Proton Exora 2014 Review

The Proton Exora GX tested has the right features and family-car practicality for under $26,000 on the road. There is simply no other people mover in the market that seats seven as easily or affordably. 'Essential' equipment – even in basic GX trim – includes a DVD player and screen for the four or five young ones in the rear. That kind of item is a big selling point for struggling families in the suburbs.

Something needs to be explicitly stated about the Exora right up front. This is not a car for enthusiasts or automotive cognoscenti. Buyers will be swayed by the low price and decent equipment list – notwithstanding the lack of cruise control and reversing camera. At a pinch they may be drawn to the Exora by the peace of mind it offers owners, in the form of free servicing and free roadside assist for the duration of the five-year warranty.

Anyone other than the target buyer is likely to be deterred by cheap trim materials and older styling details that strongly hint the Exora has been built down to a price. Nothing fell off the Exora during the week, but there were little tell-tales like the unpainted welds on the second-row seat mounts, as one example.

The Clarion audio head unit, with its orange dot matrix display, looked 'aftermarket'. To its credit, it reconnected with Bluetooth phones automatically, although it wasn't easy to pair in the first place without resorting to the manual supplied with the car.

Exora's driving position has not been endlessly workshopped to satisfy owners across a range of sizes and shapes. Various issues cropped up during the week, including the exterior mirrors, neither of which would adjust far enough outboard to eliminate blind spots. It was a particular problem on the driver's side – that mirror being the near-side mirror in left-hand drive markets.

The indicator stalk on the left of the steering column didn't operate smoothly, emitting a 'clack' while adjusting the headlights and the stalk was also too far from the wheel. And without reach adjustment in the steering column the driver was too close to the pedals, even with the seat adjusted upright. For some, the floor-mounted handbrake may be hard to reach too. Seats were well bolstered in the front to hold the occupants in place, but the cushions were flat and uninspiring.

One compensating factor was the Exora's field of vision, which was very good, and backing was made simpler still with reverse parking sensors.

Central locking automatically secured the doors once the Exora was on the move, but would only unlock the driver's door with a pull of the inner handle. To override the anti-carjacking facility the driver had to press the unlock button twice for passengers to leave – or the passengers themselves had to unlock each door manually. Locking or unlocking the car using the transponder from outside was accompanied by loud, piercing chirps that would literally wake the neighbours at night. All in all, the central locking was far from satisfactory – and it's important in a vehicle designed for families wanting easy access for seven.

Exora delivered plenty of leg and head room in the second-row seat, and adults could even climb into the third row, although I found the squab was too short there, and was set up with the recline angle set too far back. Furthermore, while kneeroom was adequate, actual legroom wasn't. It's probably best left to the kids. Luggage space was large enough with the third-row seat folded flat into the floor, but with it raised there was little room left between the seat and the tailgate; enough perhaps for a few days' groceries.

The second and third rows featured heating and cooling vents in the headlining, and there were cupholders for all three rows. In the headlining over the front row there was a variable-speed fan switch for the climate control in the rear.

Living with the Exora is a noisy affair. Forward progress away from a standing start was accompanied by a droning, booming vibration felt through the floor. There were also different whistling, whining noises that could be variously the turbocharger, the alternator or the continuously variable transmission (CVT). At freeway speeds there was significant wind noise, but the Goodyear tyres were subdued on smooth surfaces, only becoming rowdier on country roads. The thermatic cooling fan ran on loud and strong well after the car was parked and the engine turned off.

The turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine felt perky and went about its job with little turbo lag. It wasn't without some charm, but the CVT pretty much squandered what performance was available. This was particularly noticeable at overtaking speeds. Unlike other cars with a CVT, the Exora didn't provide a hill-hold function, so owners will need to use the handbrake to prevent the car rolling back. Proton, in its press material, described the CVT as a "six-speed" transmission, despite the apparent lack of those six 'steps'. There were no shift paddles to downshift manually and the only means of changing the ratio at all was a low ('L') detente in the gated shift pattern.

Chucking the Exora into bends was quite enjoyable; clearly the Lotus engineers working on the Exora weren't put off by the car's family-friendly, multi-purpose functionality. Handling and steering were engaging by people mover standards. Ride was composed and the rear suspension never felt like it had been set up to carry a payload – as can be the case in some people movers.

All that said, the Exora's relatively big, boofy body lurched in corners and weight transfer could be felt on a trailing throttle as the car moved from initial understeer to a neutral stance. Powering on through a corner, however, revealed the Exora's decent grip and stability.

But safe as the Proton's cornering may be, it's not enough in itself to justify buying an Exora. There are rivals (and similarly competitive SUVs) that are in the same ballpark for cornering prowess – albeit at a higher price.

Other reasons to think twice include the ANCAP crash safety rating of four stars. A Korean competitor will set you back $4000 more, but offers five-star safety. What price do you place on the lives of your family?

Buyers favouring people movers ahead of SUVs are also likely to find the Exora's resale value won't hold up either – and it will be harder to on-sell, which is essentially the same thing.