Yes, there is yet another facelift for Saga coming in a few weeks time
It seems like it was just very recently that Proton and Geely Auto launched a face-lifted Saga with features to challenge its only and immediate rival, the Perodua Bezza. It was in August 2019 that the current Saga (pictured below) was launched in a few variants and it was priced from RM39,800.
With the promise of a more reliable and easy to maintain drivetrain, this revised Saga was well received until Perodua launched a revised Bezza with added safety and comfort features in March 2020.
Still, Proton showrooms managed to move quite a number of units of this Saga as the middle class market shrunk and with no other rival for this exclusive segment (well both brands are Malaysian national cars and they both enjoy preferential tax).
So, why is Proton and Geely releasing yet another facelift of the Saga? Well, with most of the research and development costs covered and as the segment continues to enjoy brisk sales as ride sharing, e-hailing and car leasing gets more popular with lower income car buyers, it might be the right time.
Plus, there is plug-in hybrid Proton on its way and also an all new Persona (this news we will share soon) which means there will be more for Proton dealers to ‘push’ out.
So, will the revised Saga get the engine that is supplied to the ‘export’ model Saga? Well, the smaller capacity engine used in the export Saga was done to get a better import tax for ‘eco-friendly’ cars which is required in these markets.
The revised 2022 Saga will retain the 1,332cc four-cylinder VVT engine that makes 94hp at 5,750 rpm and useable 120Nm at 4,000 rpm. The current selling price starts from RM32,800 for the Standard manual gearbox variant to RM39,800 for the Premium automatic gearbox variant.
We are sure with a slight nip and tuck and the features in the Premium model Saga being shared with the Standard model, Proton and Geely Auto management will also bring down the selling prices to give added interest to budget conscious car buyers.
There might also be an updated infotainment system to keep ahead of the Bezza which will be easy to incorporate as the Iriz and Persona are already using an updated version.
Then, the seats and door panels might get an upgrade with leatherette seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel to add a touch of luxury to the cabin of this compact sedan.
Finally, a few stickers ‘here’ and ‘there’ on the body with a limited edition colour, like they did in early 2021 will get some Malaysians excited enough to rush into the showroom to buy one.
