Proton is ‘most affordable’ car in Malaysia

KAJANG: Proton has been officially inducted as producing the most affordable car with the best safety ratings for the consumers in the country.
According to the latest report for car price ranges versus safety star ratings released on Tuesday by the New Car Assessment Programme for southeast Asian countries, or Asean NCAP, Proton has been singled out for selling three car models with five-star ratings at the lowest prices.
The Proton Iriz 1.6 litre selling at RM41,076 and equipped with two airbags and electronic stability control (ESC), took the first place for the cheapest car under the five-star category for Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) – driver and front passenger.
The Proton Preve executive model priced at RM57,686 and Proton Suprima S executive (RM75,748), with both cars offering six airbags and ESC, took second and third place respectively, followed by Ford Fiesta, Honda Jazz, Honda City, Honda Civic and seven other foreign car models subsequently.
Iriz scored well with 14.07 points (out of 16 points), which is within the five-star range for AOP, as a result from the frontal offset crash test at 64 km/h impact.
Under the "'affordable safety" agenda launched by Asean NCAP since last year, its secretary-general Khairil Anwar Abu Kassim said the regional consumer-vehicle safety-testing body is applying pressure with manufacturers to produce safer cars at affordable prices.
He pointed out that to produce safer cars was relatively easy compared to advise prospective owners to purchase cars with top safety ratings.
"A few years back and until today, pricing still plays a major factor when purchasing a car, yet safety concerns are growing especially in Malaysia and Thailand," he added.
Asean NCAP chairman Prof Dr Wong Shaw Voon said in future, "consumers will not accept anything less than a five-star safety car".