A couple weeks ago I swapped my bike for a new Satria Neo CPS from Proton Center of Excellence for a 3-day test drive.
The Satria Neo is arguably one of the best looking hatch backs out on the road, and the CPS version has a few improvements that makes this even more so. The unit I came in a shiny black coat with the bigger rear spoiler, body kit, and the new 16″ rims that looks quite a lot better on the car compared to the original Neo’s “blink blink” rims.
Proton Satria Neo CPS
On the inside, the improvement in workmanship can be clearly seen compared to some previous models. The dashboard is clean and minimalistic while sporting blue and yellow illumination that makes reading the speedometer and tachometer very easy in low light condition.
I particularly like the two-tone semi-bucket leather seats for the driver and front passenger. They are not only visually rather stunning, but strikes a balance between comfort and seat position rigidness when you need to keep yourself from sliding off the seat around a fast corner.
Interior of the Satria Neo
The in-car entertainment unit scrolls out a “PROTON SYMPHONY” text whenever it is turned on, and while the sound system isn’t particularly high end, it does carry itself pretty well. No upgrades shall be necessary if you’re not an audiophile.
The one possible downside of the interior, depending on your body height, is the relatively low headroom for driver and front passenger. At 5′6 I am still quite comfortable with it, but I reckon those who are over 6′ tall would have a harder time especially if you are those who likes to sit closer to the steering wheel.
the 16″ Sports Rims with 195 50 R16 tyres
Other than styling and slight interior changes, the Satria Neo CPS differs from the regular Satria Neo in another crucial item, the engine. While the regular 1.6 Satria gets 110hp (112ps), the 1.6 liter Campro CPS engine in this car gets 125ps at 6500 rpm and 150 Nm of torque at 4500 rpm. That’s a good 10% increment achieved by a variable valve lift system in the new motor which Proton refers to as Cam Profile Switching, hence the acronym CPS. This is similar to DVVT, VTTI, VTEC and other technologies.
Rear shot, Proton Satria Neo CPS
3 days and some 200 km later, I must say that the car did not disappoint. Handling, especially around the bends was very good, the car felt steady and there is minimal body roll. Sound insulation is another aspect that I really like about this car, while you can hear the engine roar above 4-5k rpm, outside traffic noise is rather muted (view video taken in the Smart Tunnel below).
Fuel consumption also seems to be pretty good for this car. I collected this car with the gauge pointing at half tank, and returned it with slightly less than 1/4 tank after closed to 200km of mixed highway and city driving.
more photos at flickr set
The Satria Neo CPS goes for RM 57,763 (Manual) and RM 60,763 (Automatic Transmission), that is a lot of car for the money. Price quoted from Proton Edar.
Related Posts:
- Blood Donation for Multiple Bypass Surgery (type A+)
- 1-day trip to Manila for KL Dragons vs Philippines Patriots
- Tenji Japanese Buffet at Solaris, Mont Kiara
By Mellissa on May 6, 2009 | Reply
Cannot believe you weren’t listening to Taylor Swift, what is this blasphemy!
By Myhorng on May 6, 2009 | Reply
fast n furious no longer screening dy the post baru come out. real slow lar.
By Tan Yee Hou on May 6, 2009 | Reply
haaahaaa mell so picky one!!!
i loved the handling but thought that the engine was a real piece of… well Proton has awhile more to go before their engines beat the jappies.
By KY on May 6, 2009 | Reply
Mellissa,
Ahhh I don’t have the CD!
Myhorng,
Hahahah, oh well, still relevant!
Tan Yee Hou,
Well yah I think we need a bigger motor for a real GTi replacement too.
By Gowhere Dowhat on May 6, 2009 | Reply
Cool….but am not a Proton fan even though I am still driving a Wira
. Hey I know exactly where u were testing driving this car….so near to grandma’s house 
By JD on May 6, 2009 | Reply
Certainly a stylish car but maybe for young working adults? For someone who started a family, might not be as practical with the 2 door.
By ShaolinTiger on May 6, 2009 | Reply
Yah looking forward to a real GTi successor with a 2.0 6-speed turbo or something
By KY on May 6, 2009 | Reply
Gowhere Dowhat,
Ooo grandma stays near taman bahagia, or smart tunnel? hehe
JD,
Yah that’s always the downside for any 2=door cars.
ShaolinTiger,
Yah Can’t wait!
By fatboybakes on May 6, 2009 | Reply
wah, ky, so versatile hor, can blog about cars and single malts!!! nice meeting u bro.
By Bengbeng on May 6, 2009 | Reply
the engine purrs along which is good. the pricing is orite and i agree abt the interior but bcoz two doors it automatically is out of my shopping list.
By KY on May 6, 2009 | Reply
fatboybakes,
Nice meeting you too!
Hahhaha must be diverse maaa
Bengbeng,
Oh well, that means you’re too old for the sporty sporty?
