lotus. With that acquisition in 2003, came a long pedigree of expertise in building quality and performance cars. The first Proton to make it to Thailand is no Elan, but is instead aimed squarely at the budget end of the market. Its virtues grow on you.

Essentially it’s designed as a town car, made to nip through heavy traffic and squeeze into restricted parking spaces – power steering and excellent lock. A rear anti-contact sensor comes as standard.

Out on the open road the 1200cc 16-valve D4F engine performed sturdily if somewhat noisily at high revs. Driven aggressively which the Savvy encourages one to do, 0 to 100 kph comes up in a very respectable fourteen seconds and the engine continued to offer a torquey response all the way to the top speed of 170 kph. The semi-automatic five-speed transmission is well matched to this power unit and an attractive option allows the driver to select manual shifting at the touch of a button. This level of performance does not break the bank. We averaged 5 litres of petrol for every 100 kilometres driven.

The car sits solidly on the road – exceptionally so for a small hatch – reminiscent of the old Golf GTi. The suspension is firm and cornering at speed the Savvy tucks in well with very little roll. One would guess that a little bit of Lotus magic is involved. The body is rigid and feels strong – and so it should; the 17,000 N/mm all-steel body is a construction standard usually found on larger vehicles.

The car's looks are avant garde – a curvaceous front end is dominated by two huge, masculine air intake grilles – and incorporates the attractive Proton badge. The headlights are appealingly designed into the curving wings and exterior mirrors and door handles are colour-keyed for a clean profile. Buyers can choose from a selection of six metallic finishes ranging from Apple Green through Energy Orange to Passion Blue (really!); the only solid paint finish (as opposed to metallic) on offer is, Chili Red. For what it is worth the author felt that Chili Red gave the Savvy exactly the right look – as hot as the name.

Inside, one finds an uncluttered layout. The car employs the ‘wheel in each corner’ design now de rigor for Hatches so wheel-arch intrusion is minimized and the capacious boot offers 200 plus litres of usable storage space. With the 50:50 rear seats folded flat a voluminous 900 litres are available; room for even the kitchen sink. The dash is unfussy but nicely designed instrumentation and a decent music system make the appearance Spartan rather than dull. The driver’s seat is height adjustable and dual airbags are standard – as is EBD (electronic brake force distribution) ABS braking on all four wheels. However, the Savvy is definitely a four-seater – there is no seatbelt for a third person in the back. All round visibility is first class – almost no blind spots.

With the increasing traffic density combined with a tighter economic climate and gas prices which have reached the stage where nobody jokes about them any longer, Proton would seem to have a product that will appeal a growing sector of the market. Economical to buy and run, the Savvy is fun to drive whether you are in the city or touring.

Lifestyle Auto Co., Ltd.
9/9 M.6 Thepkrasattri Rd, T. Rassada Muang Phuket Tel: +66 (0)76 218838-43
Email: muangmai@e-mail.in.th website: www.loveproton.com, www.phuketlife.net