2008 Proton Persona Review
30 Sep, 2008
28 Comments 
When I said Proton could resemble Hyundai of the 1980s, I wasn’t literally referring to the ’80s, but the seat colour combination is definitely from another era, and it’s not the future.
The plastic steering wheel is about as comfortable as having a root canal and for a car that comes with no options, it’s simply not good enough. A steering wheel cover would be highly recommended.
My favourite part however, is the easily removable gearknob. Not only does it sometimes vibrate (much like the Savvy), but with absolutely no effort, it spins around. A few attempts were made to secure it back into its original position but alas, I had to do with reverse as my first gear (click on the pictures below to enlarge).
Before I get on to the engine, it’s best to mention the cruise control. Out of the box, the Persona has no cruise control (even as an option), but our test vehicle was retrofitted with one, sort of. The man from Proton gave me a big fancy explanation were he referred to the cruise control system as ‘experimental’. He then got one of the engineers to unplug it, as it could ‘potentially put the Persona in limp mode’ - right!
Now don’t get me wrong, I am all for going for the underdog, but a blind mechanical engineer invented cruise control systems in 1945, so Proton has had at least 60 years to work it out. Not good enough.
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(7 votes, average: 3.14 out of 5)
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September 30th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
This car is aimed for the grandparents out there. First, its cheap as you stated. Secondly a small engine that is economical to dash out to the shops, play pokies/bet on the horses, and to go to that pub meal once a week. It doesn\’t look half bad outside (quite modern), so it will be a talking point with family and friends for at least a year. However the interior as you pointed out is a joke, but this will appeal to the old folks as it will probably appeal to there taste.
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September 30th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Yes, it is a good one for the people who like to frequent the local bowling club but the sound system design is just plain stupid.
I would still be steering anyone I like well away from one of these…
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September 30th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
Are you saying you are driving around with three passengers in the car and you hit a small hill and you have to put it in first gear?
I find that hard to believe.
Come on it’s not that underpowered. Big steep hills maybe.
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October 1st, 2008 at 12:10 am
The Persona’s Interior would be a great contender for Top Gear Australia’s segment “What Were They Thinking?”, but apart from that it’s not a bad (cheap) car.
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October 1st, 2008 at 12:10 am
of course its decent money for the car. its subsidized heavily by the citizens of malaysia.
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October 1st, 2008 at 3:40 am
The interior layout for the stereo looks like one of those Mp3 players they sell for 10 quid at cheap shops. Doesnt look too bad from the outside though. Reminds me a bit of the first generation Vauxhall Vectra sedan but better.
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October 1st, 2008 at 3:45 am
This may seem like a useless comment and I suppose it is but I just thought id say that the AC controls are the same in a Yaris and that didn’t put a surprising amount of people off buying them. I hate it though.
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October 1st, 2008 at 4:08 am
My friends in Malaysia told me their Persona’s LUXURY package comes with Cruise Control, leather seat and even a navigator. But push the price to about RM 59 900 instead of base model of about RM 50 100… If not mistaken Persona is their first model to make cruise control into their production line (Although only as option). And Proton’s car in Malaysia NEVER had side airbags…
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October 1st, 2008 at 7:30 am
Proton is like holden a bit in there country of origin they are priced high or what people would expect for the zized car but once exproted they are half the price.Also In a toyota camry i sat in once the gear lever spun around as well [auto]
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October 1st, 2008 at 8:40 am
Wow, i think proton need a lesson on what people like in interiors have they herd of style and colour? Looks like if you want the 6 button on your 6 stacker CD player you will have to pay more. Good review i think you nailed it on the head. Protons are good mechanical cars but to live with on day in and day out its horrible.
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October 1st, 2008 at 9:15 am
When I first looked at the Gen 3 dash I thought 120y in plastic, obviously it hasn’t changed in the Persona. However I can say that in the market place as mentioned above they are actually good cars. I bought my Mum a 2nd hand Waja to replace her very old car (yes I do love her ;-)) and it is proving very good. My advice, wait till they’re 2nd hand and they are excellent value.
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October 1st, 2008 at 9:22 am
This reminds me of the first episode of Aust top gear,
Ambitious but rubbish..