By Jade Zheng on May 6, 2009 | Reply
not bad. so; u wanna buy onot? but then i like your noisy car engine *vrroooom! lol~
By KY on May 6, 2009 | Reply
Jade Zheng,
Hahhaha wait first wait first
By vialentino on May 6, 2009 | Reply
wow…nice car review here….the price is affordable too…
By eiling on May 6, 2009 | Reply
that is a lot of money for a small locally made car with 2 doors!
By Kclee2002 on May 7, 2009 | Reply
great car, although i find the power abit lacking as compared to my 96 satria(lighter chassis). Unless perhaps if there is a more aggressive camshafts for the cps, I’d would probably love to own the cps
By KY on May 7, 2009 | Reply
vialentino,
I agree.
eiling,
1: some of the most expensive cars in the world are all 2-door cars.
2: why would you so readily assume that locally made = inferior?
Kclee2002,
Yah the CPS does pack a bigger punch.
By Huai Bin on May 7, 2009 | Reply
Oh, you’re right! It is the same car. Same licence plate.
By eiling on May 7, 2009 | Reply
I am not against high priced 2 door cars but only Proton cars. I like Perodua though.. Oops
By KY on May 8, 2009 | Reply
Huai Bin,
Yah!
eiling,
Hahaha Myvi is only some RM 10k cheaper.
By Rockon on May 8, 2009 | Reply
Fine example you showing there, filming while driving.
By Jess on May 8, 2009 | Reply
LOL u know what ky? If i had ONE locally made car to choose, i’d choose this. Been loving satria’s, satria gts, and satria neos all the while
By KY on May 8, 2009 | Reply
Rockon,
Hahah :X
Jess,
Yaa, me too!
By Ahdave on May 8, 2009 | Reply
Errr you showed the whole world you are speeding in the smart tunnel. And told the its the same number plate. :X
By aeroplane1234 on May 9, 2009 | Reply
is true. one of the best looking one. but its hard to apprehend the same company made Juara. somewhere along the line has some tumor. btweem MR2 and satria neo…. still think a toyota tag is more bitch picking – yes, i aint that beli buatan malaysia person
By KY on May 9, 2009 | Reply
Ahdave,
Speeding? no laa slow onlyyyy
aeroplane1234,
Cos you richh!
By Simon Seow on May 11, 2009 | Reply
Car is no longer Paul Tan’s territory alone. lol
By KY on May 12, 2009 | Reply
Simon Seow,
Hahah he’s still the pro
By Glenn Guan on May 13, 2009 | Reply
wahh. video driving.. never kena saman or ‘long chia’ ar ? kekekeke.. LOL*
By KY on May 14, 2009 | Reply
Glenn Guan,
Shhhh.
By RAF on Jun 11, 2009 | Reply
mcm mn u bolih dapat this car cepat? bc i booking from mac antil now i still x dpt stok
By KY on Jun 14, 2009 | Reply
RAF,
oOo this was a test car.
By RAF on Jun 17, 2009 | Reply
HAI KY..Ooo like that aaa..ok
By RAF on Jun 17, 2009 | Reply
so not your car la…
By KY on Jun 17, 2009 | Reply
RAF,
You’re right, this was not my car.
By RAF on Jun 17, 2009 | Reply
ok la bro..i just receive coll frm the sales man…mb i can get my car by and of this month
By RAF on Jun 17, 2009 | Reply
now am so….happy bro..ok anything tq..k byyyy…
By Lyanna on Jun 24, 2009 | Reply
Just got my Tranquility Black CPS a few days ago. Absolutely loved it! I’m so excited on bringing the car for miles and miles..
and the song was Utada Hikaru, so not Taylor Swift
By KY on Jun 25, 2009 | Reply
RAF,
Awesome.
Lyanna,
Hahaha I like Utada Hikaru too! Got quite a lot of her songs.
By mezang on Aug 4, 2009 | Reply
i ordered my cps AT solid white 24 july..am really concernd on how long i have to w8 -.-
need some feedbacks on the w8ing time =)
By KY on Aug 5, 2009 | Reply
mezang,
Hopefully soon, good luck!
By Labuan on Aug 14, 2009 | Reply
lol i can buy honda city for 55000 but the bad is i cant go far placebecause i live at labuan. 1 pulau dalam 4 minit haha
By Labuan on Aug 14, 2009 | Reply
1 pulau i can go for 40 minit hahaha
By KY on Aug 15, 2009 | Reply
Labuan,
Hahha yah it’s so small!
By Amen on Nov 9, 2009 | Reply
i ordered white mt cps 18/8/09 and still dunno where is he right now..no single news about the delivery…and im so tired waiting for it..think twice if u wanna buy this car…its a good car..but the waiting period is the fucker..why Proton is sooooooo poor in term of service?
By KY on Nov 10, 2009 | Reply
Amen,
Wah that’s way slow!