2015 Mazda 6
2014 PROTON SUPRIMA AUSTRALIA
Proton's new Suprima S hatch, a five-door sibling to the small Prevé sedan, has arrived in Australia, on sale from January 1.
Kicking off at $21,790 drive-away for the base model manual, the Suprima S range is made up of two models, both powered by a turbo petrol engine mated to an auto transmission. A manual option will join the range later in the year, priced from $19,790.
That makes the Suprima S around $3800 more expensive than its Prevé stablemate, but as a more powerful and feature-rich model, Proton is expecting the hatch to prove competitive in the small car segment.
Mechanical Package
Power in the Suprima S is provided by a 1.6 litre turbo engine that delivers 103kW at 5000rpm and 205Nm between 2000-4000rpm; initially, a seven-speed CVT automatic is the only transmission on offer.
A six-speed manual option will join the range in 2014, and Proton Australia says that model will be around $2000 cheaper than the auto.
With the CVT auto, Suprima S claims a 0-100km/h time of 9.9 seconds. Local fuel consumption figures for the Suprima S are listed at 8.8 l/100km on the combined cycle.
Weighing in at around 1375kg depending on trim, the Suprima measures 4436mm long, 1786mm wide and 1524mm tall.
Those figures make the Suprima around 54mm shorter, 31mm wider and 54mm taller than the outgoing Mazda3. Its 2650mm wheelbase is also around 10mm longer.
The Suprima S also boasts 'Handling by Lotus' credentials, highlighting the British sports marque's involvement in Proton's new model development. (Watch for TMR's review in the coming weeks to see how this tuning program has played out for the Suprima S.)
Suspension is by MacPherson struts up front, matched to a rear multilink with stabiliser bar setup. Power-steering is hydraulic.
Features
Features for the entry Suprima S GX include driver and front passenger airbags, driver and front passenger side airbags, and full length curtain airbags for front and rear seat occupants.
There's also Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with brake assist, Traction control, ABS brakes with EBD, front Active Headrests, front seat belt pre-tensioners, auto door locks, rear proximity sensors and automatic Active Hazard Lights.
A black honeycomb grille and LED daytime running lights are also standard.
Moving up to the markedly more expensive $26,590 GXR model, the Suprima S adds leather trim, seven-inch display with GPS, reversing camera and DVD player, push-button start/stop, steering-mounted paddle shifters, cruise control, automatic headlights and wipers, climate control and a range of piano black highlights in the cabin.
Rear storage capacity is listed at 309 litres with the rear seats up, expanding to 427 litres when folded flat. By comparison, the Preve offers 508 litres of boot storage.
The Suprima S is offered with a "5 Star Program", which includes a five-year program for warranty, roadside assistance and free servicing. There's also a seven-year "anti-corrosion" warranty.
The Suprima also benefits from a 5-Star ANCAP safety rating, confirmed recently through the hatch's status as a variant of the Prevé sedan.
Note: international photos used. Local images coming.
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- Suprima | Preve | Proton | Small Cars
Pricing (drive-away)
The Suprima S is available from January 1, initially only with CVT availability.
- Suprima S GX - manual - $19,790
- Suprima S GX - CVT auto - $21,790
- Suprima S GXR - manual - $26,590
- Suprima S GXR - CVT auto - $26,590
