We’re at the Proton Tech Showcase at the carmaker’s Centre of Excellence (COE), which opens to the media today ahead of the public this weekend. In his opening speech, Proton CEO Li Chunrong announced that the new Saga MC3, which was launched exactly a week ago on November 27, has received over 30,000 bookings.
That’s an impressive number for the throughly refreshed budget sedan, but to overhaul its chief rival Perodua Bezza – which coincidentally is Malaysia’s best-selling car even so late in its life cycle – Proton needs production to match the strong initial demand to transform bookings into sales, the only thing counted in the league table.
The Saga Standard is priced at RM37,990, the Executive at RM43,990 and the Premium at RM48,990. These figures are on-the-road without insurance, inclusive of a RM1,000 rebate valid till the end 2025. There are other early-bird offers as well, and you can find out more in our comprehensive launch report.
All variants get a new 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine making 120 PS at 6,100 rpm and 150 Nm of torque from 4,000 to 5,000 rpm. The BHE15-CFN port-injected engine is mated to the Aisin four-speed automatic gearbox from the MC2, but the Premium returns to a Punch CVT. Proton claims fuel consumption of 4.9 litres per 100 km for the CVT and 5.1 litres per 100 km for the 4AT.
We’ve elaborated on the Saga already, and you can check out the full specs and gallery of all three variants, including the base Standard, which is quite a unicorn at this early stage, in our spec-by-spec comparison.
GALLERY: 2026 Proton Saga 1.5 Premium CVT MC3
GALLERY: 2026 Proton Saga 1.5 Executive A/T MC3
GALLERY: 2026 Proton Saga 1.5 Standard A/T MC3
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Wa! All the brickbats we read online, the rakyat groaning and moaning over rising costs of living, no improvement to the economy, yet we see 30K bookings for a car! I am astounded!
whats there to be astounded ? most of the 30k bookings may have come from the M40 , while B40 mostly riding motorbike je.
Right now where times are tough and money is tight under a failing gomen, 30k booking for Saga is the last thing people want to do. Having cash on hand is more important.
nothing to be astounded about as because the poor economy even some M40 and T20 were forced to buy proton saga. if there are 30k bookings for luxury car such as BYD or Jaecoo then you can be astounded
Right now where times are tough and money is tight under a failing gomen, 30k bookings for proton saga is the last thing people want to do. Having cash on hand is more important.
If times are really tough & money is really tight, there would not be any bookings at all. However, since it’s being reported here that there are already 30k bookings a week after the car was launched, it means you’re spreading false propaganda. Shame on you for calling yourself rakyat Malaysia!
We should feel sad about this figure, because if Malaysians had higher incomes, this model might not be receiving such a strong response.
Proton is on track to claim the #1 spot soon!!
well done!!!
As said, just produce a 1.5L timing chain sedan sell under rm50k, proton will regain N0 1 national car spot.
Congratulations to Proton Saga MC3
it deserved the bookings while priced right with new technology, power and comfort.
Funnily, the infotainment system’s UI in a 50k Saga is much more intuitive and fluid than the one in a 100k QV-E.
one is engineered with input and tech from ccp. another EV is created by local grads from mara/mrsm/uitm/uuim. which do you think will be better?
Things r getting explosive.
Well done,Proton…at the rate the sales keep climbing,P2’s Bezza is facing very stiff competition,n potentially hefty rebates .
For too long,the Bezza is overpriced .
As the competition hots up,car enthusiasts have more choices.