Proton P2-30A (GSC) spied !

 It seems like someone working in a crash test laboratory captured the upcoming Proton Global Small Car (GSC) codenamed P2-30A on camera! Successor of the flopped Proton Savvy, the GSC (ahem...) is spotted to benchmark against some of the top players in the B-segment hatchback such as Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo Hatchback. A quick (but detailed) look at the GSC above reveals it has keyless entry system (normally come along with push-start button) and projector headlights (possibly with daytime running LED lights). It's a grainy photo but is it front parking sensors on the front bumper?

The rear, however, doesn't look as contemporary as the front. It's better executed compared to Proton Suprima S, but still can be done better in my opinion. LED taillights are standard. Rumour has it that the GSC (depends on variants) will come with Electronic Stability Control (ESC), touchscreen centre console, 6 airbags and a CVT gearbox. 

Price wise, what do you think is the suitable price range for the GSC? Looking at what it is packed and who are its competitors, I would say RM45k-RM55k would be attractive enough!

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Cars To Watch in Malaysia in 2014 !

Happy New Year 2014! The automotive market is in a tough situation, rising fuel cost and rumour has it that the toll price will gain a hike as well. Nevertheless, the automotive sector will continue to grow with plenty of exciting offering from car manufacturers. Below are some of the worth-paying-attention cars which are going to be launched in this year (in no particular order):

1) Ford Fiesta Ecoboost & Fiesta ST

The highly anticipated 1.0 litre Ecoboost engine will be available for the Ford Fiesta this year. The three-cylinder engine is capable of producing 125PS and 170Nm of torque while sipping fuel at a rate of 5.3l/100km! Estimated price from RM96k to RM99k.

2) Honda City, 4th generation

While Toyota has launched its 3rd generation Vios, Honda will soon introduce the all-new City to our shore. Made its debut in India, the 4th generation City now comes with more space, better quality and luxury (hopefully the touch screen controlled air-cond and rear air-cond vents will make it into our market!). 

3) Mazda 3, 3th generation

The details we received from Mazda are the Mazda 3 will be sold in CBU form at the time it debuts in Malaysia with full SkyActiv technology. Estimated price is RM139k. The sleek looking Mazda 3 will be a good package with good handling, albeit the slightly high pricing. 

4) Mercedes Benz S-Class W222

While the outgoing S-Class W221 still looking great (even the Chief Minister of Penang, Lim Guan Eng just bought one!) after all these years, Mercedes-Benz introduced the S-Class W222 to the world. Packed with high-end safety features such as Magic Body Control, Night View Assist Plus, Traffic Sign Assist and the list goes on and on and on...

5) Proton P2-30A (Savvy Replacement Model)

No official name has been given to the Proton P2-30A yet (Proton is in the midst of choosing the winning name for P2-30A from a naming contest now), but the P2-30A is slated to launch in the first half of 2014. No details have been released by Proton yet, but from the spyshots it can be deduced that its size should be somewhere in between Viva and Myvi. 

6) Nissan Sylphy, 2nd generation

Not going to comment on how the outgoing Nissan Sylphy fair in the design department, but I can say the 2nd generation Sylphy looks much better! It should be downgraded from a 2.0 litre to a 1.8 litre engine mated with a CVT gearbox for Malaysia's market. The current Sylphy shines in the comfort and NVH department, the all-new Sylphy is expected to do the same or even better!

7) Toyota Corolla Altis, 11th generation

No further introduction needed for the Toyota Corolla Altis, as it is the best selling car in the world. The all-new Altis don a contemporary exterior design, opposed to the conservative design for the outgoing generation. 3 variants will be available - 1.8E, 2.0G and 2.0V, from RM115k-RM137k. Some gripes are VSC is only for top-of-the-range 2.0V and only 2 airbags across the range. Well, at least the Altis is a comfortable and reliable car...

8) Nissan Teana, 3rd generation

The D-segment Japanese Nissan Teana will soon be replaced with an all-new 3rd generation. Initial detail is the Teana will be available with 2.0 litre engine and 2.5 litre non-V6 engine. This will be a car where boss can drive and chauffeured in style. 

