Proton Gen2

Auto Express Car Reviews

Rating:
On the road price: £8,995 - £10,795
For : Tidy handling, neat looks, inexpensive
Against : Nasty interior, brand, not cheap enough

With an ancient and limited model range Proton has long suffered as a small player in the hotly contested budget market. Rivals like Hyundai and Kia are now mentioned in the same breath as mainstream makers, but mention Proton and few will have heard of them. The company hopes to change this with this car, the Gen2. It's little known that Proton owns Lotus, and the Norfolk company has been involved in developing the Gen2 from the start. That means the Gen2 should drive well, and it does, body control ride and handling all highlighting Lotus' involvement. The ride is composed and the handling surefooted, only the lifeless steering letting down what is otherwise an enjoyable drive. With a respectable 110bhp from its single 1.6-litre engine choice, the performance is brisk, though refinement suffers when you rev it hard as you need to for it to produce its best.

Without a familiar range to use as a styling reference point Proton has a free hand in designing the Gen2, and although there's hints of several rivals models in its looks overall it works quite well. Add in competitive pricing and it all starts to look rather promising for the smart hatchback. However, there's a downside - the interior. While it's neatly designed, the materials feel particularly cheap, with rough edges, and shoddy fitting. It's here that the Proton really reveals its budget status, letting down what is otherwise a competent enough hatchback. The poor interior, allied to the very limited (two model, single engine choice) range, and stiff competition from not just budget rivals but mainstream manufacturers too, means that the Gen2 isn't likely to make a huge impact in the UK.