Proton has given the X70 another “minor change” update for 2022. But while its internal codename suggests no significant changes, underneath the mild exterior revisions lies perhaps one of the biggest updates for the model to date.
That, of course, refers to the new engine underneath the bonnet. Aside from a single 1.8-litre model, all other variants of the new 2022 Proton X70 now feature a new 1.5-litre turbocharged inline-three engine, 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.
It’s a smaller engine, with one less cylinder count and a pretty significant drop in outputs. On the latter, the 1.5-litre mill outputs only 177 hp and 255 Nm, as compared to the 184 hp and 300 Nm from the outgoing 1.8-litre turbocharged four-banger.
But with a smaller engine also means lighter weight, and newer engine technology also translates to better fuel consumption – Proton claims a 7% reduction in fuel consumption. So how much do the lower outputs actually mean when it comes to day-to-day driving, and… does it even matter? Check out the video review above to find out.
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