Proton X70 & Mazda CX-3: The newcomer vs. experienced

Proton has been in limelight for the past few weeks because of its newly launched product in the Malaysian market. It is the all-new Proton X70. It is the company’s first ever SUV. And Proton has given its all to make it one of the best cars of the segment. While the X70 is Proton’s first SUV, Mazda is an experienced brand in this regard. And competing against the X70 is the Mazda CX-3.

Design and styling

Proton X70 is a handsome SUV but it isn’t a fresh design. It is based on the Chinese SUV Geely Boyue. Proton did make a few changes but the silhouette remains the same. This doesn’t mean that it isn't good looking. The front end is attractive courtesy the nicely designed grille and LED daytime running lights. The side view has got a strong character line that smartly travels just above the door handles and merges into the tail lights. The tail lights are also very stylish, completing the SUV. There is also a roof-mounted rear spoiler.

Just like the rest of its family members, the Mazda CX-3 is based on the KODO design philosophy. This makes the CX-3 a very smart-looking car. It looks fantastic, especially from the front. Mazda has spent a lot of time in the design room perfecting the shape of the CX-3 headlights. The front chrome grille is unique and gently meets the headlight. We also have a few other chrome elements here at the bumper. The side profile of the CX-3 has a bit of a curved design. The rear here also features a roof-mounted spoiler. We do like the twin exhaust pipes popping out from under the rear bumper.

Interior features

Proton has done a tremendous job in making the cabin of the new X70 an inviting space. The all-black theme with silver accents looks great. You can also have the brown Nappa leather seats in the top-end model. The dashboard is ergonomically designed. The 8-inch infotainment system sits in the centre near the automatic AC controls. Since the Proton X70 comes with an electronic handbrake, the usual lever on the side of the driver’s seat is missing. This enabled Proton to add extra storage space.

Mazda wanted to keep the cabin of the CX-3 as sporty as possible. Hence it gets a completely black layout. The steering wheel is very sporty and feels nice to hold. It is a 3-spoke wheel with mounted controls. The instrument cluster here is something we don’t usually see. It features a large tachometer in the centre, and the other information is displayed on the pods on both sides. This clearly indicates that the Mazda CX-3 is a driver’s car. The use of soft-touch materials inside the cabin enhances the premium-ness of the car. We also get Mazda’s Human Machine Interface (HMI) with MZD CONNECT which is designed to enhance the in-vehicle connectivity experience with minimal distraction from driving.

Engine and performance

Look at the Proton X70 specs sheet, and you’ll see that it comes with a 1.8-litre TGDi petrol unit that produces 184 PS at 5500 revs and a peak torque of 285 Nm at 1700 to 4400 revs. It is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift mode. There are both 2WD and AWD options available.

On the other hand, the Mazda CX-3 specs have got a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine with 155 PS and 206 Nm of torque. The transmission here is Mazda’s SKYACTIV DRIVE 6-speed automatic unit with manual shift mode. Unlike the X70, the CX-3 doesn’t feature an AWD system even as an option. All you get is a 2WD model.

Safety features

Proton has provided the X70 many safety features like airbags, front parking sensors, a 360-degree camera, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Blind Spot Information System (BLIS), Door Opening Warning System (DOW), and 4 front parking sensors. These features depend on the variant of the car you’re buying. So keep that in mind.

Mazda is proud of its advanced SKYACTIV-VEHICLE DYNAMICS. This gives the CX-3 its G-Vectoring Control (GVC) safety feature which helps to achieve a smoother and less fatiguing drive. Other safety features include airbags, ABS, dynamic stability control, EBD, emergency brake assist, traction control system, rear cross traffic alert, and blind spot monitoring.

The brand-new Proton X70 is available in four variants - STANDARD 2WD, EXECUTIVE 2WD, EXECUTIVE AWD, and PREMIUM 2WD. One can pick it in 5 different color options - Flame Red, Snow White, Cinnamon Brown, Armour Silver, and Jet Grey. The Proton X70 price starts at RM 99,800.

On the other hand, we have only one variant of the Mazda CX-3 - SKYACTIV-G 2.0L AT - which eliminates all the thinking about which variant to pick. The Mazda CX-3 price is set at RM 121,134 and it is available in 6 different colors - Snowflake White Pearl, Ceramic White, Soul Red, Jet Black, Deep Crystal Blue, and Machine Grey.