Proton Satria Neo Tested

Proton has used the help of Lotus to design and develop the looks and handling of its new Satria. The most popular model from Proton, the Satria was more commonly known for its GTI version.

First impressions of the new version are that it isn't a bad looking car. It certainly has a sporty emphasis; a low roofline and sweeping bonnet give it quite a squat, purposeful stance. GSX models get 16-inch alloys under their flared wheel arches, and at the rear a large central exhaust completes the look.

Sadly, inside the car, it all gets rather disappointing. The dash is a mass of hard, grey plastic, against which the majority of controls look stuck on. Indicator stalks and illogically-placed electric window and mirror switches could be straight from a 1980's Japanese car parts bin.

We can't help but feel that despite Proton saying that this is a totally 'new' car, it probably isn't, as much of it feels stuck in the past. The overall build quality is very poor for a modern car; most of the dash and interior trim creak and rattle. The doors don't even make a solid 'clunk' when they shut; it's more of a tinny 'bang', proving how thin they are. The boot is inaccessible from outside the car too, so whilst laden with luggage you'll need to open the driver door and reach down by the seat to find the boot-release lever.

In the Satria's favour, there's a fair bit of standard equipment; the base SX version gets air-con, MP3 compatible CD player and reversing sensors and the GSX adds16-inch alloy wheels, front fog lamps and Bluetooth phone connectivity. However, the radio struggles to pick up a signal from the main BBC stations most of the time, even when you're in the centre of town.

Driving the car isn't the most enjoyable experience by any means, but the 1.6 engine we tested is powerful enough and thanks to its stiff suspension it handles well, and the steering is sharp and responsive too. It is possibly more suited to rural country roads, as driving both town and motorway routes can be tiresome due to the poor ride and excessive cabin noise. The loud, harsh sounding engine emits a constant drone when travelling at speed too, and sitting in traffic doesn't do much for the fuel economy. The driving position leaves a little to be desired too and although there is some seat-height adjustment, there isn't nearly enough. Anyone over 5'8 will find the steering wheel between their knees and 6-footers will suffer with the lack of headroom.

Despite a decent starting price of £7995, the 1.3 engines are not the best option as they have a poorer fuel economy than the 1.6 and also higher CO2 levels, so it's unlikely that this will be the model of choice for most buyers. Instead the 1.6 GSX costs just under £10k, putting it well and truly into the price bracket of the competition, with which it just doesn't come close.