9) 2014 Volkswagen Polo Hatchback

The Volkswagen Polo Sedan CKD has an estimated price of RM87,788 on-the-road with insurance, thus the soon-to-be-launch Polo Hatchback CKD should be priced in the region. There's a huge chance that the Polo Hatchback CKD will be priced slightly lower than the Polo Sedan CKD, grabbing the title as the cheapest Volkswagen in Malaysia. Changes include a normally aspirated 1.6 litre MPI engine and tail lights design. 

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Every Variant of Proton Preve Comes With 6 Airbags & ESC Now !

Proton has quietly introduced 6 airbags and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) for the entire range of Proton Preve, including the entry-level Preve Executive 1.6 Campro IAFM+ manual and the automatic transmission. Best of all, no increment of price at all! Perhaps Proton is going on the 'SV (Super Value) route' like the Saga SV and Persona SV, but without adding the suffix 'SV' for the Preve this time. Now, every new Preve will be entitled for the 5-star ANCAP crash test rating!

In the recent October 2013, Proton has debut the top-of-the-range Preve LE which is equipped with 6 airbags and ESC while the Preve 1.6 CFE CVT Premium has four airbags and Preve 1.6 IAFM+ has only two. 

Prices for the Preve are RM58,921 for the IAFM+ manual, RM61,921 for the IAFM+ auto and RM72,839 for the CFE CVT, all on-the-road with insurance. 

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Proton Persona SV launched - Starts from RM44,938 !

Following the overwhelming response of Proton Saga SV, Proton has announced the debut of Persona SV with starting price of RM44,938. Orders for the Saga SV has reached 42,000 units, thus Proton is targeting 2,400 units of Persona SV to be sold for each month.

Again, SV stands for 'Super Value', it does prove its point. Thankfully, the Persona SV has the same 15-inch rims that the Standard variant has instead of plastic wheel caps like the one on Saga SV. The Persona SV is also fitted with Dual SRS airbags, ABS, EBD, 4-wheel disc brake and side mirror signal light as standard, while the more expensive Standard variant only offers one airbag. However, door visors, bodykits, fog lights, tailpipe finisher are omitted and the wing mirrors are manually adjusted. Engine remained the same - the 1.6 litre Campro IAFM engine which produces 110hp at 6500rpm and 148Nm at 4000rpm.

 Easy Financing scheme allows monthly repayment of as low as RM388. Proton Persona SV manual costs RM44,938 for solid and RM45,388 for metallic, while auto costs RM47,938 for solid and RM48,388 for metallic, all on-the-road with insurance. Thus, the Persona SV makes a more sensible choice over the Saga 1.6. Two-year or 50,000km warranty is offered for the Persona SV, but isn't the standard offering for warranty by every manufacturer is at least three-year? Even the Saga SV has three-year warranty......

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Proton Perdana Replacement Model spotted !

 The aging Proton Perdana V6 Executive use by Malaysian civil servants and government officials are soon to be replaced with the 8th generation Honda Accord, nicknamed Perdana Replacement Model (PRM). PRM is expected to enter production in mid-December 2013 where around 3000 units of it will be produced for the government. It is planned to be introduced to the public in year 2016. 

Based on the spyshot, the Accord used for the PRM is the facelifted 8th generation Accord with two different alloy wheels design. Thus, it suggests there will be two forms of engine capacity available - possibly 2.0 litre and 2.4 litre, like the Accord. Cosmetic changes are done to the front grille and bumper, chrome finishing at the lower air intake is a welcome!

Unlike Inspira, the PRM will cause no conflict with Honda's sales of the Accord since Honda Malaysia has brought in the latest, 9th generation Accord. 

On a side note, Proton's B-segment Global Small Car (GSC, not the cinema, mind you) will be the next model in Proton's debut list. 

Photo credit: Funtasticko

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Proton Preve LE - Limited to 100 units !

Yes, the stunning looking Preve LE in white has a limited production number of 100 units only. As you can guess, LE stands for 'Limited Edition' and is priced at RM79,688 (only available in solid white), almost RM7k dearer than the Preve CFE Premium.

