The Proton Saga is a humble, affordable car in Malaysia but can you imagine spending around RM 123k for one? It might sound hard to believe but that’s the price of a base-spec Saga after conversion in Nepal.

After launching in Kenya and Egypt, the next stop for the entry-level Proton model is the hilly Himalayan terrain of Nepal. Proton cars are distributed by Jagdamba Motors Pvt. Ltd and the Saga is the first Proton model to be launched there.

There are two variants available for the Nepal-spec Saga which are the 1.3 Standard MT and the 1.3 Premium AT. As we mentioned before, prices for the Saga in Nepal are very pricey with the Standard MT starting from 3.5 million Nepali rupee (RM 122,716) while the Premium AT starts from 3.95 million Nepali rupee (RM 136,542).

The reason for these high prices is due to Nepal’s tax structure on imported vehicles which can be as high as 200%. Nepal doesn’t really have a robust automotive industry and their roads are limited due to the country’s geography.

Nevertheless, for RM 123,000, what do you get in the Nepali-spec Saga? Well, for starters, the engine used is similar to the one used in Pakistan, a smaller 1,299 cc unit that produces 91 PS and 117 Nm. This is then mated to either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic transmission.

To fit with the seasonal weather, the Nepali Saga comes with a multi-mode air-conditioner blower and a heater – similar to the Egyptian-spec Saga.

Speaking of the Egyptian Saga, at least the Nepali Saga comes equipped with stability control on the range-topping Premium variant.

Apart from the slightly smaller engine displacement, air-conditioning unit, and heater, the Nepali Saga shares the same features and equipment as the local unit. This includes dual airbags, reverse parking sensors, ABS with EBD and brake assist, as well as the 7-inch Android-based infotainment screen.

The Saga in Nepal comes with a 5-year/150,000 km warranty. Jagdamba Motors Pvt. Ltd. is set to also launch the Proton X70 in Nepal sometime later this year.