THE Proton Exora is a vehicle designed to meet a very specific purpose.
It might not be the most exciting car for sale but if practicality and trimming the budget come first, it's a vehicle with a lot to be said for it.
Given that Proton looks set to change the engine, transmission and suspension settings from the car that's been on sale for some time in Malaysia, you're not going to get definitive driving impressions just yet.
Plans are afoot to introduce a turbocharged version of the domestic market 1.6-litre four- cylinder petrol engine which will be mated to a CVT gearbox.
If this shifts enough units to make the expense worthwhile, a diesel version will appear some time thereafter.
The Exora is tuned to provide ride comfort rather than exciting handling, although it's likely that Proton will turn to Lotus in order to ensure that it handles a little more crisply for more demanding British customers.
The Exora isn't going to set too many hearts aflutter with its functional styling but the inevitable consequence of that slab-sided look is plenty of space inside.
The basic proportions are a little unusual, with plenty of height but not the most generous serving of width.
This makes the Exora easy to slot into parking spaces and manoeuvre through tight city streets but if you're planning on carrying three abreast in the second row, it's probably best if they're not too broad of shoulder.
Luggage space in the rear is capable of dealing with a light shopping trip, but anything much bigger and you'll need to start folding the seats.
This isn't too difficult, and the second row's 70/30 split allows you to load long items through and still retain enough space for a couple of passengers.
Build quality is about as you'd expect.
The quality of the interior plastics isn't brilliant and there's an awful lot of grey about, but some not inconsiderable thought has clearly gone into the control ergonomics.
While this represents a mere first glimpse of what British customers will be getting, the Proton Exora has a ready made market niche awaiting it. With many MPVs getting more and more technologically complex, there exists a gap that can be filled by a car that's simple, inexpensive and as tough as old boots. The Exora might well be that car.
Clearly much will depend on how ambitious Proton gets with UK pricing, but the omens look good.
Both Honda and Fiat have tried the short and wide MPV route in this country with the FR-V and Multipla respectively, but Proton is taking a different tack with its rather narrower Exora and it's one that might well find favour. It's too early to offer a proper report card just yet, but the Exora is one to keep an eye on.
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