What the Preve LE gained over the Premium are bodykits, 17-inch R3 alloys, leather seats and console lid, curtain airbags (making the total count to 6 airbags now) and a top tether for child seat. With 6 airbags, the Preve LE's spec is now equivalent to Australia's Preve which is rated 5-star in ANCAP crash test.

Mechanical wise everything remains unchanged. The Preve LE uses the same 1.6 litre CFE found in Preve Premium. Two things though, why only 100 units and solid paint?

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Proton Suprima S officially launched - My View !

Proton Suprima S, a C-segment hatchback based on the Preve sedan, has been launched. Inspired by the English word 'Supreme', Suprima S is available in two variants, Executive and Premium. Before reading my personal view on the Suprima S at the end of this article, let's take a look at the car itself first. Proton Suprima S basically has Preve's front end, but with a black honeycomb grille and different bumper inserts. Premium variants comes with daytime running LED lights instead of LED position lights in the Executive variant.

From the B-pillar to the rear end is completely redesigned. The 'PROTON' wording on the tailgate reminiscent the design style of a Swedish marque, Volvo. Inverted L-shaped LED strip in the taillights and diffuser-like bumper are some nice touches too. A 'Turbo' badge and 'handling by Lotus' badge are attached on the tailgate, warning tailgaters that this is not a car to be messed with.

Suprima S has a width of 1786mm, height of 1524mm and wheelbase of 2650mm, all are identical to Preve's dimension, but it is shorter by 107mm at 4436mm than the latter. Boot space measured at 309 litres.

The same 1.6 litre turbocharged engine (previously known as CFE engine) found in the Preve is used in the Suprima S. The mill produces 138bhp at 5000rpm and 205Nm of torque from 2000-4000rpm. This enables the Suprima S to complete the century sprint in 9.9 seconds, 0.3 seconds slower than the Preve CFE albeit weight gain of around 35-55kg, depending on variant. Fuel consumption is rated at 9.1 litres/100km for the Suprima S, while Preve CFE manage to consume 8.2 litres/100km.

Dashboard is taken over from the Preve, but different material trim are used in the Suprima S. Standard features for the Executive variants include Android-based infotainment system with a 7-inch LCD screen, GPS navigation system and DVD player, Bluetooth/USB/iPod connectivity, steering audio controls and remote tailgate release while Premium variant add extras such as 17-inch alloy wheels (16-inch for Executive variant), cruise control, auto climate control, 2 tweeters, paddle shifter, auto headlamps and wiper, push-start button, front parking sensor and reverse camera.

Proton has paid a lot of attention in the safety department. The Suprima S is designed to score 5-star in the Australian New Car Assessment Programme (ANCAP). Standard safety features across the range are ABS, EBD, Traction Control with Electronic Stability Control (ESC), ISOFIX and Proton-first (in Malaysia) 6 airbags! Premium variant gets additional Hill Hold Assist and electronic gear shift lock.

Price wise, the Suprima S is priced on-the-road from RM76,688 for the Executive variant to RM79,988 for the Premium variant. 5-year warranty as well as 5-year free road assist programme are incorporated to provide better after sales support.


Personal opinion

• The rear end design is a little cluttered to my liking. Lines are not intersected tidily. 

• Same design for both 16-inch and 17-inch alloy wheel. We need a measuring tape here! How are we going to differentiate both variants from afar?

• The current global trend of car manufacturers is to reduce the weight as well as improve the fuel consumption of their new car. However, this does not apply to the Suprima S. The Suprima S gained weight (and unfortunately, fuel consumption) albeit it has a smaller footprint compared to its sedan counterpart, the Preve.

• Pricing is spot on given the substantial amount of equipment and safety features provided, but it is inevitable that buyers will compare the Suprima S to smaller non-national made hatchback (the upcoming facelifted Ford Fiesta, Mazda 2 etc.) which are priced in similar price range.

• It is worth it to go for the Premium variant which is dearer than the Executive variant by RM3k. By paying the extra RM3k, you'll get leather seats, paddle shifter, reverse camera and many other goodies.

• Is an entry-level Suprima S coming? It could be named as 'Suprima' without the suffix 'S'. A cheaper Suprima S would be great!

• Finally, Proton understand what its buyers want by providing the good handling, necessary equipment and safety features. Kudos! The only thing Proton need to put more effort into is its quality. Hopefully it gets better in the Suprima S. 

