This week Nicholas reviews the Proton Savvy. Read Nicholas’ other reviews. Ed
At £7,995 on the road, this Proton Savvy is one of the cheapest ways of getting a brand new car on your driveway.
You get a three year warranty, electric windows, twin airbags, a CD player and rear parking sensors – but all of that comes in one of the worst cars I’ve driven in ages.
Fell apart
Whilst it’s cheap, has plenty of kit and is an attractive design, everything else falls apart under scrutiny – quite literally, in the case of the plastic steering wheel and other offensive bits of cabin trim.
By 50mph, wind and road noise becomes an intrusive boom that rules out relaxed motorway driving and the poor stereo can do nothing to hide the thrashy engine.
The ride is adequate but is awful at lower speeds, thumping into potholes in town.
Engine power not bad
The engine gives 75bhp for 49mpg, which isn’t actually too bad for a 1.2, and if the car has a redeeming feature it is that the handling and grip levels easily contain the engine’s output.
It isn’t a fun car to drive round corners however – it is stiff enough but the steering doesn’t inspire too much confidence.
It feels cheap not cheerful
It’s not an entirely unpleasant car, but it feels cheap not cheerful. Service intervals are too frequent, insurance costs too high and residual values pitiful.
Tragically for Proton, it isn’t cheap enough – rivals like the Renault Twingo and VW Fox start at about the same price, and will hold their value more, and, are in a different league for refinement and build quality.
Summary
Better than a bus. 4/10
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