Proton Preve Overview: Specs, Generations, and Which Version to Buy
Proton Preve specs at a glance: a front-wheel-drive sedan built since 2012 with 110–140 hp engines, one generation, and CVT or manual gearboxes.
The Proton Preve is a front-wheel-drive sedan produced from 2012 to the present, with power outputs ranging from 110 to 140 hp. Anyone comparing Proton Preve specs will find a single generation with three modifications, offered with CVT or manual transmissions — a straightforward compact sedan for everyday driving.
Proton Preve generations
1 generation (2012–present)
The first and only generation of the Proton Preve has been in production since 2012, exclusively as a sedan. No other body styles were offered in this generation. Power ranges from 110 to 140 hp, all versions drive the front wheels, and buyers choose between a CVT and a manual gearbox across three modifications.
The most widespread version is the Proton Preve 1.6 CVT (110 hp), a 1597 cc engine paired with a CVT, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 12.5 seconds. The top of the range is the Proton Preve 1.6 CVT (140 hp), which uses a 1561 cc engine and reaches 100 km/h in 9.6 seconds — nearly three seconds quicker than the base CVT version. Both of these notable modifications have been built since 2011 and combine front-wheel drive with a CVT; the manual gearbox appears elsewhere in the three-modification lineup.
Which Proton Preve to buy
- 1.6 CVT (140 hp) (1 generation): the strongest engine in the lineup, with a 0–100 km/h time of 9.6 seconds against 12.5 seconds for the 110 hp version.
- 1.6 CVT (110 hp) (1 generation): the mass-market choice — 110 hp and a 1597 cc engine, adequate for unhurried city and highway driving.
Because the Proton Preve has only one generation running from 2012 to the present, buying used is simple: there are no generational changes to track, so the main differences between cars come down to model year, engine version, and gearbox. The manual-gearbox modifications are mechanically simpler than the CVT versions, which some used buyers may prefer.
Which Proton Preve to avoid
The data shows no dominated version: the Proton Preve 1.6 CVT (110 hp) trades power for the larger 1597 cc displacement, while the 1.6 CVT (140 hp) offers more performance from 1561 cc. The choice depends on whether acceleration (9.6 s vs 12.5 s to 100 km/h) matters to you.