FLX S16

The Proton S16, once Australia’s cheapest new car, was given a facelift and a price lift in May 2012. With Chinese models undercutting the S16 on price, the Malaysian car-maker decided to make their baby sedan more appealing with safety and equipment upgrades.

The revised S16 became available in two specifications – the entry-level GX at a competitive $13,990 drive-away and the better-equipped GXR from $15,990 drive-away with a manual transmission.

Standard features on both models were 14-inch alloy wheels, power steering, rear parking sensors, remote central locking, air-conditioning, front power windows/mirrors, driver’s seat-height adjustment and a four-speaker CD/MP3 Clarion sound system with steering wheel controls.

The GXR got extras such as leather seat trim, a boot spoiler, leather-clad steering wheel, rear power windows, a passenger vanity mirror and instrument illumination control.

Proton faced a storm of criticism when the original S16 launched in late 2009 due to its lack of safety options. They addressed some of these concerns with the facelifted model, which came with standard electronic stability control, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake-force distribution, twin front airbags and front seatbelt pre-tensioners across the range. It did, however, miss out on side and curtain airbags.

The S16 was powered by an 80kW/150Nm 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, available with an optional continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).

Proton claimed fuel consumption of 6.2 litres of premium unleaded petrol per 100km or 6.5L/100km for the automatic.