2025 Proton Saga 1.5 Premium CVT Review

In Malaysia's A-segment sedan market, consumers are always looking for a balanced choice—meeting the practicality of daily commuting without compromising on safety features. The 2025 Proton Saga 1.5 Premium CVT, positioned as the high-end variant of the brand's facelifted model, boasts 120PS power, 6 airbags, and a full suite of active safety systems as its core selling points. This makes us curious whether it can stand out in its price range. This test drive focuses on verifying whether its static quality, dynamic performance meet expectations, and if the key features genuinely enhance daily usability.

The exterior design follows Proton's family style, with overall lines leaning towards a steady and practical look, making it suitable for family-oriented consumers. The front fascia features a large blacked-out grille, complemented by chrome trim connected to the LED headlights on both sides, enhancing its visual width. The shoulder lines along the sides of the body stretch from the front fender to the taillights, paired with 15-inch multi-spoke rims for a clean and non-bulky design. At the rear, the LED taillights adopt a through-type design, which, although not entirely connected, provides high recognition when lit. A black skid plate under the rear bumper adds a touch of sportiness. In terms of details, automatic headlights and daytime running lights come standard, meeting daily usage needs.

Stepping inside, the interior uses black as the main tone, with the dashboard featuring soft-touch materials and silver trim, placing its quality at a mid-level within its class. A 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system is positioned atop the dashboard, providing decent operation fluency and supporting Bluetooth connectivity. However, it lacks CarPlay or Android Auto support, which is slightly disappointing. The instrument cluster uses analog dials with electronic backlighting, displaying clear information such as RPM, speed, and fuel level. For features, keyless entry, push-start ignition, and a multifunction steering wheel all come as standard. The front row also offers a 220V power socket for connecting devices conveniently. Seats are manually adjustable with average contouring, but the cushions are soft enough to ensure comfort even during extended use.

The space performance aligns with its A-segment positioning, with a wheelbase of 2465mm. When a 175cm tall passenger is seated in the front row, there is a headroom clearance of one fist. Similarly, with a 175cm passenger in the rear, there is about two fists of legroom and four fingers of headroom, which is sufficient for short family trips. The trunk offers a capacity of 420L, and the rear seats can be folded down to extend storage space, making it relatively easy to accommodate a stroller or suitcase. In terms of storage details, the front and rear door panels can hold two bottles of water, while the central armrest and glove compartments offer adequate space for daily small items.

In terms of performance, it is equipped with a 1.5L naturally aspirated engine, delivering a maximum power output of 88kW (120PS) and maximum torque of 150N·m, paired with a CVT gearbox. Acceleration response is gentle during initial starts, suitable for city commuting. Pressing the accelerator more deeply raises the RPM above 4000, which noticeably releases torque, though advance planning is required for overtaking. There are only two driving modes: Economy and Normal. In Economy mode, the throttle pedal sensitivity decreases, and the RPM stays below 2000, suitable for fuel-efficient driving. Normal mode delivers more direct power output, meeting the occasional need for acceleration.

The handling emphasizes comfort, with a light steering effort and minimal dead zones, making low-speed parking or high-speed lane changing quite nimble. The suspension system consists of a front MacPherson strut and rear torsion beam, which effectively absorbs most small bumps when crossing speed bumps or uneven road surfaces in urban areas. However, rear passengers may feel slight jolts. During cornering, body roll is kept within a reasonable range without significant swaying, and overall stability is commendable. As for braking, the combination of front ventilated discs and rear drum brakes provides linear feedback on the brake pedal. During emergency braking, the vehicle remains stable, with an actual 100 km/h braking distance of approximately 40 meters, which meets the standard for family vehicles.

The fuel consumption performance is commendable. The official combined fuel consumption is 6.7L/100km. This test drive, which covered both urban traffic and highway sections, resulted in an actual fuel consumption of about 7.2L/100km. Considering the vehicle's weight of 1,085 kg, this performance is fairly average. In terms of noise control, the cabin noise at idle is about 45 dB. At a speed of 80 km/h, wind and tire noise are not noticeable, while at a speed of 120 km/h, wind noise slightly increases but does not affect normal conversations. Overall, the NVH performance meets the standard for its segment.

In summary, the core advantage of the 2025 Proton Saga 1.5 Premium CVT lies in its safety features—six airbags, vehicle stability control, lane departure warning, and active braking are all standard, which is rare among models in the same price range (about RM48,990) and more comprehensive than the high-end version of the Perodua Bezza. Additionally, the spaciousness and fuel efficiency also meet the needs of family users. However, minor details such as the infotainment screen not supporting smartphone connectivity and manual seat adjustments appear to be lacking.

This car is suitable for family users who prioritize safety and practicality, particularly those with a limited budget but unwilling to compromise on safety features. It can easily handle daily commuting and short trips on weekends. Although power is not its strong suit, its well-rounded performance is sufficient to cover most usage scenarios. Overall, it is a "jack-of-all-trades" family car with no significant shortcomings, and its safety features are its biggest highlight.