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The name is confirmed - Proton Suprima S !

 Proton Suprima S - previously known with the codename P3-22A, is the name for the hatchback version of Proton Preve! One question though, why 'S'? It would be understandable if it's named after the Preve, to add a 'S' at the back of its name to differentiate the sedan and hatchback. Perhaps an entry level Suprima will be available in the future?

 Proton Suprima S will be launched in Malaysia this coming Saturday! Packed with the same 1.6 litre CFE turbocharged engine found in Preve CFE. While Preve is already loaded with many features, the Suprima S will be equipped with even more features such as 6 airbags (4 in Preve) to give its competitors (Peugeot 308, Lancer Sportback etc.) a run for their money.

There will be a minimum of 2 variants available based on various spyshots. Pricing wise, hopefully the starting price would fall slightly below RM70k since the Preve CFE is priced at RM73k.

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Proton - Nama Siapa Hebat ?

 Proton announced that there will be an all-new hatchback launching sometime in next year, with its size larger than Perodua Viva. Perhaps it's influenced by Proton EMAS Concept car? Or a Proton Savvy replacement model? Anyway, Proton is giving the honour to the members of the public to name its upcoming hatchback in the Nama Siapa Hebat contest!

 Grand prize winner will walk away with the Premium automatic variant of the new compact car, while there are also tonnes of attractive prizes including 3D2N stay in Langkawi, Macbook Air, iPad Mini and many more!

 Malaysian citizen with age 12 and above are eligible to participate instead of 18 in general contest T&C! In the contest form (which can be submitted online or by conventional mail), we have to fill in the name of the hatchback with no more than 6 letters (ie. EMAS) or with an alphanumeric combination (ie. 3MAS).

I'm going to spam the contest with my ideas! Fingers crossed!

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Proton Saga SV - From RM33,888 !

 Proton Saga has an addition variant from now on - Saga SV (Super Value). With price starting from RM33,888, it enable monthly installment from as low as RM250! It's almost RM5000 cheaper than the previously cheapest Saga FLX Standard variant. Such affordable pricing will make the Saga SV an attractive choice as youngster's first car.

Eventhough the selling price has decreased, Proton ensured that the Saga SV will get the necessary safety features such as Dual SRS airbags, reverse sensor and three-point rear centre seatbelt as standard. Other than that, the comfort creatures list is quite bare, even loses the luggage tray and door visor found in the already bare Standard variant. SV comes with 13-inch steel wheel covers.

By the way, Saga SV doesn't equipped with fog lights (the picture above found in Proton Edar website is misleading) and comes with black-painted trunk lid garnish. The reduction in price is also achieved through "value analysis and engineering with no cut in safety, quality and comfort".

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SPYSHOT: Proton P3-22A a.k.a. Preve Hatchback !

 Hmm... Perhaps it's an angle problem because the rear end of the P3-22A (also known as Preve Hatchback) looks awkward to me. First leaked in Lowyat Forum, the Preve Hatchback is expected to have a front end and cabin largely similar to its sedan counterpart, only completely redesigned from the B-pillar to the back.

The unofficial (highest) specs include 6 airbags, 17-inch alloy (lower spec might wear smaller size alloy, if there is one), New in-car entertainment (ICE) with Android, daytime running light (the one in Preve will only be activated with lights on), leather seat, hill start assist, reverse camera and front & rear sensor. My guess the Preve Hatchback would be priced between RM70k-RM80k.

Source

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Proton Perdana replacement to be based on Honda Accord ?

 After Proton and Honda signed a collaboration agreement few months back, details have been released that Honda Accord will be the platform for Proton Perdana replacement model! Although based on the Accord, cosmetic changes would be inevitable for the Perdana Replacement Model (PRM). Hopefully, the changes will be less subtle, bringing larger difference visually compared to Accord's design and not another Inspira case.

Proton, however, did not mention which Honda Accord's platform will be used for the PRM. Will it be the outgoing model which is still selling in Malaysia? Or the newest Accord launched overseas?

 Current or the newest generation Honda Accord?

