LPG is a dirty word in fleet because of the Government’s flawed incentive scheme from a few years back. Now things have settled down Proton is the only car maker offering a manufacturer fit dual-fuel car in the form of the Gen2 Ecologic.
Powered by a 1.6-litre petrol engine (coupled to an extra fuel tank for the LPG located in the boot) the Proton is, on paper, a low cost offering. After all LPG costs 55p a litre, virtually half the price of petrol or diesel. Normally fleets like low costs, however, unfortunately the Gen2 also feels like it cost half the price to build than a rival car from any more well-known brand.
Our test car was full of rattles and creaks from the cabin, most difficult to track down. However, the easiest to locate was the squeak from the steering wheel when you turned left.
The quality and fit of the interior materials was also poor and the dials on the dash were printed with a tiny font making it difficult to read what speed you were doing. The Gen2 also comes in with a capital allowance-crippling 172g/km emissions figure from the 1.6-litre petrol engine.
While you expect the boot to be smaller than normal thanks to the fitment of an LPG tank, the Proton’s boot lid doesn’t open high enough which means when you lean in to retrieve items and then stand up you can give the back of your head a nasty bang on the boot lock which sticks down sharply.
While we don’t have cost per mile figures for the Gen2, the lease rate at £354 a month is significantly higher than an equivalently specified diesel Hyundai i30 at £316 a month. And that car’s a much better drive and will do twice the mpg, negating the half price LPG.
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