The all-new Proton X70: First Impression

The much-awaited Proton X70 has finally been launched in the Malaysian market amidst a lot of hype. The highly anticipated, first SUV from Proton, has been creating waves in the Malaysian car market since it was first showcased at the 2018 Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (KLIMS). Based on the facelifted Geely Boyue, the X70 is offered in four variants – Standard 2WD, Executive 2WD, Executive AWD, and Premium 2WD. Geely, the Chinese car manufacturer acquired a 49.99 percent stake in Proton and transferred its SUV platform to Proton as part of the deal. That’s why there’s no surprise to the fact that the X70 looks identical to the Geely Boyune and most of the differences between the two are cosmetic. We took a look at the new X70 and here’s what we draw from its first impression.

Design and Style

The X70 is Proton’s first-ever SUV and has been designed taking cues from the Geely Boyue. That said, the design team of Proton has studied the Malaysian culture, market in depth and has incorporated subtle design touches which are unique and represent the Malaysian culture. One of the prime examples of this adaptability is converting it from left-hand drive to a right-hand drive. If you look at the X70 from a distance, you will hardly notice the changes in its design as compared to the Boyue, however, move a little closer and you can recognise the design tweaks. One of the most prominent design differentiators of the X70 is its uniquely designed front grille, which is termed as the “infinite weave”, a pattern seen on Malaysian wood carvings. It is not just incorporated on the exteriors, but you can also notice this design on the speaker covers inside. The bow-shaped grille, surrounded in chrome, is another standout design feature and it makes the front look very appealing along with the tiger-eye shaped headlights. The rear section is reminiscent to the Boyue with hardly any changes. It is a C-segment SUV and is slightly shorter than the Honda CRV.

Inside the car, you will again notice similarities with Boyue, however, the steering wheel now gets a Proton badge. It comes with a smart, 8-inch, touchscreen infotainment system and a 7-inch digital instrument cluster. There’s plenty of headroom and legroom inside the car and the seats are very comfortable. Premium version of the X70 comes with real Nappa leather seats, power-adjustable front seat and a panoramic sunroof. All-in-all, Proton has done a lot of work at the design front and the X70 looks stunning, both inside and outside.

Engine and Specs

All four variants of the X70 are powered by the 1.8-litre turbocharged, direct-injected, four-cylinder, petrol engine that is capable of generating 181 hp of max power at 5,500 rpm and peak torque of 285 Nm between 1,700 rpm to 4,400 rpm. Power is transmitted to the wheels using a six-speed automatic gearbox with a choice of either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, depending on the variant. Proton claims that the 2WD variants takes 10.5 seconds to reach 100 kmph from zero and delivers a mileage of 12.8 kmpl, which is quite a power-packed performance.

Features

The X70 comes loaded with features. It is equipped with an 8-inch, Android-based infotainment system powered by an integrated Cockpit Information System (GKUI). The Executive and Premium variants also feature a 360-degree camera to assist parking in tight spots. It gets 16 GB storage, which we think is fairly less, and 4G LTE via eSIM with speeds up to 150 mbps. The biggest drawback here is the missing Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, although it does support mirroring of Android devices. The infotainment system uses Baidu Maps for navigation and also offers unlimited music streaming via a cloud-based partner from Tencent. It supports voice recognition which gets activated by saying “Hi Proton”. Users can check the status of their car including driving range, fuel levels, odometer and even the car’s location using a smartphone via the Proton Link App. Other features include keyless entry, push-button start, dual-zone climate control, and additional USB sockets at the rear. The only complaint we have here is the lack of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which we hope are introduced at a later stage.

Safety

Not even a month back, the X70 was awarded the full five-star rating by ASEAN NCAP in the latest crash safety test. Proton has used the Hot Press Forming (HPF) technology for the X70’s body structure to enhance protection of passengers. All four variants are equipped with six airbags, rear ISOFIX child seat anchors, ABS with EBD, brake assist and stability control. The Executive AWD also features a tyre pressure monitoring system, while the Premium variant gets an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), which includes autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, and auto high beam.

Conclusion

Proton has been a prominent player in the Malaysian auto market and adding the X70 to its fleet will only be a boon to the automaker. The SUV is loaded with features, poses a great design and is definitely a good buy at this price point. So, you have an entirely new option in the compact SUV segment to look forward to.