Proton Impian - Long Term Test
In cars as in life, first impressions matter. Its all to easy to get off on the wrong foot with what may be an perfectly agreeable vehicle just because something isnt as youd like it. So it was with our Proton Impian. You want to get on well with a car thats going to be your main means of transport for a lengthy period.
| Build |  |
| Comfort | |
| Depreciation | |
| Economy | |
| Equipment |  |
| Handling | |
| Insurance | |
| Performance | |
| Styling |  |
| Value |  |
Other staff members fought its corner but the red bodywork and chocolate leather combo just didnt do it for me. The exterior panels, that looked worryingly washed-out in the wrong light, contrasted strongly with the overwhelming brown of the cabin it was like a strawberry that had somehow been dipped in chocolate on the inside. The colour scheme was challenging and no mistake but there was no option other than to get over it. Thats when things took a sharp turn for the better.
Opinions on the Impian must always be influenced by its price. The range gets under way at £10,595 and the leather-swathed GSX trim we experienced comes in at £11,395. This is supermini money and the Impian is a large-ish family saloon. It means that you can buy a brand new Impian for the same sort of money that would get you a used Mondeo or Laguna.
Both are plainly more sophisticated cars than the Proton but not by the yawning margin that you might imagine. Much of the Impians design looks outdated by modern standards. The exterior is the classic saloon shape where the current trend is for family saloons to look like hatchbacks in order to maximise interior space. The big oblong headlamps and the way the bonnet curls down to a point at the base of the grille mark the car out amongst the sleeker styling treatments employed elsewhere.
"Its a basic, no frills kind of vehicle but an unexpectedly entertaining one to drive"
Effort has been made to add some sparkle to the interior and if you can get past the brown and beige colour scheme, theres something to be said for it. The centre console is angled towards the driver and although the plastics arent of the first order, the design is neat and the controls are easy to find and operate at a glance. Storage space is limited to narrow door pockets, a small glovebox and a cubby concealed under the centre armrest. The chrome-ringed instruments look classy but the same cant be said for the wood trim on our GSX model.
Equipment levels are a key strength of the Impian, despite its subterranean pricing. All models get a Clarion-branded CD stereo thats well integrated with the centre console, an air-conditioning system with plenty of puff, remote central locking and rear parking sensors. The GSX upgrade secures you the wood and the leather as well as some cup holders for your back seat passengers and in light of this, wed be sorely tempted to give it a wide berth. Price is a real strength of the Impian and the entry-level GLS models highlight this value for money aspect most effectively.
The steering wheel and drivers seat are both height-adjustable on the Impian and the seating is comfortable but on the soft side which can prove to be an issue on longer trips. The driving position isnt particularly spacious but head and legroom for passengers in the other four seats is generous. Theres a big boot in the rear too and the opening is impressively wide for squeezing in awkward items. The rear bench can also be split and folded down to further boost luggage capacity at the expense of rear seat occupants.
Most people probably dont get into a Proton Impian expecting to be bowled over by its sparkling driving experience but having tried the car, they should come away impressed. Out on the road, the Impian takes on a certain old-school charm with excellent steering that prompts immediate responses from the front wheels. A light, reasonably slick gearbox and decent body control help here too. Its good fun to drive and responds well to brisk cornering with suspension thats on the firm side giving a detailed account of the road surface.
Around town, this firmness can become wearing and the same is true on poorly surfaced B-roads but its a sacrifice that keen drivers will be happy to make. Whether the Impians target market will is less clear cut. Protons 1.6-litre CamPro engine puts 110bhp at your disposal in the Impian.
It doesnt feel lightening fast and you have to hold each gear to access the strongest acceleration. This good stuff arrives at around 3,000rpm at which point the 1.6 sounds as though its really putting in a shift. Its a smooth note but loud enough at higher revs to make you think twice before putting your right boot all the way in.
At lower engine speeds, the Impian is refined enough and is fine for pottering about in but its lack of low end grunt can be highlighted on hilly sections. Its easy for your opinion of a car to be coloured from the word go by some dodgy trim or a questionable exterior hue but any initial mistrust of Protons Impian resulting from its Pillar-box red and UPS brown ensemble quickly dissipated. Its a basic, no frills kind of vehicle but an unexpectedly entertaining one to drive. The equipment levels and pricing will attract attention in the marketplace and if you plan on keeping yours for the long haul, (residual values are not the best) the Proton Impian makes a pleasantly cost-effective family car.
Our advice would be to avoid the wood and leather of the GSX and plump for the entry-level GLS in a nice neutral colour. One that isnt brown.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Proton Impian 1.6
PRICES: £10,595 - £11,395 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 9
CO2 EMISSIONS: 161g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 12.0s / Max Speed 110mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 31.4mpg / (extra urban) 52.3mpg / (combined) 42.2mpg STANDARD SAFETY EQUIPMENT: Twin front and side airbags / ABS / traction control
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: (length/width/height) 4465/1750/1420mm
