The X70 was the car that changed Proton’s fortune when it first launched here back in 2018, in a year when the national carmaker had one of the worst sales performance in recent history. Now more than three years later in 2022, Proton has given the X70 a mid-cycle “minor change (MC)” update, bearing some light aesthetic upgrades, but a major update underneath the bonnet.
A total of five variants will be offered on the 2022 Proton X70 MC, including the return of the Executive AWD variant, starting from RM93,900 for the 1.5 TGDi Standard 2WD variant; the previously-available Premium X variant has now been dropped.
PERFORMANCE
The main highlight of the 2022 Proton X70 MC is definitely its new 1.5 TGDi engine underneath the bonnet – the same unit that also powers the X50 Flagship, but now completely assembled in Proton’s Tanjung Malim plant on a brand-new engine assembly line.
- Engine: 1,477 cc, turbocharged inline-three, petrol
- Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch transmission
- Max horsepower: 177 hp @ 5,500 rpm
- Max torque: 255 Nm @ 1,500 – 4,000 rpm
- 0-100 km/h: 9.8 seconds (+0.3 seconds vs 1.8 TGDi)
Proton says the switch was mainly driven by better fuel consumption, of which the new engine offers a 7% improvement in terms of economy, while maintaining a “similar performance level”. The weight of the engine has also dropped by 43 kg with the switch, which should help make up for some of the performance deficit.
For customers who are looking for more performance, however, the existing 184 hp/300 Nm 1.8-litre turbocharged inline-four engine will still be offered, albeit solely on the range-topping Premium variant.
In terms of the powertrain itself, Proton says that it is completely identical to the one offered on the X50 Flagship. However, they’ve added a new NVH-optimised foam-based engine cover to help keep noise levels within the cabin to a minimum.
EXTERIOR
In terms of design upgrades, the 2022 Proton X70 certainly does live up to the “minor change” name, as there’s virtually no design changes on the outside aside from a new coat of gloss-black paint on the front grille, bumper trims, and the horizontal plate at the rear with the Proton wordmark.
The range-topping Premium variants get a new set of multi-spoke 19-inch alloys that are taken from the limited-edition X70 Special Edition model, while the 18- inch items on the Executive also get a new design.
INTERIOR
Similar to the exterior, there are also virtually zero changes to the kit offered on the interior across the board, with the only difference being a new black headliner, as opposed to beige from before.
An eight-inch touchscreen infotainment display is standard across all variants, with online connectivity and “Hi Proton” voice assistant built-in. The range-topping Premium variant comes with a brown Nappa leather upholstery on the seats, along with ventilation in front (Executive and up).
As mentioned above, the Premium X variant has now been dropped on the 2022 Proton X70 MC update. The sunroof, which was previously exclusive to the Premium X variant, will now be offered solely on the 1.8 TGDi Premium variant.
SAFETY
Also unchanged is the safety kit offering, with only the Premium variants getting Proton’s Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS). The ADAS suite includes:
- Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
- Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
- Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
- Blind Spot Information System (BLIS)
- Intelligent High Beam Control (IHBC)
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) is also included exclusively on the Premium variants, alongside four front parking sensors (Executive variant gets two, while the Standard variant does not come equipped with front parking sensors).
PRICING
A total of five variants (including the 1.8 TGDi Premium 2WD) will be offered on the new 2022 Proton X70 MC, with pricing as follows:
- 1.5 TGDi Standard 2WD – RM93,900
- 1.5 TGDi Executive 2WD – RM105,500
- 1.5 TGDi Executive AWD – RM111,300
- 1.5 TGDi Premium 2WD – RM117,900
- 1.8 TGDi Premium 2WD – RM121,800
All prices are on-the-road, without insurance, and inclusive of the sales tax exemptions, which is currently scheduled to expire at the end of June 2022.
Also included in the price is a standard five-year unlimited mileage warranty with five times free labour on scheduled services, and a five-year 1GB data package for the infotainment system.
GALLERY
