The final twilight years of the first-generation Proton Saga (1985–2008) saw the legendary original chassis receive modern, youth-oriented refreshes to stay competitive before the Saga BLM arrived.
Proton Saga Iswara LMSS (2001–2003)
- The Bridge: Served as the final classic Iswara Aeroback iteration before major modern restyling.
- Aesthetics: Retained the traditional boxy silhouette, side body claddings, ribbed taillights, and subtle rear boot spoiler.
- Drivetrain: Powered by the proven, low-maintenance 1.3L 4G13 12-valve carbureted engine.
Proton Saga LMST (2003–2006)
- The Millennial Facelift: Proton gave the aging chassis a drastic modern makeover aimed at fresh graduates and first-time car buyers.
- Exterior Tweaks: Smoothed-out door panels (removal of thick side rubbers), color-matched door handles, refreshed bumpers, modern alloy wheels, and clear-lens headlamps and taillights.
- Interior & Mechanicals: Received a brand-new modern dashboard with round air vents, a modernized gauge cluster, and an upgraded sports exhaust system.
Proton Saga LMST “Final Edition” (2006–2008)
- The Grand Send-Off: Often known as the 50th Merdeka / Final Edition before the all-new 2008 Saga BLM debuted.
- Aggressive Styling: Featured a distinctive honeycomb front grille, an aggressive front bumper with integrated fog light recesses, side skirts, and signature colors like metallic burnt orange.
- Legacy: The final evolution of Mitsubishi-derived first-generation Saga engineering, ending a historic 23-year production run for the original platform.
