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
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.

Proton Satria Neo CPS interior
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.

Satria Neo CPS Sports Rims
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.

Proton Satria Neo CPS
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.

KY drives – Satria Neo CPS
Tagged on:             

49 thoughts on “KY drives – Satria Neo CPS

  • May 6, 2009 at 11:26 am
    Permalink

    Cannot believe you weren’t listening to Taylor Swift, what is this blasphemy!

    Reply
  • May 6, 2009 at 11:55 am
    Permalink

    fast n furious no longer screening dy the post baru come out. real slow lar.

    Reply
  • May 6, 2009 at 12:04 pm
    Permalink

    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.

    Reply
  • May 6, 2009 at 12:05 pm
    Permalink

    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.

    Reply
  • May 6, 2009 at 12:11 pm
    Permalink

    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 🙂

    Reply
  • May 6, 2009 at 12:39 pm
    Permalink

    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.

    Reply
  • May 6, 2009 at 12:42 pm
    Permalink

    Yah looking forward to a real GTi successor with a 2.0 6-speed turbo or something 😀

    Reply
  • May 6, 2009 at 12:46 pm
    Permalink

    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!

    Reply
  • May 6, 2009 at 1:26 pm
    Permalink

    wah, ky, so versatile hor, can blog about cars and single malts!!! nice meeting u bro.

    Reply
  • May 6, 2009 at 3:24 pm
    Permalink

    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.

    Reply
  • May 6, 2009 at 5:41 pm
    Permalink

    fatboybakes,
    Hahhaha must be diverse maaa 😛 Nice meeting you too!

    Bengbeng,
    Oh well, that means you’re too old for the sporty sporty? 😛

    Reply
  • May 6, 2009 at 7:46 pm
    Permalink

    not bad. so; u wanna buy onot? but then i like your noisy car engine *vrroooom! lol~

    Reply
  • May 6, 2009 at 8:02 pm
    Permalink

    Jade Zheng,
    Hahhaha wait first wait first

    Reply
  • May 6, 2009 at 10:18 pm
    Permalink

    that is a lot of money for a small locally made car with 2 doors!

    Reply
  • May 7, 2009 at 1:21 am
    Permalink

    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 😀

    Reply
  • May 7, 2009 at 4:55 am
    Permalink

    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. 😀

    Reply
  • May 7, 2009 at 1:44 pm
    Permalink

    Oh, you’re right! It is the same car. Same licence plate. 🙂

    Reply
  • May 7, 2009 at 11:07 pm
    Permalink

    I am not against high priced 2 door cars but only Proton cars. I like Perodua though.. Oops

    Reply
  • May 8, 2009 at 12:44 am
    Permalink

    Huai Bin,
    Yah! 😀

    eiling,
    Hahaha Myvi is only some RM 10k cheaper.

    Reply
  • May 8, 2009 at 3:17 am
    Permalink

    Fine example you showing there, filming while driving.

    Reply
  • May 8, 2009 at 10:03 am
    Permalink

    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

    Reply
  • May 8, 2009 at 12:24 pm
    Permalink

    Rockon,
    Hahah :X

    Jess,
    Yaa, me too! 😀

    Reply
  • May 8, 2009 at 2:02 pm
    Permalink

    Errr you showed the whole world you are speeding in the smart tunnel. And told the its the same number plate. :X

    Reply
  • May 9, 2009 at 9:23 am
    Permalink

    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

    Reply
  • May 9, 2009 at 11:34 am
    Permalink

    Ahdave,
    Speeding? no laa slow onlyyyy

    aeroplane1234,
    Cos you richh! 😀

    Reply
  • May 12, 2009 at 9:22 am
    Permalink

    Simon Seow,
    Hahah he’s still the pro

    Reply
  • May 13, 2009 at 5:11 pm
    Permalink

    wahh. video driving.. never kena saman or ‘long chia’ ar ? kekekeke.. LOL*

    Reply
  • June 11, 2009 at 4:08 pm
    Permalink

    mcm mn u bolih dapat this car cepat? bc i booking from mac antil now i still x dpt stok

    Reply
  • June 14, 2009 at 4:27 pm
    Permalink

    RAF,
    oOo this was a test car. 😀

    Reply
  • June 17, 2009 at 11:29 am
    Permalink

    HAI KY..Ooo like that aaa..ok

    Reply
  • June 17, 2009 at 12:12 pm
    Permalink

    RAF,
    You’re right, this was not my car. 🙂

    Reply
  • June 17, 2009 at 3:23 pm
    Permalink

    ok la bro..i just receive coll frm the sales man…mb i can get my car by and of this month

    Reply
  • June 17, 2009 at 3:25 pm
    Permalink

    now am so….happy bro..ok anything tq..k byyyy…

    Reply
  • June 24, 2009 at 11:59 pm
    Permalink

    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 😀

    Reply
  • June 25, 2009 at 9:27 am
    Permalink

    RAF,
    Awesome. 😀

    Lyanna,
    Hahaha I like Utada Hikaru too! Got quite a lot of her songs. 😉

    Reply
  • August 4, 2009 at 8:44 pm
    Permalink

    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 =)

    Reply
  • August 5, 2009 at 9:08 am
    Permalink

    mezang,
    Hopefully soon, good luck! 😀

    Reply
  • August 14, 2009 at 1:53 pm
    Permalink

    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

    Reply
  • August 14, 2009 at 1:55 pm
    Permalink

    1 pulau i can go for 40 minit hahaha

    Reply
  • August 15, 2009 at 2:06 pm
    Permalink

    Labuan,
    Hahha yah it’s so small!

    Reply
  • November 9, 2009 at 7:02 pm
    Permalink

    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?

    Reply
  • November 10, 2009 at 8:55 am
    Permalink

    Amen,
    Wah that’s way slow!

    Reply
  • Pingback:Exora My Unbeatable Family – KYspeaks

  • January 27, 2011 at 7:56 pm
    Permalink

    amen? where did u oder that car.. i oder it lat year n got it this year… i think so should try to oder it from petaling jaya… bekos the waiting list is actually 3 months.. but depends on luck.. pj is nearest to the factory.. im sure u will get it faster here . try lo..

    Reply
    • January 28, 2011 at 8:22 am
      Permalink

      ian: i didn’t order one, was only reviewing the car. 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Reply to ian Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *