Geely Galaxy M9 as Proton e.MAS 9? Can this from RM150k six-seat PHEV SUV idea make any sense?

KUALA LUMPUR: What if Proton’s e.MAS line-up did not stop at the e.MAS 5, e.MAS 7, or even the e.MAS 7 PHEV?

That thought came to us during a curated media test track session organised for Proton-invited media, where we were given a short drive in the Geely Galaxy M9, a large six-seat plug-in hybrid SUV that sits right at the top end of Geely’s Galaxy range in China, even labeled as its flagship.

It was not a full road review, and certainly not enough to deliver a complete verdict. But it was enough to spark one very Malaysian question.

Also Read: Geely Boyue L: Is this the SUV Proton will be using for the next X70?

What if something like this eventually came to Malaysia under Proton’s e.MAS sub-brand, wearing a name like Proton e.MAS 9, with a price tag somewhere between RM150,000 and RM180,000?

No, Proton has not announced anything about bringing the Galaxy M9 here. There is no confirmation that it will be called the Proton e.MAS 9, either.

But as a purely speculative exercise, the idea is hard to ignore, because on paper, the Geely Galaxy M9 sounds almost too good for that kind of money.

In China, the Galaxy M9 is priced from 183,800 yuan to 248,800 yuan, with launch-period pricing bringing it down to 173,800 yuan to 238,800 yuan. Converted roughly, that puts it in the region of about RM103k to RM141k.

But that's of course before Malaysian taxes, localisation costs, logistics, equipment changes and distributor margins are factored in.

In other words, a Malaysian price of RM150k to RM180k sounds ambitious, but not entirely ridiculous if Proton and Geely ever decide to go big with a locally relevant PHEV SUV strategy.

The Geely Galaxy M9 is based on Geely’s GEA Evo platform, a new-energy architecture used for electrified models. In simpler terms, it is not a converted ICE SUV, it was developed around electrification from the start, which explains why it can package a large PHEV system, big battery options, six seats and still maintain proper cabin space.

And big is the correct word here.

The Galaxy M9 measures 5,205 mm long, 1,999 mm wide and 1,800 mm tall, with a 3,030 mm wheelbase. That makes it a properly large SUV, not just a stretched C-segment model trying to act premium. It is longer than a Proton X90 by a huge margin, wider too, and it comes with a proper 2+2+2 six-seat cabin layout.

That last point is important, because many seven-seat SUVs in Malaysia technically have a third row, but once all seats are up, the boot becomes a handbag shelf. The Galaxy M9 feels different.

The third row is genuinely usable, not just for small children or emergency trips. Adults can fit back there without immediately regretting their life choices, and there is still decent boot space left for daily use.

The second row is where the M9 starts to feel properly expensive. The captain seats are big, cushy and lounge-like, with the kind of softness Chinese premium SUVs are now getting very good at delivering. You sit in it and immediately understand what Geely is trying to do with this car. It is not pretending to be a sharp European SUV. It is built around comfort, space and family travel.

Inside, the M9 also goes heavy on screens, with a 30-inch 6K integrated Sky Screen, a 12.66-inch digital instrument display, a 32-inch AR-HUD, and on higher variants, a 17.3-inch rear entertainment screen for the second row.

Underneath, the Galaxy M9 is not running a basic large-SUV suspension setup either. It uses double-wishbone front suspension and a five-link independent rear setup, with higher-spec variants gaining adaptive dampers.

The AWD version goes further with optional dual-chamber air suspension and camera-based predictive damping,

We're not too sure which variant we drove( most probably highest specification), but hat character also comes through in the way it drives.

We had a quick test drive in the Galaxy M9, and the first impression is that it feels typically soft and comfortable. The suspension has that plush, relaxed character that suits a big family SUV. It glides more than it attacks, which is probably exactly what buyers in this segment want.

But it is not sloppy. For something this large, it handles quite decently, with enough body control to stop it from feeling clumsy when you start asking more from it.

The more surprising bit is the powertrain.

