2020 Proton X70 CKD Review - Extensive buyer’s guide

Launched in 2018, Proton X70 was the centre of attraction for two primary reasons - it was Proton’s first-ever SUV and also the first-ever car to come after Proton-Geely partnership. There was no doubt that the X70 is an important car for Proton. And, as we all know, it has had a fruitful career so far. Now, to take on the responsibilities forward, we have the 2020 Proton X70 CKD which has been recently launched in Malaysia.

The new X70 CKD is kind of a facelift and not entirely a new car. Proton has added various new features but the most significant one has to be the new and better 7-speed DCT. Now, the X70 will be able to perform that much better and give its rivals an even tougher competition.

What’s the asking price of the new X70 CKD?

Ans. 2020 Proton X70 CKD price starts at RM 94,800 for its base Standard 2WD variant. From there onwards, it increases all the way to RM 122,800. Following is the detailed price list-

Variant	Price
Standard 2WD	RM 94,800
Executive 2WD	RM 106,800
Premium 2WD	RM 119,800
Premium X 2WD	RM 122,800

As far as the 2020 Proton X70 CKD specs are concerned, all the four trims are powered by the same 1.8-litre TGDi petrol engine which churns out 184 PS of max power and 300 Nm of peak torque. The previous model of the X70 also used this engine, however, thanks to the new 7-speed DCT, the new X70 has a bit more torque because of reduced transmission losses.

What about the mileage?

Ans. Proton claims that the fuel consumption of the 2020 X70 has improved by 13 percent when compared to its predecessor. It consumes 7.6 litres of fuel per 100 km which comes out to be around 13.2 kmpl.

Following are the detailed engine specs-

Engine type	4-cylinder, in-line, 16 valve, DOHC, TGDi
Displacement	1799 cc
Max power output	184 PS at 5500 rpm
Max torque output	300 Nm at 1750-4000 rpm
Fuel system	Turbocharged gasoline direct injection
Fuel tank capacity	60 litres
Transmission	7-speed DCT

Exterior

So what if the X70 looks a lot like the Geely Boyue, it is still a handsome car, right? So, Proton didn’t change much about the way it looks, however, by adding a new logo at the front grille, it did ensure that nobody mistakes the X70 with a Geely. This new logo can also be found on the wheel caps and the steering wheel. The rest of the car’s design has been left untouched. So we continue to have LED headlights with LED DRLs at the front, sporty bumpers, attractive alloy wheels, large rear combination lamps, floating D-pillar, etc.

Following are the dimensions of the new X70 CKD-

Length	4519 mm
Width	1831 mm
Height	1694 mm
Wheelbase	2670 mm
Kerb weight	1635-1675 kg

Some of the key external features are-

• Auto headlamps with follow me home
• Front fog lamps
• Front welcome lamps
• Panoramic sunroof
• Auto rain-sensing front wipers

Proton has also added a new convenient feature - power tailgate with a foot sensor. Wave your foot under the rear bumper and the boot will open automatically.

Interior

Thanks to the large dimensions of the X70, space on the inside is not a problem; there’s enough available for each occupant. Comfort level is also great courtesy Nappa Leather seats. The front seats can be electronically adjusted and are also ventilated. The dashboard is very well laid out with no chrome bits and pieces. The only chrome element that we found inside the 2020 X70’s cabin was the new logo on the steering wheel. Some of the other interior features are-

• Auto dual-zone AC
• Air purifier system
• 7-in LCD meter combination
• Voice command
• 8-inch infotainment head unit
• Remote control that allows you to monitor and control specific functions of the vehicle remotely with a dedicated smartphone app
• Online music streaming and weather forecast
• Online navigation
• Smartphone connectivity via Android Mirror Link
• 6 USB ports
• 9 speakers with subwoofer and power amplifier

Safety features

2020 Proton X70 CKD has an impressive 5-star ASEAN NCAP safety rating. This is definitely a major USP as it gives peace of mind to the customers. Following are some of X70’s key safety features-

• 6 airbags
• 360-degree camera with parking sensors
• Tyre pressure monitoring system
• Intelligent high beam control
• Door opening warning system
• Blind spot information system
• Lane departure warning system
• Adaptive cruise control
• Autonomous emergency braking
• Forward collision warning

Competitors

The new Proton X70 CKD is a phenomenal car, however, it still has competition from cars like Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5, Honda HR-V, and the likes.

Is the new X70 a better car than its rivals?

Ans. Well, that actually depends on your requirements because each car has its own positives and negatives. However, generally speaking, and considering the facts and figures, we do think that the new X70 CKD is a really great package, it always has been. And with the updated transmission and added features, Proton just made it even a sweeter deal.

Also read: Proton X50: 5 Things we learned about the upcoming SUV