The Proton Satria Neo, a compact hatch that's claimed to be mildly sporting, was first introduced in 2007 - so it’s hardly a new car by any stretch of the imagination.
Continual price drops have, however, reduced the cost of Satria. That means it is now pitched more realistically against the competition, likes of which includes such big-league volume sellers as the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo.
Given that Proton owns Lotus it’s fitting that the Satria’s chassis has benefitted from the association with the British car-maker, which should bode well for its dynamics. According to Proton, the Satria is the model that it produced to attract a “youthful and sporty” buyer, describing the car as “the ultimate hot hatchback.”
That last remark is perhaps best not dwelt upon. The Satria Neo comes in two trim levels, GSX and Sport, each available with either a five-speed manual or four-speed auto ’box. In each case the engine is the same: a 1597cc petrol unit producing 111bhp at 6000rpm and 109lb ft at a relatively high 4000rpm. Combined economy is 42.8mpg for the manuals and 39.2mpg for the autos, with CO2 entering the atmosphere at the rate of 157g/km or 177g/km respectively.
Step inside and the first thing that strikes you, quite literally, is the roof lining. Even shorter drivers will struggle for headroom, and those nearing 6ft, or, god forbid, those over 6ft, will really struggle not to have their forward vision compromised by the top edge of the windscreen bisecting their eyeline. It really is that bad.
