Ten Point Test

Auto Trader Ten Point Test rating: 64%

The Proton Impian is the flagship of the keenly-priced Proton range and the first car it developed and designed itself.

The model also features a little sparkle from sports-car specialist sister company Lotus.

But are these ingredients enough to make the Impian a credible budget competitor to more popular saloons such as the Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Vectra or a bigger alternative to the mainstream manufacturers’ hatchback models?

We put the top of the range Proton Impian GSX through its paces for a week to find out.

1. Looks 6/10

On first impressions the Impian is a fairly unremarkable looking saloon car. The model we drove was silver and blended in with the other cars on the street. The pitched “shirt tail” bonnet will not be to everyone’s taste but overall the car’s exterior is unlikely to excite or offend. If you prefer it to stand out, a tailgate spoiler is available as a free option on the GSX. The 15 inch alloy wheels and fog lamps are standard.

2. Looks inside 5/10

The central console is tilted towards the driver while the chrome dials on the GSX are easy to read and stylish. It also boasts brown leather seats and wood trim on the steering wheel and gear knob.

The dash is also brown, as are the carpets and mats giving the car a very retro feel, or dated, depending how you feel about an all-brown interior. The plastic hood above the information display felt flimsy.

3. Practicality 6/10

The driver’s seat can be adjusted for height and angle – though the steering wheel is adjustable for reach (distance from the dashboard) only. There is plenty of space for four passengers in the Impian, though five would be a squeeze. The driver’s arm rest doubles as storage and all models are equipped with front cup holders. Choose the GSX trim and you get two more cup holders in the back. The boot boasts 410 litres of storage but the lid feels flimsy. The rear seats can be folded to accommodate longer items.

4. Ride and Handling 8/10

Lotus, Proton’s sister company, are responsible for tuning the ride and handling and both impress. Body roll is minimal, handling is precise and the ride irons out most bumps without disconnecting the driver from the tarmac.

5. Performance 6/10

Lotus is also behind the 110bhp 1.6-litre engine. The first thing you notice is the sound. We loved the ever-so-slightly menacing purr. However, 103Ib/ft of pulling power only translates to a 0-62mph time of 12 seconds (14.7 seconds for the automatic) and a top speed of 124mph (118mph for the automatic).

6. Running Costs 6/10

Each model returns around 40mpg, a fraction over for the manual and a little under for the automatic. Buyers will be looking at Group 9 insurance and Proton’s Peace of Mind Warranty package includes three years free RAC cover. The annual tax bill is £165. Depreciation will hurt with Impians losing more than half their value in the first year.

7. Reliability 7/10

Proton may not be the most fashionable brand but in terms of reliability its fine, while the Lotus-produced engine comes with a 100,000 mile/six year warranty and is likely to be trouble-free. The main problem is likely to be the frailty of some of the materials including the flimsy boot lid and plastic information display hooded surround inside.

8. Safety 5/10

The Impian earned a three star EuroNCAP rating. It features driver and passenger airbags, anti-lock brakes, with electronic brake distribution as well as (quite piercing) reverse parking sensors.  Audio controls are mounted on the steering wheel to eliminate fiddling with the stereo controls on the move.

9. Equipment 8/10

All models feature air-conditioning, radio/CD player, electric windows, trip computer, 15 inch alloys, reverse parking sensors and body-coloured bumpers as standard. The GSX also features wood and leather finishes, optional free spoiler and rear cup holders. Further optional extras include metallic paint, six CD multi-changer and electric tilt and slide sunroof.

10. X-Factor 7/10

It will come as no surprise that the ingredients supplied by sister company Lotus are the ones that shine. The ride and handling feel like they belong to a much more expensive car.

Key facts

Model tested: Proton Impian 110bhp 1.6 GSX
On the road price: £11,395
Price range: £10,595-£12,195
Date tested: March 2007
Road tester: Adrian Higgins