When Proton unveiled the second-generation Perdana, local car enthusiasts immediately gave it a permanent nickname, the “Accordana.” Based almost entirely on the iconic and handsome 8th-generation Honda Accord, the 2-liter and 2.4-liter D-segment executive sedans promised Honda’s bulletproof mechanical reliability backed by a local badge.

The funny thing is this ……. Proton design team decided that they could do a better job than Honda Japan and so this Perdana came out looking …… well …….. you can see it for yourself.

Then there were issues with build quality ……. not surprising.

Add to that the local vendors that did not provide quality parts.

A recipe for failure in a shiny new executive sedan designed to provide transportation for high ranking government servants. What was wrong in using the Proton EXORA for civil servant transportation? After all they already had nice cars in their garages in their family members names. This was just the vehicle used for official functions. Yes.

The unofficial and often used vehicle in every senior government employees garage was a Vellfire or Alphard!

Meanwhile, on paper, offering a Japanese D-segment car at a fraction of the cost seemed like a formula for commercial success. Instead, the 2nd-generation Proton Perdana suffered very sluggish consumer sales, faced early commercial stagnation and today experiences far sharper depreciation on the used market than the equivalent-year Honda Accord.

This Perdana (launched in 2013 and discontinued in 2015) was initially strictly reserved as an official government fleet vehicle. Except for its unattractive cosmetic adjustments, a revised front grille and Proton badging, it was identical to the 8th-generation Honda Accord. Because it wasn’t sold to the general public during this period, consumer enthusiasm stalled before the car even reached showrooms.

Then in 2016, Proton launched the civilian version (discontinued in 2020) with a heavily restyled “fastback” exterior, featuring unique front bumpers, silly looking elongated rear overhangs and a redesigned rear profile to keep any buyers away. However, under the restyled body panels, the core platform, engine lineup (2.0L R20A and 2.4L K24Z i-VTEC) and interior layout remained unchanged from the popular 8th-generation Accord.

Compared to contemporary rivals like the new 9th-generation Accord, Mazda 6 or Toyota Camry, the Perdana lacked modern amenities. It retained an older 5-speed automatic transmission, lacked active safety suites (like Honda Sensing or AEB) and featured an infotainment system that felt and sounded dated upon arrival.

While Proton spent considerable design effort creating a sleek fastback silhouette for the 2016 civilian version, the proportions created mixed reactions. To accommodate the original Honda Accord crash structures, the car was stretched to over 5 meters in length, making it longer than many luxury executive saloons. The elongated rear overhang, combined with an unchanged interior dashboard and door cards, left buyers thinking ‘this is an after thought’!

The second-generation Perdana arrived during a broader shift in consumer taste. D-segment Japanese sedans were losing ground to compact C-segment SUVs (like the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5) and entry-level luxury compacts. Private buyers were less inclined to purchase large petrol-powered saloons, leaving the Perdana dependent on government and corporate fleet purchases.

Today, in the used car market, a well looking after 2015 Perdana 2.0L selling price starts at RM17k but can be yours for RM15k. The 2017 version a little more at RM22k and easily negotiated down RM20k.

There are plenty of units on sale and most are in very good condition, but exterior trim provided by Proton vendors can and will be an issue. (see units below)

Better to look at the this Perdana’s donor car, the 2010 Honda Accord which remains a handsome weill built sedan with better features and build and prices are lower ….. simply because it is an older car. (see possibilities below)

If you can stretch your budget a little, better to look at …… the 2014 Honda Accord which is RM10k or so more and offers better features, handling and looks.(examples below)