Basic HTML Version
FireFlyz | 67
to commit. Quite well balanced, I must
admit. The Suprima comes too with the
newly added Hill Hold Assist so the car
doesn’t roll back when you lift the brakes
off on a slope.
Interior
The interior doesn’t stray far from the
Preve’s. The dashboard is uncluttered
and can be guilty of looking rather
flat. Thankfully, the silvery trim on the
dashboard helps give it a more youthful
look. Sitting centerstage now is the 7”
touchscreen infotainment system that
includes navigation, DVD player, Wi-Fi
and Bluetooth connectivity and a reversed
camera display. There is quite a list of
features to learn and the display quality
needs to be strengthened to fight the
mid-day sun.
Since the Suprima is cut from the Preve
sedan, only the trunk space seems to have
been sacrificed; it has shrunk to 309 liters
from 508. Rear legroom is appreciatively
unchanged from the sedan, which means
long legs don’t suffer on long rides. The
rear bench is pretty flat so the middle
passenger doesn’t get a hump in the rump.
The front seats however, seems to sit a
little too high, making the driving position
a little awkward for some. Otherwise, it’s
a satisfactorily comfortable and quiet
cabin to be in.
Verdict
The Suprima seems best suited for the
young individual or couple, or someone
who needs a short car that still provides
ample legroom in the back. Is this the best
car Proton has made? That’s without a
doubt. Is it the best car in its class? Maybe
if you’re only looking at the equipment
list. Some refinement in certain aspects
is still required, but improvements are
there and it seems to be headed in the
right direction. If Proton puts its ears to
the ground and nose to the grindstone, it
could just make some more established
carmakers nervous.
better. The 17” wheels fill up the space
nicely giving the car a more planted
stance.
The rear quarter has been hatchback-
ed and bears no resemblance to the sedan
that gave it life. The rear roof spoiler,
light cluster, tailgate and bumper are
completely new with only the bumper’s
top sharing some linear similarities. The
rear diffuser-like part adds some sporty
vibe though it’s not really clear on its
functionality. Overall, it does seem like the
front and rear were designed at different
times, possibly by different people.
Power
Sitting under the hood is the familiar
turbocharged 1.6 liter CamPro engine
shared with several other Proton models.
It may be a mild turbo, but the 205Nm of
torque is available from 2,000rpm. That’s
good enough to pull the car forward with
relative ease.
However, it’s not a simple stomp-the-
gas-pedal-to-the-floor-and-watch-it-go
type of thing, but more of a need for
gradual, continual pressure on the pedal.
That’s because the engine is mated to
a continuously variable transmission
with seven virtual gears rather than a
conventional cogged transmission. The
138hp engine is grunty and quite easily
revved, but response from the transmis-
sion didn’t quite match up; there’s always
the excuse of using the paddle shifters to
even things out.
Drive
The driving dynamics is the Suprima’s
strongest point. Suspension set-up feels
appropriate, the chassis feels taut and
the hydraulic-powered steering is well
weighted. Bumps are soaked up fairly
well by the absorbers, but when riding
on uneven roads, the car seems to heave
a bit more than expected.
There is also slight body roll in tight
bends, but it feels progressive and well
controlled and that gives you confidence
Specif ications
ENGINE
1,561cc turbocharged CamPro
OUTPUT
128hp@5,000rpm; 205Nm@
2,000–4,000rpm
TRANSMISSION
7-speed ProTronic Continuously
Variable Transmission
BRAKESANDSUSPENSION
Ventilated discs (front); solid
discs (rear); MacPherson struts
(front); multi-linkwith stabilizer
bar (rear); ABS; EBD; BA; Hill Hold
Assist; ESC; Traction Control
TYRE SIZE
205/45 R17
WHEELBASE (mm)
2,650
DIMENSIONS (mm)
4,436 (L) x 1,786 (W) x 1,524 (H)
KERBWEIGHT (kg)
1,395
FUEL TANK (l)
50
PRICE (On the roadwith
insurance)
RM79,942.95