•    Proton Saga FLX fuel consumption rated at 6.7-litre/100 km on the NEDC cycle
•    Proton Saga FLX fuel tank capacity is 40 litres
•    2019 Proton Saga fuel consumption is significant improvement over Proton Saga BLM 4-AT

2019 Proton Saga Fuel Consumption : 6.7-litre/100 km

The major mid-life facelift in 2019 for the Proton Saga saw one big change in mechanicals, which is the reintroduction of a 4-speed torque converter automatic transmission to replace the pre-facelift model’s Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). Despite the new transmission being heavier with more mechanical parts compared to the old CVT, the Proton Saga has maintained its fuel consumption figures.

Officially, the Proton Saga FLX is rated at 6.7-litre/100km on the NEDC cycle, or in other words, the small sedan will use 1 litre of fuel for every 14.9 km. That’s 0.065 litres for every kilometer travelled.

It’s quite significant that the new 4-AT has the same fuel economy figures as the previous CVT, and even more significant that the fuel economy of the facelifted Proton Saga FLX is much better than the older 2011 Proton Saga FL and the 2008 Proton Saga BLM, who both use a 4-speed automatic transmission.

2019 Proton Saga Fuel Consumption Is Maintained Despite New Transmission

In 2011, Proton was adamant that the then-new CVT was the way forward, promising better fuel consumption figures and lower overall maintenance. That the company have switched back to a traditional torque converter just says how much better this transmission, which is sourced from Hyundai, really is at bringing fuel consumption down, while being mechanically superior.

This is confirmed, when Wapcar spoke to Vehicle Program Executive (Engineering Division) for the Proton Saga, Desmond John Pinto at a media test drive event. He said the 4-speed is not only on par with the "more advanced" CVT in terms of performance, the Hyundai-sourced unit even betters the CVT in certain aspects.

Conclusion

Having said all that, the fuel economy of the Proton Saga is still a long way from its arch-rival the Perodua Bezza, who, in its range-topping variant, claims a fuel consumption of 4.54-litre/100km. That’s 1 litre for every 22km, or just 0.04 litres of fuel for every kilometre travelled.

It is worth noting, of course, that the Perodua Bezza has the plethora of advantages to achieve this fuel consumption figure. It is 150 kg lighter than the Proton Saga, has 14-inch wheels instead of 15, and also comes with auto start/stop tech to help with its fuel economy.