Displacement: 1,499 cc
The 2026 Proton Saga undergoes a significant heart transplant, moving away from the old 1.3L unit to a new 1.5-litre naturally aspirated i-GT (Intelligent Green Technology) 4-cylinder engine. This Geely-developed BHE15 unit uses a timing chain rather than a belt for lower maintenance costs and features Dual Variable Valve Timing (DVVT) to balance fuel economy with low-end punchiness.
Max Power: 120 PS (118 bhp) @ 6,100 rpm
The power output has seen a substantial jump from the previous model's 95 PS. Now delivering 120 PS, the Saga has moved from being a purely "city car" to a more capable highway cruiser. This increase makes it one of the most powerful entry-level sedans in its price bracket, providing better performance during full-load climbs.
Max Torque: 150 Nm @ 4,000 rpm
Peak torque is rated at 150 Nm, a 30 Nm increase over the previous generation. This peak is reached at 4,000 rpm, but the tuning of the multi-port injection (MPI) system ensures a healthy spread of torque throughout the mid-range, aiding in smoother overtaking maneuvers.
0-100 km/h: ~10.5 Seconds
While official figures are being finalized for all markets, the new 1.5L powertrain combined with the revised gearbox allows the Saga to dip closer to the 10-second mark for the century sprint, a notable improvement over the 13+ seconds required by the older 1.3L variants.
