Proton Persona

Launched: Proton Persona

Wheels Magazine
July, 2008

Will Proton ever be a force in the Australian market? That was the question on journalists' collective minds as they gathered at a chilled, snow-capped Mt Hotham for the launch of the Malaysian car maker's new small sedan.

The new Persona is no longer a recycled Lancer (as was the model sold here from 1997-2004), but a sedan version of Proton's own Gen-2 hatch; a car that we gave two stars and labelled a “work in progress” when it launched here in '05.

Pleasingly, though, it seems Proton have both worked and progressed, because many of the issues with Gen-2 have been addressed with Persona.

Example? Three years ago, a mid-spec Gen-2 M-Line cost $19,500. The new Persona is better equipped, yet costs $16,990. It's a bigger car than rival Barina, Accent, Rio and Yaris sedans (including a huge 430-litre boot) and features 15-inch alloy wheels, front fog lamps, trip computer, climate-control air, and even rear parking sensors, all rarely standard in this class.

Rare, too, is a multi-link rear suspension set-up, where its aforementioned competitors use a cheaper, less sophisticated torsion-beam arrangement.

Tellingly, and in concert with Lotus-tuned suspension and decent Goodyear Eagle NCT rubber (rather than the Gen-2's awful Sime Astars), the Persona proved an agreeable bit of gear over the bumpy backroads and challenging corners of our Victorian high-country drive.

There's a lovely sense of damping finesse over scarred and undulating bitumen, yet the Proton still feels planted and balanced when cornered hard. Although there is initial understeer, smudging the brake pedal mid-corner tightens its line, and allows a nicely controlled full-throttle exit.

Not that there's much beneath the throttle. Proton claims its 1.6-litre 82kW/148Nm Campro four delivers improved low-down torque over the Gen-2, but this is one area where improvement seems negligible. There's still a dreaded No Torque Zone below 3000rpm, and it requires frequent redline excursions to deliver. Which isn't too bad with the sweet-shifting five-speed manual, but is genuinely painful should you choose the slow-reacting $2K-optional four-speed auto.

Fit and finish is still not great either - especially the scratchy plastics - though design changes to Gen-2 mean the funky interior is more practical.

But back to that earlier question. In balancing bargain-hunter pragmatism with a decent dose of driving enjoyment, the new Proton Persona is a good thing that should be popular. Yet just 600 sales are forecast for '08. Proton now need to 'work and progress' on expanding its dealerships and marketing in Australia, for our answer to be an unreserved 'yes'.

More research
Proton Persona -- launch review: here

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