Proton Gen 2 manual
July 2005
LIKES
Body style
Handling/Steering
Luggage space
Proton’s toehold in the market may be
slender, but its Gen 2 range might just be the
lever to boost the Malaysian marque’s image.
The new car’s attractive styling dispenses with
the ‘hand me down’ look of previous models,
and is certainly an attention getter. Proton’s
ownership of Lotus wasn’t wasted either. The
iconic sports car maker provided some
engineering input, lending an added dash of
‘street cred’.
VALUE FOR MONEY
PRICING
There are three variants of the Gen 2,
starting with the L-Line - $17,990, our test car
the M -Line - $19,500 and the range topping H-
Line at $20,990. Automatic versions cost an
extra $2,000.
STANDARD FEATURES
M -Line equipment includes air-conditioning,
power steering, 15” alloy wheels, remote
central locking, power windows, CD player
and trip computer. Options include 17” alloy
wheels ($1,795), bodykit ($2,500), metallic
paint ($350), rear spoiler ($695) and sports
suspension ($1,184).
DESIGN & FUNCTION
SPACE & PRACTICALITY
There’s generous room for the driver and
front seat passenger, but anyone in the rear
needs to contend with limited headroom
thanks to the sloping, low roofline. Trying to
find a secure home for knick knacks poses a
problem as the Gen 2 doesn’t have a glovebox.
Narrow trays on the dash and door pockets
will have to do. Fortunately the luggage area is
usefully large, and the 60:40 rear seat folds
completely flat to accommodate any overflow.
COMFORT
Getting comfortable in the small front
buckets can be an issue. Rather than sinking
into the cushion, the firm padding tends to
push you out of the seat. Lateral support was
also minimal and on longer trips you feel like
you’re teetering on the seat, not supported by
it. The rear seat is well shaped but the short
cushion limits comfort, fortunately there is
plenty of footspace available.
ERGONOMICS
Initially the dash layout looks very
European, with the instruments housed in two
deep binnacles, but that’s where any similarity
ends. First there are the poorly located
ventilation controls sitting vertically under the
Call Technical Advice on 1300 655 443 for additional information on this vehicle, and for other automotive advice.
www.mynrma.com.au
Report No. 750, by NRMA Motoring Information Services
DISLIKES
Ergonomics
Firm seats
Cheap looking plastics
central dash. Next is the audio system.
Operated by a series of small buttons
surrounding a circular display it may have
looked striking on paper, but is confusing in
practice. Fortunately the wheel mounted
switches are more user friendly.
A tall glasshouse and low set dashboard add
to the car’s roomy feel and while forward
vision is excellent, the high tail can make
reversing a guessing game.
SAFETY
Standard safety features include dual front
airbags and ABS brakes. Currently the car has
not been assessed by the ANCAP or Euro-
NCAP crash test facilities.
BUILD QUALITY & FINISH
Our car’s metallic bronze paintwork and
beige interior certainly turned a few heads
during testing. While the colour was dazzling,
the paint had obvious orange peel and
differing textures between metal and plastic
panels. Inside the numerous plastic pieces also
differed in colour and surface finish.
SECURITY
At this stage the Gen 2’s theft rating has not
been assessed by NRMA Insurance.
ON THE ROAD
FUEL
Based on Government Green Guide figures
the Proton’s average fuel economy of
7.2l/100km puts it around the middle of the
pack, but its PULP fuel requirement may
dissuade price sensitive buyers.
PERFORMANCE
With 82kW on tap the Gen 2 offers
acceptable performance, but the car’s tallish
gearing works against it. Under 4000rpm it
feels a bit breathless and you need to work the
engine to get the most from it.
RIDE
No doubt Proton have let Lotus look at the
Gen 2’s underpinnings. Across our test routes’
‘give and take’ surfaces, it provided a very
composed ride, and as the speed picked up the
more it smoothed out. Slower city speeds
meant things became a bit bumpier, but not
uncomfortable.
HANDLING & STEERING
Another area of Lotus influence is the car’s
agile handling. The steering isn’t a great
communicator, but its light weight and
directness complement the chassis’ nimble
character.
. BRAKING
Equipped with four wheel discs, the Gen 2’s
stopping power is par for the course in this
or visit
.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
ENGINE
Type..............................DOHC four cylinder
Capacity in litres...................................1,597
Induction................Electronic Fuel Injection
Fuel recommendation ..........................PULP
Claimed max. power.......82kW @ 6,000rpm
Claimed max. torque.... 148Nm @ 4,000rpm
TRANSMISSION
Type.................................Five speed manual
Driving wheels ......................................Front
WHEELS ........................... Alloy 15” x 6.5”
Tyres ...................Sime Asta 195/55R15 84V
Spare ...........................................Space saver
STEERING
Type................Power assisted rack & pinion
Turns lock to lock.....................................2.7
Turning circle.......................................11.8m
DIMENSIONS
Mass...................................................1165kg
Length..............................................4310mm
Width (incl. mirrors 1920mm).........1725mm
Height ..............................................1435mm
Ground clearance (measured) ............140mm
Seating capacity...........................................5
Fuel tank capacity.............................50 litres
TOWING
Max. towed mass (trailer plus load)....1000kg
NRMA THEFT RATING
Points on 0-120 scale (high score best).....TBA
WARRANTY..................3yr / unlimited km
MANUFACTURED IN .................Malaysia
TEST RESULTS
ACCELERATION
50 - 80 km/h (in 3rd)...........................6.5 sec
60 -100 km/h (in 3rd)..........................8.2 sec
0 -80 km/h...........................................7.8 sec
0 - 100 km/h......................................12.4 sec
0 - 400 metres ...................................18.2 sec
FUEL CONSUMPTION (litres/100 km)
Average ADR 81/01 .................................7.2
BRAKING
Distance to stop from 80 km/h....24.6 metres
NOISE
Interior at constant 80 km/h......... 67.7dB(A)
Test vehicle supplied by
Proton Cars Australia
www.proton.com.au
category, but the pedal provides little
feedback.
SMOOTHNESS & QUIETNESS
On the move there is noticeable tyre noise,
and the powerplant’s buzzy nature becomes
prominent as the revs rise. A lack of strong
mid range torque also means plenty of
opportunity to use the notchy gearshift. It’s
direct enough, but it can be baulky.

SUMMARY:
Good looking, and easy to drive the Proton’s
best feature is its chassis. But even at this price
conscious end of the market buyers expect a
certain level of refinement that the Gen 2
doesn’t provide.