TEST DRIVE: Nearly perfect bloom for the family

If you have more than three children, then chances are you need a sevenseater. An MPV is not really eveyone's cup of tea because they are large, bulky, typically not good looking and usually drives like what they are - shoeboxes on wheels.

On top of having to contend with a compromise in ride and handling and overall driving pleasure, MPVs cost a lot of money. The cheapest properly designed MPV, like the Nissan Grand Livina costs upwards of RM80,000.

So if you want an MPV but don't wantto suffer the price penalty, the only real alternative is the Proton Exora. Price for the Exora starts at around RM57,500 and tops at just a shade under RM70,000, making it fantastic value for money.

To be sure, despite the attractive pricing, the Exora is not a compromise in terms of features. The Exora is a proper seven-seater, all three rows of seats are usable by adults, even if the third row is only suitable for adults on short drives.

Given the dimensions of the Exora, there is no real shortage of cabin space and there is a lot of usable storage areas in the cabin.

The cabin design itself is not flamboyant but that is a good thing given that this is Proton's first foray into the 

MPV market. Keeping it simple meant they made very little mistake in terms of overall look and feel and ergonomics.

If there is any criticism of the cabin design, it rests with the choice of textures used throughout.

Using three different textures on different colours of plastic creates a distracting visual background.

Obviously the price determines the quality of materials that find their way into any product. However, in the Exora, it does not look like Proton made too much of a compromise but choosing the leather option is a fantastic cabin improver.

With the high-line you also get an optional DVD player and most parents can vouch that it is a useful tool for keeping the kids happy and quiet on long drives.

Proton also went simple on the exterior design, surfaces are large and calm while the lines are confident and uncluttered. Some will like the simplicity while others would crave for more curves and sophistication.

Choosing the top high-line model with body kit and nicer alloy wheels creates instant visual improvement over the basic model.

The white car we tested have gone through several months of hard use as loan car for events and was also Proton's company car. However, it appears that the interior has held up rather well.

Everything is still intact and working while the plastic surfaces appear to have resisted scratches despite the heavy use.

Overall, the Exora looks like it has been well engineered and carefully put together.

Without a doubt, much of the public's attention has been trained on the 1.6-litre Campro engine and whether it can move so much on so little displacement.

The reality is that the Campro is adequately powered for family use. Those who want to gun their cars into corners or zip at high speed on the highway would be disappointed but if what you want is a comfortable family cruiser, the  Campro is adequate.

With cam phasing, variable inlet and reworked ECU, the Exora's engine can be spritely but you do have to work it hard to get the juices going. This is where this reviewer has to start choosing his words carefully. Like any engine, the  Campro is thirsty when worked past 3,500rpm and this happens pretty often if it is used as acommuter vehicle but if all seven seats are used then the cost per person per mile is more palatable.

However since most people drive alone or with just two seats occupied, the fuel consumption number sounds highly punitive.

During our test drive, the Exora returned between 12 and 15 litres per 100 kilometres in combined highway and urban driving. On the highway the Exora returned around 13 litres per kilometer.

This is not a very bad result considering the size and lugging capability of the vehicle.

One option is to use the Exora only as a weekend vehicle or only when the whole family needs to move, an option that many Naza Ria owners exercise.-mmail.