2006 Proton Gen-2 H-Line review from Australia and New Zealand

The car has been quite good, however some minor small points:

Left side taillight had a small crack from the inside, will be replaced on warranty.

Front left window Bailey channel wasn't put on right, was fixed on warranty.

When I go up or reverse down steep hills/ramps (like my carport) I hear a squeaking or scraping sound, though nothing is actually touching the ground. Service guys found no problem with the suspension so I don't know what it is.

Fuel light comes on when I have done about 410 kilometers and gauge reads dead empty at about 440 kilometers, however if I did run it dry I'd get about 550 kilometers to the tank, so gauge is a little inaccurate. I will enquire about this.

I think everyone has the central locking remote issues. Half the time when I press it, it beeps twice and I have to lock it using the key. My Mannix car alarm system I have on my Cortina can work 500 meters away line of sight.

I have had the car for almost 3 months and I am very happy with it. My particular Gen 2 is the high line model with leather trim and 17 inch mag wheels and is Midnight Blue in colour. Some points I really like:

The two toned black/beige interior, much nicer touch then the original one toned beige colour.

Boot space is very good and nice and deep.

Compared with my Ford Cortina this Gen 2 really soaks up the bumps and steers so smoothly.

I am getting about 11 kilometers per litre city driving which I think is reasonably good.

Seats are comfortable and I find sitting in the rear seat no problems for head room and I am 5'10. Some points I think could be improved:

Door pockets could be just that little bit longer in length, so my map booklet could sit more comfortably.

They could have made door pockets on the rear doors as there is plenty of room to add them there.

I don't mind about not having a glove box, but the shelf they give you could be a little bit deeper. I can't stick a folded A4 piece of paper without it sticking out from the shelf.

You can't really place anything on top of the dash as it all slopes down.

When you turn the lights on, everything glows red (instrument clusters, environmental controls, audio system and clock). Suggest they break it up and have say the environmental controls blue, the clock yellow or something to break it up and not be so bland.

I don't like how the boot has to 'slam' shut to lock. For safety reasons I think the remote boot release feature should come as standard in case you got your fingers caught.

Overall I am very happy to have bought it, performance wise its very good, might get it lowered so cornering will be better. I love the look and style of the car, and the instrument cluster layout and the fonts I find on Protons much more interesting then the standard Ford and Holden designs, which most of them look pretty boring. Highway driving very nice, and the car seems to kick in to a more responsive mode after fifteen to twenty minutes on the highway.

I would give this car one and a half thumbs up for the Gen 2.