Proton X50

Like the exterior, even the interior of the Proton X50 has remained almost unchanged in all these years of its existence. However, there is still an air of modernity in the cabin, thanks to the new-age full-TFT screens for the instrument console and infotainment system. The Proton X50 comes with an all-black theme for the cabin as standard, with fabric upholstery in Standard, leatherette black upholstery in Executive and leatherette black and red upholstery in Premium and Flagship variants.

The cabin of the Proton X50 also comes with satin silver highlights on the steering wheel and surrounds for the instrument console, AC vents and transmission lever. The lower centre console has buttons for the climate control system while having a one-sided grab handle that adds some uniqueness to the otherwise functional-looking cabin. 

Pros and Cons:

Pro: Ample space on the inside

Con: Interior layout can look more modern

Features and Technology

For an SUV of its size and price, the Proton X50 has a very impressive equipment list, with even the entry-level models having a decent level of features. All the variants of the X50 come equipped with steering mode, cruise control, audio and Bluetooth buttons on the steering wheel, full-TFT instrument console, three drive modes – Normal, Eco and Sport, an engine push start-stop button, remote engine start, all-four power windows with anti-trap for driver-side window and rear AC vents.  

All four variants of Proton X70 also come with a modern 10.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which features voice command, online navigation, online music streaming, online weather forecast, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, 4G and Wi-Fi support, four speakers for the audio system and USB charging ports – one at the front and two at the rear. 

The features available from the Executive variant onwards are a leather-wrapped steering wheel, auto-leatherette seats, rear centre armrest, and Proton LinkApp with vehicle status and remote control functions.

The Premium and Premium X variants further get security tint on windows, an anti-trap function for all four power windows, front welcome lamps, a 6-way powered driver’s seat, automatic climate control, two tweeters for the audio system, and additional voice command functions. The exclusive features in the Flagship variant are a panoramic sunroof and an auto-dimming inside rearview mirror. 

Pros and cons:

Pro: All variants are feature-packed

Con: No ventilated seats or wireless charger

Boot Space and Storage

Proton claims a boot space of 330 litres for the X70, which feels small for an SUV of its size. This boot compartment is large enough to accommodate two large suitcases at max, though we would have loved to see more space here.

The in-cabin storage management deserves attention, with the Proton X50 also having bottle holders in all four door panels, front centre armrest with storage space and cup holders in the lower front centre console and rear centre armrest. 

Pros and cons:

Pro: In-cabin storage spaces

Con: Boot space feels less

The Proton X50 has virtually remained unchanged for more than half a decade, with Proton trying to keep it relevant with the help of minor tweaks and feature additions. In the last update, the Proton X50 received all-LED headlamps as standard across its entire variant lineup. The angular LED headlamps also come with dual L-shaped LED DRLs within them, with the SUV having a trapezoidal grille that has tapered lower edges and red and chrome highlights across its width. 

The front bumper also looks sporty with boomerang-shaped housings for the LED fog lamps on the corners and the front splitter below the bumper. The LED fog lamps, along with the auto headlamp function, are available from the Executive variant onwards. The Proton X50 is available with 17-inch silver alloy wheels in the Standard and Executive variants, while the Premium and Flagship variants ride on 17-inch machined alloy wheels.

The side profile of the Proton X50 looks striking with the prominent squared bulges above the wheel arches and a sharp crease flowing through the door panels. The X50 has electrically adjustable rearview mirrors as standard, with auto fold functionality offered from the Executive variant onwards. The Premium and Flagship variants also have roof rails.

At the back, the Proton X50 doesn’t look much differentiated from the Geely Binyue, on which it is based. It too gets trapezoidal tail lamps that have LED inserts and are joined by a thick chrome garnish panel that reads out the brand’s name. The X50 can be had in one of the five colour choices on offer – Snow White, Armour Silver, Jet Grey, Ocean Blue, and Passion Red. 

Pros and cons:

Pro: Modern-looking LED headlamps and LED DRLs

Cons: Not much change in the overall design in all these years

The Proton X70 claims a fuel efficiency figure of 15.4 kmpl for the Standard, Executive and Premium variants and 13.69 kmpl for the Flagship variant that gets the same engine in a more powerful state of tune. However, like any other turbocharged petrol engine, the 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine of the X50 is throttle sensitive, resulting in below-average fuel efficiency of 8-9 kmpl for the Flagship variant in city driving conditions. The same stands at 12-13 kmpl for the other three variants, which is pretty decent. 

Pros and cons:

Pro: Impressive fuel efficiency on highways

Con: City efficiency of the Flagship variant could have been better

Apart from the engine, the Proton X50 also shares its Geely BMA platform with the Geely Binyue. Having Macpherson struts at the front and a torsion beam at the rear, the Proton X50 has a plush and composed ride quality, which feels better even at lower speeds. However, the steering feedback feels lacklustre, and we would have appreciated a bit more weighted feel to it.

Pros and Cons:

Pro: Plush ride quality

Con: Lacklustre steering feedback at higher speeds

The standard powertrain combination available in all four variants of Proton X50 is a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine and a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. This turbo-petrol engine is shared with the Geely Binyue and is available in two states of tune for the Proton X50.

The Standard, Executive and Premium variants of the Proton X50 claim 150 PS of maximum power and 226 Nm of maximum torque with this engine. On the other hand, in the Flagship variant, this engine churns out a maximum power output of 177 PS and a maximum torque output of 255 Nm. 

Being a three-cylinder engine, this 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine has the characteristic vibrations at idle, though the refinement levels smoothen as the RPMs rise. The power delivery is impressive after the turbo spools up, though there is an evident turbo lag at lower RPMs.

Pros and cons:

Pro: Impressive performance at higher RPMs

Con: Evident turbo lag

Even the safety equipment list of the Proton X50 is quite significant across all four variants, with standard safety features including dual front and side airbags, ABS with EBD and brake assist, auto brake hold, electronic stability control, traction control, hill hold assist, hill descent control, reverse camera and rear parking sensors. From the Executive variant, the Proton X50 also features front parking sensors and curtain airbags, while features like a 360-degree parking camera and tyre pressure monitoring system are available in Premium and Flagship variants. 

The Flagship variant comes exclusively equipped with an expansive suite of ADAS features, including autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go function, intelligent cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, blind spot information system, intelligent high beam control and auto park assist. 

Pros and cons:

Pro: A long list of safety features, with many offered as standard

Con: Base-spec Standard variant lacks front parking sensors and curtain airbags

Competitor Comparison

There are a few compact SUV crossovers that are positioned as a direct alternative to the Proton X50, which include Haval H2, GAC GS3, Renault Captur, Citroen C3 Aircross and Honda WR-V. The pricing of the X50 undercuts some of its rivals like Hyundai Creta, Toyota Yaris Cross, Peugeot 2008 and Mazda CX-5.

Conclusion and Final Verdict

Proton has kept the X50 relevant with frequent updates, like adding new features and minor design tweaks. For the price at which it is being offered, the Proton X50 is a steal deal, considering it has the presence and feel of an SUV crossover at the cost of a hatchback. There is room for improvement, though, in the way it drives and the way it looks on the outside, with it requiring a more significant design upgrade.