Here it’s, the 2022 Proton Saga MC2 facelift. You’ve seen the spyshots and teasers; now right here’s the ‘minor change’ of Proton’s A-section sedan in full, formally launched this morning. As you’ll be able to see, the adjustments aren’t main. This replace focuses on tools to maintain the Saga aggressive in opposition to its chief home rival, the Perodua Bezza, plus minor aesthetic particulars out and in, which we’ll element right here.
No adjustments mechanically – the Saga continues with the acquainted 1.3 litre 4-cylinder NA engine with 95 PS at 5,750 rpm and 120 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. The DOHC VVT unit is paired to a 5-pace handbook gearbox within the base Standard MT or a Hyundai-sourced 4-pace auto within the different variants. This 4AT changed the earlier CVT within the August 2019 facelift. Since then, Proton offered 123,512 models of the sedan.
By the best way, the Standard MT is now the one handbook variant in the whole Proton vary after the 2022 Iriz/Persona facelift went full auto. Speaking of variants, the 2022 Saga vary begins from the Standard MT and Standard AT, earlier than leaping to the Premium (no Executive within the center). New for 2022 is the vary-topping Premium S, which completely will get most of the new options you’ll examine right here.
The Saga vary now begins from RM34,400 for the Standard MT, and it’s RM38,300 for the Standard AT. The Premium AT is yours for RM41,300, whereas the Premium S tops out the vary at RM44,300. Prices are on-the-street excluding insurance coverage, with gross sales tax exemption, legitimate until June 30. If you’re maintaining depend, these costs are a good bit larger than earlier than, by RM2,000 (Standard MT), RM3,000 (Standard AT) and RM2,000 (Premium), respectively.
New exterior particulars
The adjustments are minimal, and the Saga continues with the identical bumpers and lights at each ends, which signifies that there’s no improve to LED headlamps from halogens. There’s a small change to the grille – Proton’s new round logo is current, after the ‘uncaged’ tiger appeared on the Iriz/Persona. The ‘Infinite Weave’ sample stays, however there’s an indent on the ‘Ethereal Bow’ strip beneath the place it cradles the brand – the earlier strip was a straight line.
The strip is in crimson solely on the Premium S although; it stays as silver on the Standard and Premium. The Premium S (for Sport, we presume) can also be the one one to get facet skirts and entrance bumper skirts. The latter consists of two items of add-ons on the corners of the entrance bumpers, versus a full width piece. Together with the facet skirts, it offers the Saga barely lowered look.
However, the rear bumper has been left alone and there aren’t any facet add-ons on the again, so it’s not fairly a full bodykit. The neat bootlid spoiler has been on each variant of the 2019 Saga, and so is the case right here.
Only the Premium S will get a black quantity plate garnish for the Proton script to take a seat on; it’s physique colored for the remainder. Speaking of black paint, the wing mirrors at the moment are in that as an alternative of physique color. On the Standard, the mirror caps and door handles are additionally in black, however that’s as a result of they’re unpainted plastic.
Lastly, rims. The 2022 Saga will get a placing set of 15-inch alloys. The two-tone wheel design has many spokes, however solely 4 are picked out in brilliant silver for a “four-spoke look”. This look is reserved for the Premium S – the Premium truly has the identical wheel, but it surely seems much more “regular” in single-tone. The Standard AT carries over the identical 14-inch alloys whereas the Standard MT will get metal wheels with caps.
Both wheel sizes include Atlas AS380 tyres – 175/65 for the 14″ and 185/55 for the 15″. Atlas is a model of China’s Linglong Tire. Proton says that the brand new tyres scale back street noise and enhance grip, whereas damping charges have been revised for higher journey consolation and dealing with.
Interior adjustments
The inside adjustments could be extra significant. Proton has given the Saga’s centre console one other redesign. Compared to the outgoing model, the phone slot below the central AC vents are gone, changed by a a lot bigger cubby subsequent to the 12V socket and USB port. This format must be higher for telephone charging – at current, the wire must “climb a few floors” and a charging telephone that juts out excessive within the console is unpleasant.
The higher utilisation of house continues on the cupholder space, which now will get an additional storage pad. Also new is the air conditioning management panel, which has two Iriz/Persona-style knobs and two buttons within the center. Unlike the B-segment duo, there’s no show or piano-type keys right here (no air movement adjustment too), but it surely seems a lot better than the previous three-knob layout.
Interestingly, solely the Premium S will get a brand new infotainment system. Still with a 7.0-inch touchscreen, it will get a brand new OS with new graphics, a barely totally different residence display, a Proton emblem residence button and Perodua-style ‘please check your belongings’ reminder display if you flip off the automotive. For smartphone integration, it helps Android and iOS. Note that the connection is by way of display mirroring and never Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.
The Premium’s touchscreen system is carried over, with solely Android connectivity. Both are hooked as much as 4 audio system (two audio system for Standard’s screenless head unit), however solely the Premium S display bezel is in black (silver for Premium). Elsewhere, the steering wheel will get a brand new airbag boss with the brand new Proton emblem.
Red bits for the brand new Premium S
You received’t mistake the Premium S inside for another Saga variant’s, because of the distinguished crimson highlights on the AC vent frames (facet and central, together with directional tabs) and meter rings. The tiny button borders on the AC management panel and steering buttons are additionally in crimson.
Coloured meter rings aren’t a brand new concept for the Saga – the Anniversary Edition from 2020 had yellow rings plus yellow highlights on the air conditioning vents and centre stack, however the MC2 goes additional with its crimson. Exclusive to the Premium S is leatherette wrap on the steering and semi-leatherette seats – the stitching on these are crimson, as are the piping for the ground mats.
