KUALA LUMPUR: Proton's renewed A-segment icon has already made waves in the market despite just launching over a week ago.
The 2026 Saga had already amassed over 20,000 bookings even before its price was announced at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) in Kuala Lumpur.
Granted there were already expectations, those numbers are still no less impressive amidst a heated market.
The four-door sedan comes in three variants of Standard, Executive, and Premium.
This could easily boil down to its attractive on-the-road without insurance price starting at RM38,990 for the Standard, RM44,900 (Executive) and RM49,990 (Premium).
Proton is also giving an early bird special rebate of RM1,000.
All three are available in Marine Blue, Space Grey, Ruby Red, Armour Silver and Snow White.
Every purchase is accompanied by a five-year or 150,000km mileage warranty and three times free labour services under the Pro-Warranty programme.
As part of the Saga’s comprehensive launch package, customers can choose either to make use of the Pro-Trade-in overtrade support of up to RM1,500 when trading in their existing vehicles, or Pro-Xchange which provides RM2,000 support for the deregistration of non-roadworthy trade-in vehicles.
There’s also the Pro-Finance scheme that offers financing rates starting from 2.6%.
Customers who opt for Proton’s Pro-Shield insurance programme will receive upgraded protection that includes Special Perils coverage, enhanced flood relief coverage of up to RM2,000, and passenger personal accident coverage of up to RM15,000 per person up to four passengers.
These launch package benefits, valid for customers who register their vehicle until Dec 31 this year, come in addition to existing advantages such as betterment waiver up to 10 years, agreed-value protection, all-driver coverage, key replacement, personal accident coverage for policyholder, and 24-hour roadside assistance.
Built on Proton’s Advanced Modular Architecture (AMA) platform, the new Saga which is also dubbed the MC3 comes with at least 35 all-new features for the model.
By far the biggest addition to the Saga is the new i-GT 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) that is exclusive to the Premium variant.
Both Standard and Executive variants also get the new engine but miss out on the CVT and instead comes with four-speed automatic transmission (4AT).
The car’s fuel consumption has been rated at just 4.9 litres/100km based on the Malaysia Driving Cycle (MDC) with the CVT setup while the 4AT’s is 5.1 litres/100km.
Both powertrain combination are said to deliver a maximum power of 120PS and 150Nm of torque.
Electric Power Steering (EPS) now comes as standard and the model itself has been given a minor re-tuned for improved manoeuvrability over the predecessor.
Another huge update found in the Executive and Premium variants is the cabin’s new 16-inch Integrated Dual Screen, which merges the digital instrument cluster and infotainment display, and its compatibility with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay (AACP).
Then there’s the presence of the Level 1 Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) that is only available to the six-airbags Premium variant – only two airbags for the Standard and Premium choices.
The system offers nine intelligent safety functions including Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Rear Collision Warning (RCW), Door Opening Warning (DOW), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Change Assist (LCA), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Intelligent High Beam Control (IHBC), and Front Departure Alert (FDA).
These functions work in tandem with the car’s Proton Reinforced Safety Structure (RESS) with Hot Press Forming (HPF) components, earning it a four-star Asean NCAP rating.
The car’s exterior, mainly in the Premium variant, is highlighted by its new bold front grille with “Sulaman Songket” motif that is flanked by full LED projector headlamps with daytime running lights (DRL), two-tone 15-inch alloy wheels and a full LED taillight bar at the rear.
The Standard variant loses out on DRLs and comes with 14-inch allow wheels.
Leatherette interior materials are also only exclusive to the Premium while the other two get fabric.
Currently the Saga is the only local A-segment model to come with AACP and a 1.5-litre engine.
