Proton Saga Set To Drop MT Option, Will Go AT Only

A source within national automaker Proton has confirmed with Carz.com.my that it will soon drop the manual transmission (MT) option from its Saga best-seller.

National automaker Proton is set to drop the manual transmission (MT) option from its line-up completely. The only model left that offers an MT option is the Saga entry-level sedan, and a source from within the automaker has confirmed that it will be the last to do so.

That because the same source also confirmed that production of the manual-boxed Saga variant will cease by end of this year. From that point on, the remaining Saga variants will only be available with its current Aisin-supplied 4-speed automatic torque converter unit.

Presently, the Saga comes equipped with a new Aisin 4-speed torque converter automatic unit. Previously, an identical Hyundai-sourced unit was primed, which also replaced the Punch-supplied CVT unit adopted in earlier versions.

The writing has been on the wall for said transmission type for a while now. Though our source didn’t provide specific figures and details, they did confirm that sales of the Saga MT variant with the 5-speed manual box make up less than 10% of the model’s total sales last year.

In simpler terms, the demand for the manual option in the Saga from its buyers has dried up, and it simply doesn’t make solid business sense for the national automaker to sustain said transmission type’s availability, even in its undisputed best-selling nameplate.

Still yearn for a budget-friendly car where you can row your own gears? You're now relegated to just the Axia 1.0E (Axia Rahmah) or the Bezza 1.0G from rivals Perodua.

Effectively, starting from 2025 onwards, Proton will no longer offer you the option to row your own gears in any of its models. In turn, this leaves Rawang-based Perodua as the last brand standing to offer buyers with a manual transmission choice in the entry-level cars segment.

Regarding the latter firm, it currently still offers a 5-speed MT specifically in both the Axia 1.0E (‘Axia Rahmah’) and the Bezza 1.0G variant. Simply put, if you still yearn to savour driving a stick with three-pedals on a budget, you’re now relegated to either Perodua models mentioned.