Proton Jumbuck Reviews

The Jumbuck ute could make a comeboack as Proton looks set to be make a billion dollar backed return to Australia

If there was a Proton model we wish was reborn for the 2020s, it would be the Jumbuck mini-truck.

We break down the big players by auto group, and which vehicles on the Australian market in 2019 and 2020 are owned and produced by Chinese car companies.

Proton is readying a rebirth in the Australian market now that the Malaysian carmaker is co-owned by Chinese automotive conglomerate Geely, who also counts Volvo, Lotus, Polestar and Lynk & Co under its umbrella.Local sales of Proton models – including the Exora, Preve and Suprima S – have come to a near-halt recently, with just a single new registration last year after sliding from 421 units in 2015.However, with Geely in control of Proton and snapping up 49 percent of the carmaker, plans are underway to rebadge China-sourced vehicles, as well as develop fresh models, for Australian market consumption."I would look closely at what Proton are up to," Geely head of international PR Ash Sutcliffe told journalists at last week’s Shanghai motor show. "Proton may be planning a return to Commonwealth nations in the near future."Mr Sutcliffe singled out Proton’s expertise in right-hand-drive development would complement Geely’s vast production resources."Proton have a lot of experience in developing right-hand-drive cars, and their chassis and platform development is really helpful for Geely," he said."For example, we do a lot of testing in Malaysia that we can’t do in China – hot-weather testing, when it’s cold here we can go there, and they have fantastic facilities, and they’ve got a lot of talent in developing right-hand-drive cars. So the match together is quite good."The first Geely-sourced vehicle to launch internationally last year was the Proton X70 mid-size SUV, a rebadged Bo Yue, which Mr Sutcliffe said has given the Malaysian brand a shot in the arm.However, the X70 is only a stop-gap solution, with future Proton models expected to be jointly developed with Geely, according to Mr Sutcliffe, though no timeline is yet set.As for Geely’s freshly-minted Geometry electric vehicle (EV) brand, Australian and South-East Asian market consideration is currently underway, which will be finalised in the next two years.

Owners of luxury European models and are up to four times as likely to be caught breaking the law compared to Japanese or Korean makes.Analysis of SAPOL and Transport Department figures shows Mercedes drivers are by far the worst in the state, recording 0.824 fines per vehicle in 2014/15.This compares to the least-fined of the large manufacturers, Isuzu with only 0.186 fines per car.Experts at a loss to explain the bias against luxury cars, and police have denied they give the drivers special treatment.Some of the more expensive vehicles are capable of extremely rapid accelerationIt is the first time the figures have become available because of a Weatherill Government reform called "open data", in which government departments are forced to release large amounts of information on their websites.RAA Senior Manager Road Safety, Charles Mountain said the nature of luxury cars, rather than driver behaviour may be to blame."Modern vehicles, particularly some of the more expensive vehicles are capable of extremely rapid acceleration and insulate the driver to such an extent that it may mask a driver's perception of speed," he said."Irrespective of the vehicle being driven, whether it be a luxury import or a reasonably priced runabout, it is important for their safety and that of other road users that they drive to the conditions and abide by the prevailing speed limits on the roads on which they are travelling."The type of vehicle doesn't determine if police take action, it is based on the nature of the offendingWhen asked a series of questions about the issue, SAPOL issued a one line response: "The type of vehicle doesn't determine if police take action, it is based on the nature of the offending".While Holden drivers amassed the most fines in 2014/15 with 72,847 there are 239,804 Holdens on the road.In comparison, Mercedes drivers were hit 13,157 times for only 15,959 registered vehicles.Only two non-luxury brands were in the top ten and six in the top 20 fined-per-registered-car for 2014/15.Other than Holden, which was the eighth most fined vehicle on the road, none of the large-volume, inexpensive makes is in the top 25 of most fined vehicles.There are some exceptions however, with the low-volume Dodge and Proton makes ranking second and third, Ferrari ranking thirty fourth and Jaguar thirty eighth.One of the cheapest vehicles on the road, the Chinese Great Wall is ranked highly at sixteenth.(Make - fines per car - total fines)1 Mercedes - 0.824 - 13,157 2 Dodge - 0.377 - 3183 Proton - 0.356 - 2684 Renault - 0.350 - 11495 Saab - 0.346 - 3886 Range Rover - 0.345 - 3517 Audi - 0.326 - 20748 Holden - 0.316 - 72,8479 Mini - 0.313 - 33110 Fiat - 0.309 - 31011 Daewoo - 0.305 - 147512 Jeep - 0.313 - 227013 Lexus - 0.293 - 95114 SsangYong - 0.289 - 21415 BMW - 0.284 - 503216 Great Wall - 0.284 - 290

Derek Ogden road tests and reviews the Proton Suprima S Super Premium with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

If money talks, the Citroen Grand C4 Picasso is an eloquent orator against the Proton Exora’s terse chat.

Proton Exora, priced from $25,990, drive away, is quite simply the most affordable seven-seater in Australia.

When we road tested the all-new Proton Preve sedan at its introduction early in 2013 we were impressed by its ride and handling, but felt it needed more power to match the chassis dynamics.

...although it is still officially only known as the Global Small Car. The Malaysian maker believes its next effort could be the car to finally give it traction in countries where it is struggling for acceptance, including Australia.This reporter is on Twitter: @paulwardgover