Proton Exora Review: Specs, Generations, and Which Version to Buy
Full Proton Exora specs overview: a compact van built since 2009 with 126–140 hp, one generation, and advice on which 1.6 version to choose.
The Proton Exora is a compact van produced from 2009 to the present, offered with engines from 126 to 140 hp. It suits buyers who need a practical family van with simple front-wheel-drive mechanicals; this overview covers the full Proton Exora specs across its single generation and three modifications.
Proton Exora generations
1 generation (2009–present)
The first and only generation of the Proton Exora has been in production since 2009, exclusively as a compact van with front-wheel drive. Power ranges from 126 to 140 hp, and the lineup counts three modifications with Automatic, CVT, and Manual gearboxes. All versions use a 1.6-litre (1597 cc) engine, and every one of them drives the front wheels — no all-wheel-drive option has ever been offered for the model. The notable variants are the mass-market Proton Exora 1.6 AT with 126 hp and the more powerful Proton Exora 1.6 CVT with 140 hp, which accelerates to 100 km/h in 11.3 seconds against the AT's 15.5 seconds. Both notable versions have been sold across the same 2009–present production span, so the choice between them is about the drivetrain rather than the model year.
Which Proton Exora to buy
- 1.6 CVT (1 generation): the strongest version at 140 hp, and by far the quicker one — 11.3 seconds to 100 km/h versus 15.5 for the automatic.
- 1.6 AT (1 generation): the mass-market choice with 126 hp and a conventional automatic gearbox, which keeps the drivetrain simpler than the CVT.
Buying used is straightforward with the Exora: since the model has run as a single generation from 2009 to the present with only three modifications and one engine size, there are no generation changes to navigate — the main decision is simply the gearbox and power output. A Manual gearbox also exists in the range alongside the Automatic and CVT, so buyers who prefer to shift themselves are covered too, though the two versions above remain the notable picks in the lineup of three.
Which Proton Exora to avoid
The numbers do not favor the Proton Exora 1.6 AT if performance matters: with 126 hp it needs 15.5 seconds to reach 100 km/h, while the 1.6 CVT delivers 140 hp and does the same in 11.3 seconds — a 4.2-second gap from the same 1597 cc engine. Choose the AT only if you specifically prefer a conventional automatic over a CVT.