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.
Cannot believe you weren’t listening to Taylor Swift, what is this blasphemy!
fast n furious no longer screening dy the post baru come out. real slow lar.
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.
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.
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 🙂
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.
Yah looking forward to a real GTi successor with a 2.0 6-speed turbo or something 😀
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!
wah, ky, so versatile hor, can blog about cars and single malts!!! nice meeting u bro.
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.
fatboybakes,
Hahhaha must be diverse maaa 😛 Nice meeting you too!
Bengbeng,
Oh well, that means you’re too old for the sporty sporty? 😛
not bad. so; u wanna buy onot? but then i like your noisy car engine *vrroooom! lol~
Jade Zheng,
Hahhaha wait first wait first
wow…nice car review here….the price is affordable too…
that is a lot of money for a small locally made car with 2 doors!
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 😀
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. 😀
Oh, you’re right! It is the same car. Same licence plate. 🙂
I am not against high priced 2 door cars but only Proton cars. I like Perodua though.. Oops
Huai Bin,
Yah! 😀
eiling,
Hahaha Myvi is only some RM 10k cheaper.
Fine example you showing there, filming while driving.
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
Rockon,
Hahah :X
Jess,
Yaa, me too! 😀
Errr you showed the whole world you are speeding in the smart tunnel. And told the its the same number plate. :X
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
Ahdave,
Speeding? no laa slow onlyyyy
aeroplane1234,
Cos you richh! 😀
Car is no longer Paul Tan’s territory alone. lol
Simon Seow,
Hahah he’s still the pro
wahh. video driving.. never kena saman or ‘long chia’ ar ? kekekeke.. LOL*
Glenn Guan,
Shhhh. 😛
mcm mn u bolih dapat this car cepat? bc i booking from mac antil now i still x dpt stok
RAF,
oOo this was a test car. 😀
HAI KY..Ooo like that aaa..ok
so not your car la…
RAF,
You’re right, this was not my car. 🙂
ok la bro..i just receive coll frm the sales man…mb i can get my car by and of this month
now am so….happy bro..ok anything tq..k byyyy…
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 😀
RAF,
Awesome. 😀
Lyanna,
Hahaha I like Utada Hikaru too! Got quite a lot of her songs. 😉
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 =)
mezang,
Hopefully soon, good luck! 😀
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
1 pulau i can go for 40 minit hahaha
Labuan,
Hahha yah it’s so small!
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?
Amen,
Wah that’s way slow!
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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..
ian: i didn’t order one, was only reviewing the car. 🙂