The Galaxy M9 uses Geely’s Thor EM-P plug-in hybrid system, built around a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and electric drive assistance. Depending on variant, the M9 is offered with front-wheel drive or a high-output all-wheel-drive setup.

The top AWD version is said to produce up to 870 PS, which is frankly mad for a big family SUV. Geely also claims a 0-100 km/h time of around 4.5 seconds for the flagship version, which puts it in the realm of performance cars, even if the M9 itself is clearly tuned more for comfort than aggression.

That explains the way it moves. The M9 is a large SUV, but it does not feel lazy. The electric assistance gives it strong initial response, and once the powertrain wakes up properly, there is a lot of shove. It is not trying to be sporty in the traditional sense, but the effortless performance makes it feel expensive (electrification can do that to a car).

You do not need to work the car hard, and that is exactly the point.

Battery and range figures vary by variant. The Galaxy M9 is offered with different LFP battery options, with electric-only range figures ranging from around 100 km to over 200 km, depending on the Chinese test cycle and specification. Combined driving range is promoted at around 1,500 km in China for certain versions.

For Malaysia, that kind of setup could be very interesting.

A big PHEV SUV makes more sense here than a full EV for many families, especially those who still do long-distance interstate drives, balik kampung trips, or outstation work. You get EV-like smoothness for daily use, but you still have the petrol engine for longer journeys.

No need to plan every stop around chargers. No need to fight for a DC charger during peak holiday traffic. No need to explain to your family why the trip has become a charging strategy session.

This is where a hypothetical Proton e.MAS 9 could get interesting.

At RM150k to RM180k, it would not be cheap. But look at what Malaysians are already paying for large SUVs and premium MPVs. A well-specced six-seater PHEV SUV with proper road presence, a usable third row, strong performance and a long-distance hybrid powertrain could sit in a very attractive space.

It would not need to be a luxury car in the old-school badge sense. It would just need to deliver the right mix of space, comfort, technology and cost.

And that brings us to another question. Since the Proton X90 no longer quite carries the kind of flagship qualities one might expect from Proton’s most expensive SUV, could something like this become Proton’s true new flagship SUV instead?

Visually, the Galaxy M9 helps its case. It has a handsome, confident look without being too strange. The front end is broad and clean, the body has enough mass to feel expensive, and the overall stance gives it real road presence.

It does not look like a budget large SUV. It looks like something that was designed to stand beside China’s new wave of premium family SUVs, and that gives it a certain appeal.

Of course, there are big questions.

Would Proton want to bring in something this large? Would a right-hand-drive version exist? Would it be sold under Proton, e.MAS, or left purely as a Proton?

Would Malaysian buyers accept a six-seat PHEV SUV from Proton at RM180k? And perhaps most importantly, would Proton be able to price it aggressively enough after local taxes, homologation and equipment changes?

Those are all unanswered questions for now.

But as a product idea, the Galaxy M9 is fascinating.

Proton already has the X90 as its current large family SUV, but the M9 plays in a very different space. It is larger, more premium, more electrified and more lounge-like. If the e.MAS brand is meant to represent Proton’s new-energy future, a vehicle like this would make a very strong flagship.

The e.MAS 7 can cover the electric SUV space. The e.MAS 5 can target affordable EV buyers. The e.MAS 7 PHEV can act as the bridge for Malaysians who want electrification without giving up petrol convenience.

But an e.MAS 9?

That would be the statement car. Maybe perhaps even fit enough for a Malaysian Prime Minister.

A large six-seat PHEV SUV, priced properly, with enough power to feel special, enough comfort to justify the badge, and enough practicality to make sense for Malaysian families.

It would not be a volume seller like a Saga or even an X50, but it could do something else. It could make people look at Proton’s electrified future with a different kind of seriousness.

At RM150k to RM180k, the question is not whether the idea is crazy.

The question is whether Proton and Geely are brave enough to try it.

Also Read: What’s next for Proton e.MAS? Geely battery roadmap hints at faster charging and longer range