Cars X50 holds a threat to in the segment

Proton X50 has occupied the Malaysian headlines for quite some time now and it is only a matter of time before it breaks cover. And when that happens, a handful of cars will be in trouble. In fact, it wouldn’t be wrong to believe that the X50’s rivals are already a bit tensed. So, which are those cars that the X50 holds a threat to?

Before we find that out, here are Proton X50 key features that are expected to make their way in-

• Full-LED units with LED DRLs
• Sporty looks
• 18-in alloy wheels
• Dual-tone interior
• Large 10.25-in infotainment system
• Voice controls
• 1.5-litre engine with 174 bhp and 255 Nm
• 7-speed DCT
• Active safety features like adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, etc.

Ford EcoSport

Ford EcoSport has had tremendous success not just here in Malaysia but many other countries as well. Even today, after all these years, the EcoSport tends to be one of the most trusted cars in its segment.

For the Malaysian market, it comes in two variants - 1.5L TREND and 1.5L TITANIUM that retail at RM 92,988 and RM 98,120 respectively. Some of EcoSport’s key features are-

• Spacious interior
• Well-controlled NVH levels
• 200mm of ground clearance
• Cooled glovebox
• 20 storage compartments
• Ford’s SYNC technology
• Good design

Ford EcoSport specs have a 1.5-litre petrol engine which has been tuned to churn out a max power of 110 PS at 6,300 rpm and the peak torque of 142 Nm is generated at 4,400 rpm. This is the only engine option available. It comes mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox or as Ford likes to call it, PowerShift.

Honda HR-V

One of the best-looking compact SUVs available in Malaysia right now is Honda HR-V. And it became that much more good-looking after Honda gave it a facelift last year.

Honda knows how to lure in people. Some of the key features of the latest HR-V are-

• Automatic LED headlights with LED DRLs
• LED fog lamps
• Sporty rear door handles
• Paddle shifters
• Ambient meter
• 6 airbags
• Multi-angle rearview camera
• Cruise control
• Stylish alloy wheels
• Honda Lane Watch

Powering the HR-V is a 1.8-litre engine that produces 142 bhp of max power at 6,500 rpm and 172 Nm of peak torque at 4,300 rpm. Honda also introduced a hybrid model in the latest model. With the 1.5-litre engine and an electric motor, the hybrid has a combined power output of 152 bhp and 190 Nm. Including the hybrid model, the HR-V comes in a total of 4 variants with a starting price of RM 108,800.

Toyota C-HR

Available in only a single variant - 1.8L (RM 150,000) - and 6 colours - Black, White Pearl, Green, Metallic Grey, Red Mica and Hydro Blue - Toyota C-HR was updated in 2019. With its automatic projector headlamps, 17-in alloy wheels, bodyside moulding, and very sporty rear, the C-HR has a strong road presence.

It is a one-of-a-kind car in its segment. Some of its key features are-

• Leather seats
• 6.75-inch touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
• Dual-zone climate control
• Toyota’s Optitron meter
• Side mirror puddle light
• Front and rear fog lamps

Apart from design, Toyota C-HR specs sheet also excels in the safety department. With features like blind-spot monitoring, hill-start assist, ABS, traction control, stability control, and much more, the C-HR boasts its perfect 5-star ASEAN NCAP safety rating for adult occupant safety. Under the hood of the C-HR is a powerful 1.8-litre engine that churns out 140 PS of max power at 6,400 rpm and 171 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. It comes coupled to 7-speed Sequential Shiftmatic. Toyota has also provided 3 driving modes - Eco, Normal, and Sport.

So, these were some of the cars that the upcoming X50 will give competition to. When we take into account the X50’s specs, whatever we know so far, it seems to come out as a winner. Of course, its price will play a significant role in its success because all the aforementioned cars have varying price tags. The expected Proton X50 price is RM 75,000. If Proton manages to pull this off, the X50 will definitely be a threat to a lot of cars not just in its own segment but others too.

Also Read: What Proton X50 might borrow from X70?