All the crimson sprint bits are silver within the Premium and unpainted (black) within the Standard. The full-material seat covers for each these variants are carried over – they’re monotone, however the Premium will get a refined quilted sample.
Convenience options
Saga house owners can lastly get a style of keyless entry with push begin, however that’s solely accessible on the Premium S. The begin-cease button is on the decrease proper of the steering wheel, subsequent to the place the keyhole is on the Standard/Premium.
The vary-topper can also be the one 2022 Saga to have an auto-down driver’s energy window and auto-folding wing mirrors (digital adjustment is commonplace). It’s not talked about within the spec sheet, however the Premium S will get an exterior boot launch button. As for the opposite variants, one can open the boot from the within of the automotive, or by way of the important thing fob.
Let’s run via the spec sheet. The Standard will get electrical facet mirrors, the above-talked about boot launch button on the distant, tilt-adjustable steering, Eco drive help, energy home windows, driver’s seat peak adjuster (knob), fold down rear seats, AC with N95 cabin filter, a 12V energy socket, Bluetooth and rear parking sensors. The MT will get just one entrance USB port, however the AT has three (one entrance, two rear).
The Premium will likely be the place it begins for some, because it provides on LED daytime operating lights, 15-inch alloys, a baggage lamp, the talked about carryover 7.0-inch touchscreen with reverse digicam, steering buttons and entrance parking sensors.
Going for the highest Premium S will get you all the brand new options detailed above plus a full-black cabin. It’s all darkish, from the seats to the headlining (together with the map lamp housing and seize handles), however it’s as if Proton forgot to black out the B pillars and seatbelt heads, that are in mild gray (entrance and rear pillars are black).
In the security division, two airbags plus ABS/EBD/BA and rear seat Isofix little one seat mounts are commonplace throughout the board. Electronic stability management (ESC) and hill maintain help – beforehand unique to the Premium – at the moment are commonplace from the Standard AT onwards. As talked about, reverse digicam and entrance parking sensors begin from the Premium. Autonomous emergency braking will not be accessible.
To sum it up, the 2022 Proton Saga MC2 is just about the identical automotive as earlier than, save for a brand new emblem and a rearranged centre console. ESC has been introduced right down to the Standard AT degree, whereas the Premium is essentially unchanged (no extra two-tone wheels). All the headlining new tools are reserved for the brand new Premium S, which will get the flashy wheels, semi-bodykit, all-black inside with crimson accents, keyless entry/push begin and up to date infotainment, amongst different issues. Boot popper and auto-fold wing mirrors too.
No change in accessible colors, that are Snow White, Armoured Silver, Jet Grey, Rosewood Maroon (purple) and Ruby Red. The Standard might be had in all colors aside from Ruby Red, the Premium is obtainable in all 5 colors, whereas Premium S consumers can solely select from silver, gray and crimson.
The 2022 Saga vary begins from RM34,400 for the Standard MT and RM38,300 for the Standard AT. The Premium is priced at RM41,300 whereas the brand new Premium S with all of the bells and whistles is yours for RM44,300. All are OTR with out insurance coverage, with SST exemption. Specs and galleries of all three grades beneath.
2022 Proton Saga Standard MT – RM34,400
Gets as commonplace:
Mechanicals
- 1.3 litre VVT DOHC engine
- 1,332 cc naturally-aspirated 4-cylinder petrol
- 95 PS at 5,750 rpm, 120 Nm at 4,000 rpm
- Five-speed handbook transmission
- Ventilated brake discs (entrance), drums (rear)
Exterior
- Halogen reflector headlights
- 14-inch metal wheels with 175/65-part tyres
- Power-adjustable door mirrors with handbook fold
- Wing mirror flip indicators
- Bee sting antenna
- Remote trunk launch
Interior
- New centre console, new AC management panel
- Urethane steering wheel, tilt adjustable
- LCD multi-information show
- ECO drive help mild
- Power home windows
- Black material seats with handbook adjustment
- Folding rear bench
- Manual air-con with N95 cabin filter
- Radio with Bluetooth connectivity
- Two audio system
- One entrance USB port
- One 12V energy socket
Safety
- Dual airbags
- ABS with EBD and brake help
- Rear ISOFIX little one seat anchors
- Rear parking sensors
2022 Proton Saga Standard AT – RM38,300
Adds on:
Mechanicals
- Four-speed computerized transmission
Exterior
- 14-inch alloy wheels with 175/65-part tyres
Interior
Safety
- Electronic stability management
- Traction management
- Hill maintain help
2022 Proton Saga Premium – RM41,300
Adds on:
Exterior
- LED daytime operating lights
- 15-inch alloy wheels with 185/55-part tyres
- Black B-pillar trim
- Black-painted wing mirror caps
- Body-colour door handles
Interior
- Multifunction urethane steering wheel
- Fabric seat upholstery with quilted sample
- 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android telephone connectivity
- Four audio system
- Boot lamp
Safety
- Front parking sensors
- Reverse digicam
2022 Proton Saga Premium S – RM44,300
Adds on:
Exterior
- 15-inch two-tone alloy wheels with 185/55-part tyres
- Front bumper skirts
- Side skirts
- Red ‘Ethereal Bow’ strip on grille
- Black rear quantity plate garnish
- Auto-fold wing mirrors
- Keyless entry with boot launch button
Interior
- Leatherette steering wheel with crimson stitching
- Leatherette-fabric seats
- Push begin button
- Driver’s facet auto down energy window
- Red meter rings, AC vent borders, steering/AC button trim
- Black headlining and pillars
- New 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android/iOS telephone connectivity
GALLERY: 2022 Proton Saga Premium S
GALLERY: 2022 Proton Saga Premium
GALLERY: 2022 Proton Saga Standard AT