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October 1st, 2008 at 9:58 am
when i see the words “proton” and “car” i run…i run very far and as fast as i can in the opposite direction
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October 1st, 2008 at 10:07 am
I cant help it, I don’t know why but for some sick reason (maybe because I used to listen to Roger Ramjet on the radio) I really like the Proton.
Yes it has some fit and finish issues but the chassis design and balance make for a top performer on the track, Proton please give it a 2.0ltr, 130Kw for the same price!!!!
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October 1st, 2008 at 10:07 am
Alborz, I’m going to give you a detention for suggesting that this might be a thing worth buying, and for daring to suggest it could keep up with a GTI you must unfortunately suffer the punishment of driving nothing else but this car for a year :)
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October 1st, 2008 at 10:07 am
Great way to test drive a car - put 4 adults inside and then see how it goes. Also it wouldn’t go astray to chuck 50kg of stuff in the boot. Adding weight here and there changes the dynamics of a car and by putting it through a real world test certainly reveals the weaknesses of many cars. Cars marketed as ‘family’ cars should also be tested towing a boat or caravan as well.
Proton offer nothing to the Australian market that it doesn’t already have. The cheap and nasty end of the market is sufficiently covered by Hyundai and Holdenwoo.
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October 1st, 2008 at 10:22 am
Persona. Considering it’s inability to carry any more than the driver, may I suggest a name change to:
APERSON
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October 1st, 2008 at 12:09 pm
I’ve had protons as rental cars in Malaysia,they’re cheap and nasty with big quality problems, but those were the previous models. Maybe if all the body panels and other unnecessary body parts fell off, it would help with the acceleration…
Alborz, like Reckless1 said, how can you compare this piece of junk to a Golf GTI???!!!
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October 1st, 2008 at 1:37 pm
They had there chance to get together with VW and let it slip away.
Its a nowhere brand everywhere in the world except in My. where its subsidized to the hilt.
Buy better for the same OR LESS, why bother with this orphan.
“ASIA’S ANWSER TO BMW” LOL, they are on drugs!
Cheers
F-0
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October 1st, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Asia’s answer to FIAT maybe, bad answer too.
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October 4th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Where is everyone that never stopped swearing at every Hyundai Kia thread? I always saw these people saying ‘Drive like shit’ ‘ a load of crap’. ALL of these folks gotta come here right now and begin their swearing job because this Malaysian car is really something that people would call a crap. If they don t, they re contradicting themselves because they ve always cursed and made fun of cars that have topped consumer surveys and beaten up their competitors in head-on road tests.
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October 7th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
I am not quit sure how to answer that Shinzitsu (bless you)
What is your question?
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October 8th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
God-d#mned mothers of left-handed orthodox ski-instructors can build better pieces of crap that this pile of junk. They are well and truly farked!
How’s that Ninjitsu?
Close to what you were hoping for?
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October 8th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Terrific review Alborz, job well done.
What else can you get for that money? A Barina that will kill everyone within a 100m radius in a little car park bingle?
With suspension by Lotus, throw in a bottle of NOS and some seat covers and you’ve got the world’s cheapest GTi!
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October 9th, 2008 at 11:44 am
The salesman, there were people still living in the 80’s i was talking to them. I could see from your threads that you re working in the auto industry or highly involved in that area. So i guess you re better informed than most of peple in this forum including me and hope that you keep up the good work of enlightening those still burying their heads in the sand.
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October 10th, 2008 at 12:42 am
“If the random cluster of buttons operating the CD player don’t through you off”. Through?
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October 10th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Easy to see that most people who have left comments have not driven a Persona, let alone looked at one in the Flesh!
Yes some of details are a little ‘naff’ (Strange then that Toyota copied the dash design for it’s Yaris) but this is a great ‘drivers’ car for the money. Certainly Proton makes its cars handle, something the likes of Hyundai and Kia still cannot manage.
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October 11th, 2008 at 11:53 am
Leeroy, i hope you re not implying Proton makes better cars that the world’s 5th largest manufacturer.
Have you ever heard of a car called Hyundai I30? I don t think you ever have. The Car advice team has posted very detailed and informative road tests on how well it handles and how solid its build quality is.
It s good to be proud of a car company from your country(although very struggling), but you better be reasonable. You gave it a good try though, comparing a struggling, hardly known car company to the world’s 5th biggest multinational manufacturer (still growing) for product quality.
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