Proton Satria Neo : PRO PLUS

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Proton's Satria Neo brings a surprising dose of style and sharp driving manners to the budget supermini sector. Andy Enright reports

Most of us are comfortable with the idea of Proton building cheap and cheerful cars. We don't mind that they have a few rough edges, given the bargain basement pricing. Those with a little more insight will know that due to Proton owning Lotus, they have received a massive boost when it comes to vehicle dynamics. Get in a modern Proton and I challenge you to find, say, an Audi that steers better. The thing is, Proton has ambition. The company seems fed up with its position at or near the bottom of the vehicular hierarchy.

Ambition can be a very dangerous thing, especially for a company that's making decent if unspectacular profits doing what it's been doing for years. With the Satria Neo, Proton aims to take the risk factor out of reaching a little upmarket. The company is basing its belief on no hype - just a very strong basic product. This presupposes that car buyers will recognise the Neo's inherent qualities, something that may not always be the case. The Lotus involvement is evident the moment you get rolling in a Satria Neo. There's a directness, a lack of flab in the steering system that eludes many sports car manufacturers. Detailed feedback courses through the wheel, thus building confidence in the amount of grip that's available to you. Proton has got it right here. It's far better to have a car with modest power and superb dynamics than the other way round. The suspension of all Satria Neo models offers a very well-judged balance between ride quality and handling, the multi-link rear suspension offering the engineers a number of tuning options. Lateral rigidity has been improved front and rear compared to the GEN-2 family hatch, with revised cross member designs. More aggressive spring and damper rates offer a sportier feel. Only one engine is now available, a 1.6-litre CAMPRO petrol unit shared with the GEN-2 albeit geared down to offer sharper acceleration off the line. This 111bhp powerplant is capable of 118mph and producing 148Nm of torque. A four-speed automatic transmission is also offered.

"The Lotus involvement is evident the moment you get rolling in a Satria Neo"

There's an old adage that says that if something looks right, it is right. Whoever coined it had clearly never driven a Ferrari 348 but there's always an exception. The Satria Neo has what those chin strokers in black polo necks would describe as `front to rear cohesion'. In other words, it looks the part with nary a line out of place. Those who remember the old Satria GTi - a massively underrated, if slightly underpowered, hatch - will be comforted by the fact that the Satria Neo is much the same size. It's a mere 3,905mm long, although the wheelbase and the track have been extended significantly, freeing up more room inside the car for passengers and luggage. The rear seat is a 60/40 split/fold number and with the bench in place, there's 286 litres of space. With it fully-folded, there's a cavernous 615 litres to play with. Available in a three-door bodystyle only, the Satria Neo features relatively easy entry to the back with a sliding front seat that features a memory function so that it always returns to the desired position. A height-adjustable steering wheel has been positioned at a revised angle to increase driver leg room. By now, you probably want to know how cheap is cheap. I'll get straight to the point. The 1.6-litre Satria Neo only comes in GSX guise and that carries a £9,995 sticker price. Equipment highlights include 16-inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler and body coloured electrically adjustable and heated mirrors. Compare the prices of a Satria Neo to something modest like a Chevrolet Aveo and it looks very good value. The rather smaller 1.4-litre Aveo weighs in at around £9,000 and manages only 93bhp whereas the better equipped 111bhp 1.6-litre Proton not only drives better and looks better but seems a smarter piece of business to boot. Although the headline prices of the Satria Neo models do look initially attractive, part of the sheen is taken off when it comes to residual values as a Proton will never fare as well as a name like Ford or Vauxhall. What customers lose in depreciation they can claw back when it comes to driving enjoyment. Economy figures for the Satria Neo are fair to middling. The 1.6 will manage 28mpg around town, 61.4mpg on a longer trip and maintain an average of 42,8mpg. Emissions are reasonable too at 157g/km. The Proton Satria Neo does all the fundamentals right. It looks good, drives well and makes sense on the balance sheet. Proton is hoping that the looks and the driving characteristics will score it sales and although the former may well be the case, perhaps the Malaysians need to be a little more proactive about getting the message across that this car is quite unlike any budget rival to drive. With a sales target of a mere 1,000 cars a year, perhaps Proton are selling the Satria Neo short. If I were in the market for a smart looking but inexpensive hatchback with the peace of mind of a new car, the Satria Neo would certainly make my shortlist. After driving it, you may well make that a shortlist of one.

Facts At A Glance
CAR: Proton Satria Neo range
PRICES: £9,995 - £10,995 on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 7
CO2 EMISSIONS: 157g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60 11.2s Top Speed 112mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: urban 28mpg extra urban 61.4mpg combined 42.8mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: twin airbags, ABS with EBD
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length 3905 width 1710 height 1420mm