WE LIKE
1. Tidy front-end design
2. Supportive seats
3. Did we mention the front-end design?
WE DON'T LIKE
1. Gutless, thrashy engine
2. Awful driving experience
3. Pretty much everything else
Proton is moving away from its origins as a manufacturer of cast-off Mitsubishi designs. The Savvy is a completely new supermini that has been designed and engineered entirely by the Malaysian company, with a little bit of help from subsidiary company, Lotus. That sounds admirably ambitious, but it does depend on being familiar with modern design standards.
The headline-grabbing prices are certainly enough to win the Savvy attention - and the design isn't completely displeasing, either. Certainly not at the front, where the bold grille and characterful headlamps give the Savvy plenty of character. Which makes the weak design of the back of the Savvy even more disappointing - the centre exhaust just looks ludicrous.
The interior features plenty of modern design cues, but quality falls woefully short of what European buyers expect from a modern supermini. The plastics feel cheap and insubstantial, exposed screwheads are everywhere, the steering wheel feels greasy to the touch and the heater controls are set far too low. Seats are reasonably supportive and there's a decent range of driving position adjustment, but the rear seats lack headroom because of the pointless slope taken by the roof. The boot is small by modern supermini standards too.
The 1.1 litre petrol engine is a former Renault unit, but poor installation in the Savvy gives it truly dreadful refinement, the whiney, thrashy noise never abating and power poorly modulated through the jerky throttle and high-biting clutch. The heavy, inaccurate gearbox makes driving even more of a chore.
But worst of all is the chassis, which manages to do a decent impression of a small boat - rolling with sickening ease under the smallest steering inputs. Body control is dreadful, the Savvy wallowing over bumps and undulations - with far too much vertical motion building up to give any impression of comfort.
Against superior bargain rivals like the Kia Picanto, the Savvy feels almost embarrassingly off the pace.
D192
Average
User reviews (11)
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John Hamill25 September 2009
What a farce Fifth Gears online reviews are! Not only do I and my partner have Savvys, and completely disagree with all the above, but so does the Fifth gear TV show! Not only does it win the test, it is praised numerous times directly contradicting the above. Copy the link below and see for yourself! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5C077bjslQ The Savvy is a tremendous car!
Report as inappropriateaouwp22 October 2009
If the performance are better, I would definitely love this car... The styling is unique, except for the rear. It's cute on it's own way...
Report as inappropriateGIDEON21 June 2010
I THINK THE SAVVY LOOKS GOOD AND VERY SEXY I DO NOT GIVE A DAMN ABOUT REVIEWERS PERSONAL TASTE
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Beum14 September 2010
Just test-drove one. We've had Protons as second cars before when on a tight budget. One thing to praise them for is that in our experience they never break down. Yes, the plastics are from containers recovered from the bins of your local Chinese takeaway. Yes, the engine is coarse and the ride fidgety. But as a second-hand car somebody else takes the big depreciation hit and you get a cheap runabout. Two years old, still under warranty and just under 4 grand. There's a market for that. You can't pretend it's what it isn't, but you can't slate it for what it is either.
Report as inappropriatephil12 October 2010
I have had three protons and just taken delivery of a brand new metallic black savvy style manual, 100% improvement on the earlier models, gone is the poor finished interior, exterior vastly improved, after trying various cars in that price range I have no doubt it cannot be beaten and the drive/handling is superb, also got 3 years free servicing aswell as an unbeatable warranty and breakdown cover! A new review is more than overdue! Great service from Melplace at brent cross-credit where credits due!!
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CarExpertise12318 August 2011
What a dreadfull car it is : Ugly, bad for the enviroment, over priced, rubbish performance and terrible handling. Over all this is aawful car
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