Engine wise, Proton's most powerful engine to date, the 1.6 litre CFE turbocharged engine would be out of the question, considering the immense size of the D-segment Accord. Proton might be using a 2.0 litre engine bought from Petronas last year to power the PRM.

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Proton Preve - 5-star ANCAP crash rating !

Australian New Car Assessment Programme (ANCAP) crash tested our very own Proton Prevé and is awarded 5-star safety rating! The Prevé 1.6 CVT model garnered 14.53 out of 16 for frontal offset and 15.72 out of 16 for side impact, 2 out of 2 for pole crash, good for whiplash, 2 out of 3 for seatbelt reminder but marginal for pedestrian protection. Thus, it received an overall score of 34.25 out of 37.

Take note that Australia's Prevé is equipped with ABS, EBD, 6 airbags and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) as standard. The top-of-the-line Prevé in Malaysia has a maximum of 4 airbags only.

The only letdown in this crash test is the pedestrian protection section. Proton have to buck up since every other car manufacturers are starting to improve in this area. Nevertheless, kudos to Proton for achieving this amazing crash result.

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What To Expect in 2013 !

2013 is set to be an exciting year for the automotive sector (so does past years!). Below are some of the models that will be launched in 2013 (in no particular order).

1. Proton Preve Hatchback:

Proton Preve is no longer a stranger in Malaysia now and its hatchback sibling is going to be launched soon! Since Preve Sedan is already a pretty good car in terms of handling, we can expect same (if not better) level of handling offer by the hatchback! This is imperative since its close competitors will be the Lancer Hatchback and Ford Focus, where both are pretty capable in performance and handling.


 2. 3rd gen. Toyota Vios:

The aging Vios is in need of a replacement - and it's getting one! Spotted in Thailand earlier this month, the 3rd generation Toyota Vios carries a much better styling and looks slightly bigger than the outgoing model it replaces. Hopefully it is priced competitively against the likes of B-segment sedan and also equipped with more features.


3. Kia Forte K3:

The outgoing Kia Forte shocked the market with its revolutionary styling and long list of equipment, something which we didn't expect to see in a Korean car. The latest generation Forte K3 will take things further to be more competitive in the tough C-segment sedan market, with even better design and might be laden with more features!


4. Volkwagen Golf MK7:

Volkswagen Golf Mk6 has been selling well all over the world, and Malaysia is no exception. In a blink of an eye, Volkswagen rolled out the Golf Mk7, promises even better performance, handling and comfort than its predecessor. Golf Mk7 received positive feedback of most of the automotive journalists who had driven the Mk7, proving that it's a capable car in many aspect.


Last but no least number 5. Mitsubishi i-MiEV from the 'green' sector:

Mitsubishi had announced that the i-MiEV, which is an all-electric car, will be launched in Malaysia in the form of CKD in 2013. It's a peppy little city car with spacious cabin for four and a range of 160km with full charge. Check out my driving impression of the i-MiEV here. Unfortunately, there is still no news on subsidy for electric car and this might set the pricing around RM150k to own an i-MiEV.

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Asean NCAP crash test - 1st Batch of Result !

 Malaysian Institute of Road Safety and Research (MIROS) has announced the result of the first batch of ASEAN NCAP (ASEAN New Car Assessment Programme). Note that the result (stars) you see above is solely based on frontal collision crash test, unlike EuroNCAP which incorporated frontal, side, pedestrian and child protection rating into the overall rating.

 The best performer in this round of crash test goes the Ford Fiesta, gaining 5 stars for adult occupant protection (AOP) and 66% for child occupant protection (COP). To qualify for a maximum of 5 stars for AOP, the car has to be fitted with at least 2 airbags (the Fiesta has 7), equipped with Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) and front occupant seatbelt reminder.

The next best performer is the Honda City, garnered also 5 stars in AOP, and 81% in COP. However, the 5 stars rating is only applicable to City equipped with Honda's Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA). In some countries (including Grade S in our country), City without the feature is considered has 4 stars.

Perhaps that's why Toyota Vios could only get 4 stars instead of 5 because it is not equipped with Toyota's Vehicle Stability Control (VSC). Vios obtained 48% in COP, one of the lowest in the group.

