Proton Savvy 1.2 Style 5dr Car Review - February 2012

Inside the Savvy’s cabin the dashboard is well laid out and it’s easy to use all the controls. The yellow dials may not be to everyone’s taste though. There’s adjustment on the driver’s seat by way of a rotary wheel but there’s no adjustment on the steering column, so you may find it difficult to get the best driving position, depending on your size. Space inside the cabin is limited, like many small cars, but you can get four adults in it although headroom is tight in the back.

This Savvy model comes equipped with a 75bhp, 1.2-litre 4 cylinder, 16 valve, petrol engine, capable of a top speed of 99mph and going from 0-62mph in 13.9 seconds. Mated with a 5-speed manual gearbox it produces 77lb-ft of torque and it’s got enough pep for city driving and returns a healthy enough 49.6mpg average fuel economy. Overall though, its performance is somewhat disappointing compared to some of its rivals fitted with smaller 1.0-litre engines which feel quicker.

The handling of the Savvy on the other hand is quite decent for a small car. It’s competent and predictable when cornering and the ride is smooth enough, although the steering can feel a bit unresponsive.

While the Savvy doesn’t offer any of the ‘edgy’ or more radical styling evident in a lot of small cars nowadays, it does look modern from the outside. However, inside the cabin it’s a different story with lots of hard plastic trim that makes it look very dated.

In terms of equipment, you do get a lot for what you pay. This Savvy 1.2, 5-door comes with central locking, alloy wheels, air con, electric front windows, rear parking sensors, alarm, immobiliser, and a CD as standard kit. Optional extras include metallic paint and an automatic gearbox.

The Savvy is big enough to get four adults inside although comfort levels will depend on the size of the adults. The boot is small compared to some other cars in its class, with just 207-litres of space with the rear seats in place – just enough for your regular shopping - but a more decent 909-litres available with the 50/50 split rear seats down out of the way.

A bare minimum of safety equipment is fitted in the Savvy. It comes with ABS Anti Lock Brakes, EBD Electronic Brake-force Distribution system and two front air-bags. Additional airbags are not available as an option.

Security measures are a little better, including an alarm, an immobiliser, locking wheel nuts, visibly marked components and etched windows.

It comes with Proton’s three-year, 60,000 mile warranty and regular service intervals of 12,000 miles.

The Savvy has to be one of the cheapest new cars available nowadays. Its attractive price of £7,995 and budget running costs make it appealing for certain buyers. However, it doesn’t hold its value well and even with CO2 emissions of 134g/km it isn’t as economical on fuel as some of its more expensive competitors.

What you do get though, is a decent small car which won’t cost a fortune to run and comes with a good level of equipment for its class, at a bargain price. Proton are well known for offering a lot for a little, and you can even check out special deals on their website which have included leather upholstery at no extra charge and discounts up to £2,500 on some models. So you may get even more than you bargained for – for even less, if that’s what you’re looking for.