Proton Persona Review
11-August-2008
- Vital Stats
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$16,990 - $18,990
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Unleaded
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Golf-bag/double-pram big! HUGE!
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4
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The Persona only uses 6.6. litres of fuel per 100km
The Proton Persona offers amazing value for families who want an affordable, fuel-efficient, 5-seater sedan with loads of boot space and a few spiffy features you'd expect from a $30,000+ car. It's fantastic value for money.
Features
We're talking reverse sensors, an alarm, auto locking (be careful, it's quite the random noise and caused me to jump a few times!), audio system controls on the steering wheel, 15-inch alloy wheels, height-adjustable driver's seat, beeping noises if you leave your keys in the ignition while the driver's door is open, plus you get 24-hour roadside assistance for 3 years as a bonus. You just don't usually get those kind of features in a car of this price ($16,990).
How it drives
Now I'm not one to like sedans but this one doesn't feel like one to drive. It has solid steering and feels light and compact – like a Kia Rio hatchback, which is fantastic considering the size difference.
The gear shift knob is bowling-ball smooth and round, and the gear shifts are a little chonky/"if you can't find 'em, grind 'em" and it's sometimes a bit "click – pause – click" to get it into gear. At times I had to forcefully shove it into gear as it didn't want to glide.
As for brakes, they're not mega sensitive, which is quite good as you don't get mild whiplash just from stopping at the lights like you do with other 'touchy' cars.
Parking
Say hello to reverse parking sensors! When you shift into reverse, there's a shrill beep and then it kicks into reverse sensor mode, beeping fast repeatedly if you're in danger's way of hitting something. Love!
Visibility
One mega bone to pick with this car is that mirror and rear-view visibility is appalling. We're talking Oakley sunnies of side-car mirrors when what we need is Victoria Beckham-style huge-ies. The view out the rear window is just as bad – there's this cargo cover that is on a 45-degree angle, covering about half of your usual viewing space in the rear-view mirror. I felt nervous changing lanes as even if you physically turn your head and look behind, you still can't see much more.
Interior 
To be honest, there's a Tupperware-party-'plastic' feeling in here, and the rear-view mirror feels so flimsy that when adjusting it, I thought it was going to do a Gumby and bend off. We all know how much women love mirrors so it's important to get them right!
I also found the sound system and air con, etc. dashboard controls hard to understand. You have to reach down low, and twist round dials; and there are small push-buttons for rear-demist, hazard lights and more that didn't seem to do anything when I pressed them (they actually did, but I couldn't tell because I couldn't see the button's feint backlight in daylight. In the dark, I could though). Proton say they're fixing this issue for future models.
Comfort
The seats are quite comfortable; there's also air con, power steering, power windows, a 4-speaker sound system with controls on the steering wheel as well as on the dash, 4 cupholders (2 in the front and 2 that fold-out in the back) and 2 full-lower-arm rests moulded into the doors, each about 3cm thick and perfect for resting your elbow on at the lights.
Storage
There's a mammothly deep centre console which inadvertently doubles as an armrest, and the boot is HUGE! Definitely fits golf bags, prams, double-prams, folded-up desks and more. The rear seats fold back too for extra space.
Mum factor
Auto and central locking keeps those doors shut and curious children inside, the boot can fit a large pram plus more, plus there are child restraint anchor points, and a deep centre console that can store bottles as it's pretty deep.
Safety & security
The Persona hasn't been rated by Australia's car safety authority ANCAP (www.ancap.com.au) so we can't give it an official score. But we can tell you that it has dual airbags, ABS (anti-lock brakes), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), pre-tensioning front seatbelts, front and rear fog lights, auto-locking, an alarm, and remote and central locking.
Colours
Choose from unique colours: aka 'Blueberry Tea' (mahogany/burgundy/purple) metallic (M), and Solid Red (which will rival Christina Aguilera's lippy any day), plus there's Solid White, Tranquility Black (M), Iridescent White (M), Metal Grey (M), and Light Gold (M).
Warranty
It comes with a 3 year/unlimited kilometre factory warranty and 7 year anti-corrosion warranty.
Fuel economy
Proton Persona fuel economy is absolutely amazing for a car this size! 6.6 litres of fuel will get you 100km. As a comparison, a hatch-back Hyundai Getz uses 6.1 litres, the teeny-tiny Nissan Micra uses 6.8, and the Toyota Aurion Presara sedan uses 9.9 litres – so this is one economical car.
Eco factor
The Australian Government's Green Vehicle Guide gives it 4/5 for eco-friendliness. It releases 157g of carbon dioxide per 100km – which is pretty low, especially for a car this size.
In brief
Best parts: amazing price for the features it has and for a car of its size, reverse sensors, auto locking when driving, large boot, compact feel, good fuel economy, and 15-inch alloy wheels.
Worst parts: plastic-y interior, and poor visibility with the mirrors and rear-view.
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