Proton Satria Neo Reviewed
50connect road test the sporty Malasian supermini.
Before you write off the Malaysian car manufacturer conceived by a Prime Minister, could it be worth considering Proton's Satria Neo? We discover that the Lotus-influenced car offers a sporty choice at a good price.
In The Driving Seat
Satria Neo's marketing trumpets its Lotus engineering - Proton owns the sportscar manufacturer. A pleasant discovery is that the sporty name turns out to be not just a gimmicky badge.
The hot hatch is a driver's rather than a passenger's car, offering a firm ride that can be rough, but hugs the road and is very stable on corners.
As befits a would-be sportscar, there's little headroom, though the driver seat and steering column are height adjustable. It may not provide great comfort but this responsive car is fun to drive, and ideal for those looking for a bargain alternative to a sportscar, that's practical too.
Obviously those hoping for the power of a Lotus will be disappointed, but the Satria Neo isn't sluggish and copes on the motorway. You'll rapidly make your way up through the gears, and the engine is pretty noisy.
Vital Statistics
A little of Lotus' influence can be seen in the style of the Satria Neo, which looks smart with its aggressively sculpted bonnet.
Though only available as a 3 door car, it's fairly practical for passengers because there are three seats in the back each with a 3-point seatbelt, plus a handy foot rest in the middle.
All models come with air conditioning or climate control, remote central locking and alarm, ABS brakes with EBS, electric front windows and a radio/CD player with RDS and steering wheel mounted audio controls.
| Length | 3.905 m |
| Width | 1.710 m |
| Height | 1.420 m |
Under The Bonnet
Choose from 1.3 and 1.6 engines.
The 94 bhp 1.3 engine accelerates from 0-62 mph in 12.1 seconds, with a maximum speed of 112 mph.
The manual 111 bhp 1.6 takes 11.5 seconds and can reach a top speed of 118 mph, and there's also an automatic variant of this engine.
How Much?
The on the road price begins at a reasonable £7995 going up to £10395.
Road Tax & Petrol
| Model | Vehicle Excise Duty band | Fuel Consumption (combined) |
| 1.3 SX MT | E | 39.79 mpg |
| 1.3 GSX MT | E | 39.79 mpg |
| 1.6 GSX MT | D | 42.8 mpg |
| 1.6 GSX AT | E | 38.18 mpg |
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