Proton GEN-2 Hatch (04 on) - Review Review by Matthew Proud on 05 September 2008 Last Updated: 01 June 2009 The GEN-2 replaced the slow-selling and elderly Wira and was an all-new design when it went on sale in 2004. But even at launch it felt at least a generation behind similar Kias and Hyundais - despite being more expensive - and has since undergone two facelifts. It does have one ace up its sleeve: buyers on a budget can cut their fuel bills in half with an ecoLogic model, which runs on petrol and cheaper LPG and comes at no extra cost to the standard 1.6-litre petrol. On the used market the GEN-2 is temptingly cheap, but buyers could snap up an older Focus or Astra (both of which are far superior) for the same price. Proton makes much out of the Lotus connection when it comes to GEN-2's ride and handling. But it's hard to see where its involvement has been: the ride is poor, it's lumpy to drive and it runs out of puff quickly. 2 out of 5 Other Proton reviews Summary Facts & Figures Equipment Driving & Performance Comfort Costs Safety & Reliability Buying & Selling Also Consider Company Car Info Owners' Reviews Gallery 2 out of 5 Summary Tweet New price range: £9,200 - £12,005 View all new prices Used price range: £1,224 - £7,702 View all used prices Get a Proton GEN-2 Hatch (04 on) information pack Next steps Proton GEN-2 Hatch cars for sale Use our cars for sale search facility to find great deals on second hand cars. We have 27 models like this for sale, starting at £1,495. Find used Proton GEN-2 Hatchs for sale Cheap to buy used, lower running costs with ecoLogic models Poor interior quality, dull to drive, high depreciation, sluggish performance, coarse engines The GEN-2 replaced the slow-selling and elderly Wira and was an all-new design when it went on sale in 2004. But even at launch it felt at least a generation behind similar Kias and Hyundais - despite being more expensive - and has since undergone two facelifts. It does have one ace up its sleeve: buyers on a budget can cut their fuel bills in half with an ecoLogic model, which runs on petrol and cheaper LPG and comes at no extra cost to the standard 1.6-litre petrol. On the used market the GEN-2 is temptingly cheap, but buyers could snap up an older Focus or Astra (both of which are far superior) for the same price. Proton makes much out of the Lotus connection when it comes to GEN-2's ride and handling. But it's hard to see where its involvement has been: the ride is poor, it's lumpy to drive and it runs out of puff quickly. Driving & Performance Performance 2.5 out of 5"The range starts with a 1.3-litre but with 94bhp it feels sluggish and sounds coarse when revved..." Handling 2 out of 5"Lotus (which is owned by Proton) was involved in the development of the GEN-2. But instead of..." Comfort Comfort 3 out of 5"The GEN-2 is quite roomy in the back for a car of this class. Legroom is good for two, though the..." Practicality 3.5 out of 5"With 460 litres of boot space the GEN-2 has a good sized load area that is considerably larger than..." Equipment 4 out of 5"The base-spec GL has driver and passenger airbags, alarm/ immobiliser, remote central locking,..." Behind the wheel 2 out of 5"For a car costing this much, buyers should expect a higher-quality interior than GEN-2 offers. From..." Costs Running costs 2.5 out of 5"Some GEN-2 models could half in value in the first year alone and this price slump should alarm..." Green credentials 2.5 out of 5"Emissions are in-line with rivals. As the dual fuel ecoLogic runs on LPG, it has lower CO2 emissions..." Safety & Reliability Safety 3 out of 5"The GEN-2 range hasn’t been crash tested by Euro NCAP. But all models have driver and passenger..." Reliability 2.5 out of 5"Interior build quality is poor with too many pieces of trim coming loose, while interior plastics..." Buying & Selling Buying new 2 out of 5"Be prepared to travel as the Proton dealership network is quite small. Depreciation is likely to be..." Buying used 2 out of 5"A used GEN-2 should be very cheap to buy second-hand but be aware that it may be possible to buy an..." Selling 1 out of 5"Proton dealers are likely to be interested in newer models as they look for good quality used stock." Gallery View full gallery Owners' reviews Used Proton GEN-2 Hatch (04 on) 1.6 GSX 5d 4 out of 5 “ plenty of room fuel economy . average 40mpg ” Tony Adams Car Valuations Find used car prices with Parkers accurate car valuations. Find out more Proton GEN-2 cars for sale We have 27 models like this for sale. Find Proton GEN-2 cars for sale Next: Facts & Figures
Used Proton GEN-2 Hatch (04 on) 1.6 GSX 5d 4 out of 5 “ plenty of room fuel economy . average 40mpg ” Tony Adams