Insurance Group: 6
MPG: 40.9
CO2: 164
0-62 Mph: 13.5 secs
BHP: 94 BHP
Range: 450 miles
The level of standard equipment is satisfactory and you won’t spend much on extras because they are not there in the first place, except for one.
PROS: Good looks. Good handling. Sharp, responsive steering. Good boot size. Standard kit is generous.
CONS: Little headroom. Some crucial safety features are missing. Short service interval. Poor residual values.
The GEN-2 GLS has a powerful 1.6-litre, 4-cyinder 16valve 1332cc petrol engine which responds best at higher revs. It has a maximum power of 94bhp and produces 88 lb-ft of torque. The GEN-2 is as fun to drive in town as it is on the motorway.
Suspension is good and provides a balance between ride comfort and handling. The car grips well and the response from the sharp steering is good. Overall, the car provides a comfortable drive, though not to class leading levels as in the Volkswagen Golf.
The engine revs noisily, and road and wind noise is present at motorway speeds. Only the engine noise irritates though; road and wind noise is bearable.
There is good visibility all-round.
The GEN-2 is a 5-door, 5-seat medium family hatchback. It is well-designed and has a decent and appealing image, especially the modern, arched front-end. Its family-friendly size – it measures 4310mm x 1725mm – makes it a practical choice for medium families that travel a lot.
The interior is not fancy but it is neat and clean. Some of the materials used, particularly on the dashboard, switchgear and dials look cheap and are hard to the touch. But the layout is practical and user friendly.
Proton is known for its generous offerings of standard equipment and in the GEN-2, it is no different. It comes with power steering, central locking, air con, electric front windows, rear-parking sensors, driver airbag, passenger airbags, alarm, immobiliser and CD player. The maximum amount of money you will spend on extras should you choose to, is £365, which is what metallic paint costs. No other feature is available even as a cost option.
It is a shame that Proton did not consider installing stability control in a promising family car such as the GEN-2. It probably would have increased the car’s appeal. The car is yet to be tested by the Euro NCAP so it is hard to say what its safety rating is. However, it does have some high quality safety features, including an engine immobiliser, remote central locking, alarm, anti-lock brakes, side impact bars, rollover protection and twin airbags.
Proton is not a strong brand, more so in reliability. However, it partnered with its subsidiary company Lotus, which is well respected in the motoring industry, in engineering the GEN-2. As such, it may have stronger mechanicals than what old Proton models can be remembered for. Since its re-launch into the market in 2007 though, there have been no major complaints about the car. Should anything happen, there is a 3-year/60,000 mile warranty that will take care of things.
The driving position will be awkward for some drivers. The driver’s seat is set too high, while the steering wheel is set low. Both can be adjusted for height, but have minimal adjustments for travel, thus limiting your likelihood of influencing reach.
There is a good amount of legroom both at the cabin front and rear. However, headroom is compromised by the receding windscreen and sloping roofline. But five adults will be comfortable inside.
The car does not have a glove box, and storage pace in the cabin is limited. But the boot is a good 460 litres, large enough to carry a couple of huge bags. Fold the rear seats and you get up to 850 litres.
Currently listed at £9,195, the Proton GEN-2 does offer a lot of value for money. It is unfortunate that stronger models such as the Renault Logan, Kia Rio and Hyundai i20 cost just slightly higher, and this puts it in a tight spot for competition. The Proton GEN-2 does not hold its value as well as top rivals do, and this does not bode well for owners planning to sell.
Fuel consumption is average and you can get 40.9mpg on the combined cycle. The GEN-2 conforms to Euro4 emission limits but the 164g/km it emits on average is still too high compared to class rival emissions, and will cost you a hefty £165 in VED every year. Insurance costs should be low, as the car is place under the lowly insurance group 10.
The GEN-2 has a 9,000 mile service interval, and frequent servicing may eventually lead to high maintenance expenses.
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