- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
1.6T, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
103kW, 205Nm
- Fuel
Petrol 8.8L/100KM
- Manufacturer
FWD
- Transmission
Auto (CVT)
- Warranty
5 Yr, 150000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
5/5 star (2013)
Proton Suprima S GXR: First drive review
Badges often have plenty to say about a car, though the message is usually in a shorthand known only to the community of car enthusiasts, where small combinations of letters such as STI or CSL hint that a car is something special.
So a rump with “TURBO” in large chrome letters followed with “Handling by Lotus” sends a clear message intended for every road user, not just those who have brushed up on automotive abbreviations.
Proton did not mince words when decorating the Suprima S, choosing jewellery that promises punch and poise in a regular hatchback package.
Both badges are correct in the literal sense, but customers might feel shortchanged - or just a bit silly - in a car that claims sporting credibility but cannot back it up.
The Suprima S has a turbo on the side of its 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine that produces a lazy 103kW, or 5kW less than the outgoing Mazda3.
A continuously variable automatic is the only transmission available for now, with a six-speed manual set to arrive in 2014.
The combination pulls smoothly if not effortlessly, with plenty of noise from the motor and drone from its transmission. As with many CVT-equipped cars, throttle response is doughy and the engine works hard on inclines or when pressed into acceleration.
Steering wheel-mounted shift paddles allow drivers to choose between seven pre-set ratios along the CVT’s spectrum, giving keen drivers a better opportunity to interact with the engine.
The Suprima S drinks 9.1L/100km - well more than hatchback rivals and even more than a petrol-fuelled Porsche Panamera sedan - while accelerating from rest to 100km/h in a tardy 9.9 seconds.
At $26,590 plus on-road costs, the Suprima S GXR is not a rival to hot hatches such as the Volkswagen Golf GTI or Ford Fiesta ST, with Proton instead pitching it as a value-packed alternative to the Mazda3 or Holden Cruze, with “exceptional dynamics” and “an incomparable driving experience” as key points of difference.
This is the brand’s first car to wear a “Handling by Lotus” badge since the highly-regarded Satria GTi was discontinued in 2002.
But the new car is a dynamic let-down, with steering that is heavy and unresponsive, particularly off-centre.
Sharp bumps kick back through the steering wheel, and vertical body control is bouncy compared with disciplined rivals such as the Ford Focus.
On the inside, the Suprima has a sweeping, stylish dash made with modern soft-touch plastics.
Silver trim around the console brightens the interior, and is a welcome point of difference over dated faux wood used in the four-door Preve.
The car has plenty of space in the rear, with enough headroom for taller-than-average passengers, and it has a a five-star safety rating that is now par for the course in small cars.
We tested the generously appointed Suprima S GXR, which features front and rear parking sensors along with satellite navigation and a reversing camera displayed on a 7-inch touchscreen.
The screen is powered by a computer running Android firmware that can be upgraded with apps in a similar fashion to smartphones. The system is capable of producing an in-car WiFi network for other devices in the car, though it must be tethered to a smartphone or wireless network. Proton says it could also work via USB dongles that tap into mobile phone networks, though that feature is not immediately available in Australian models.
We could not put the Suprima’s infotainment system to the test, as it froze with a startup screen shortly after we were given the car. Attempts to restart it were fruitless, though Proton was able to reboot the system at the end of our test drive.
Owners are likely to be well-supported by Proton’s growing dealer network, which offers a five-year 150,000 kilometre warranty and roadside assistance package as well as five years of servicing. The car will also be the subject of drive-away pricing deals that further sharpen its values.
But in some ways the computer glitch seemed a lot like the Suprima S itself; a promising item on paper but not as well executed in practice.
Nuts and Bolts
Proton Suprima S GXR
Price: $26,590 plus on-road costs
Engine: 1.6-litre turbo petrol
Transmission: CVT automatic, FWD
Power: 103kW
Torque: 205Nm
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km.
On sale: January 2014.