It is disappointing to see Perodua Myvi (2nd gen) could only get 3 stars in AOP. As you can see the A-pillar of the Myvi has been severely deformed, not a good sign for good survival space and structural integrity in a crash. Thankfully, 2 airbags are standard for every variant of 2nd gen. Myvi ever since the first day of sales.

The Saga FLX that received 3 stars in AOP is an upcoming Saga FLX + variant, which comes with 2 airbags as standard. The standard Saga FLX received only 1 star in AOP (with 1 airbag), a huge disappointment. Nevertheless, 3-star is not something that should be proud of and Proton should make every model to perform at least 4 stars in AOP, regardless it's an entry level model or not.

Other crash tested cars were the 4-star Nissan March and 2-star Hyundai i10, where it is weird for the latter to only receive 2 stars while it received 4 stars in EuroNCAP with even more stringent test.

Pic Source


*Update: A reader pointed out that Vios received 4 stars in AOP because it is awarded 13.61 out of 16 points, where a minimum of 14 points has to be awarded to be eligible for 5 stars rating.
Nissan March is tested with only driver airbag but received 4 stars in AOP, this proves that March's rigid body is the factor of the commendable rating. In other words, March with 1 airbag is safer than Myvi with 2 airbags.

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Proton Exora Bold CFE Standard !

 Proton had quietly released the standard variant of Proton Exora Bold CFE. The Exora Bold CFE Standard will act as the base line model for the Exora MPV with the turbocharged CFE engine. By being a base line model, some features and comfort creatures are inevitably omitted, but the selling price of the Exora Bold CFE Standard (RM69,000 OTR with insurance) is about RM10k cheaper than the premium variant (RM80,012)!

Comes with a CVT gearbox, the Exora Bold CFE Standard uses the same 1.6 litre turbocharged CFE engine which is also found in the Premium. The powerplant produces 138hp at 5000rpm and 205Nm of torque from 2000-4000rpm.

Thankfully, the Standard's safety equipment level is the same compared to Premium, with ABS, EBD and two airbags as standard. Standard uses rear drum brakes instead of disc brake found in the Premium. What's also omitted are steering wheel with audio control, cruise control, reverse camera, front fog lamps, rear spoiler and reverse sensor. Seriously Proton, wing mirror with turn indicator can be standard but not reverse sensor for a MPV?

The exterior door handles, tailgate finishing and wing mirrors are unpainted/in their default black colour to further differentiate Standard and Premium variant.

It seems like a bargain for a 7-seater MPV with a turbocharged engine selling at under RM70k. But the reverse sensor have to be a standard item and the horrendous looking wheel caps got to go.

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DRIVEN: Best of 2012 !

 Year 2012 is coming to an end! Below are the Top 3 cars that I've driven, which I think has the best overall package in terms of comfort, handling, equipment, safety and also price.

3. Proton Preve

Proton Preve is a car that excel in terms of ride and handling (one of the best in C-segment), NVH and cabin space. Moreover, for a car of its price, the list of standard equipment is on par with some of the D-segment sedans available in Malaysia. Too bad the built quality is not convincing enough for many and there is still room for improvement.

Review: http://www.simonhar.com/2012/04/driven-proton-preve-16cfe.html

 2. Nissan Almera

Nissan Almera is one of the most affordable, non-national B-segment sedans in our market. Eventhough the Almera is cheap, its refinement, quality and comfort doesn't reflect its low price tag. Moreover, it has a huge cabin which is comparable to some larger cars. Fuel economy is also another plus point for the Almera. The only slightly letdown is its handling.

Review: http://www.simonhar.com/2012/11/driven-nissan-almera-15-cvtc.html

1. Ford Focus

When it comes to the overall package, I would say the Ford Focus is the best value-for-money car. Handles great (one of the best in its segment) while providing high level of comfort and refinement.

Safety features such as Active City Stop and technology such as Park Assist, Active Grille Shutter and Torque Vectoring Control are only found in Focus if compared with other cars around its price tag. Starting at RM125k, it's a great bargain if compared with other Japanese models around that price tag!

Review: http://www.simonhar.com/2012/08/driven-2012-ford-focus-sport.html

That's all for 2012 and Happy New Year to everyone! May 2013 a better year!!!

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