Like them or hate them, Proton’s history is something all Malaysians can be proud of. From its first homegrown model in 2000 with the Proton Waja, to its first home-grown engine in the Gen 2, there’s no denying that Proton certainly came a long way from its humble rebadging beginnings.
Despite deserving credit for its efforts in developing fully homegrown models and engines in the past, though, it has to be said that those products still left a bit to be desired, especially in terms of refinement. But the launch of the Geely Boyue-based Proton X70 back in 2018 – a result of the national carmaker’s partnership with Geely – single-handedly flipped the script in what one would expect from a Proton car, and introduced a whole new level to the brand’s products not just in terms of refinement, but also in features and technology.
But 2018 is five years ago now, and Proton has now already unveiled three brand-new models since the birth of the X70. The X70 is no longer Proton’s flagship product, with the position now taken over by the larger and more advanced Proton X90, and competition in the SUV market has also certainly become much stiffer since then.
With such a different backdrop now in 2023 compared to when it was first launched, is the Proton X70 still worthy of your consideration amongst the sea of vibrant SUV options we have today in Malaysia?
The Proton X70 1.5 TGDi Premium 2WD at a glance:
| Engine | 1,477cc; turbocharged inline-three |
| Transmission | 7-speed dual-clutch |
| Max horsepower | 177 hp @ 5,500 rpm |
| Max torque | 225 Nm @ 1,500-4,000 rpm |
| 0-100 km/h; Top speed | 9.8 seconds; NA |
| Price | RM123,800 |
The Proton X70 we’re looking at is the 1.5 TGDi Premium 2WD variant. However, from the outside, there really isn’t much to tell it apart from its higher-grade siblings in the 1.5 TGDi Premium X and 1.8 TGDi Premium.
In fact, the Proton X70 we see today pretty much looks the same as the original X70 that was launched in 2018, albeit with some blacked-out bits like the side mirrors, front grille, and rear bumper garnishes, alongside a new set of wheels.
Considering the number of Proton X70s roaming around Malaysian roads, we are sure some of you can already imagine what the car looks like even with your eyes closed, so there’s really no point in us going any deeper on its designs – we’ll leave the debate to you in the comments.
What we’re more interested in here – and what is perhaps the most controversial decision Proton made on the X70’s 2022 update – is its powertrain. Yes, this is the same 1.5-litre inline-three TGDi engine and seven-speed dual-clutch transmission setup that you’ll find in the smaller X50 Flagship.
And yes, it’s essentially brought in here lock, stock, and barrel too, with its power figure completely identical to the range-topping X50 at 177 hp and 255 Nm. That’s some 7 hp and 80 Nm lower than the 1.8-litre mill in its predecessor, but while certainly noticeable (Proton says it’s 0.3 seconds slower to reach 100 km/h than the 1.8L), we wouldn’t call it a dealbreaker for someone who’s looking at a car like this.
What seemed to have brought out the vilest comments online, though, is the fact that it only has three cylinders, never mind that the critically-acclaimed Toyota GR Corolla and GR Yaris both are also powered by a three-cylinder engine… but we digress.
In a pure physics standpoint, a three-cylinder engine is inherently more unstable than four cylinders, and its unbalanced forces, if unmitigated, can certainly cause more vibrations to be felt within the cabin. But Geely – who also owns Volvo – isn’t new to the odd-cylinder-count game, and their years of experience in dealing with the vibrations is displayed in full force on these little three-pot mills.
Proton and Geely have done a stand-out job in reducing the X70’s vibrations as much as possible, as the three-cylinder vibration can only really be felt upon startup and shutdown. Once the engine settles down, you’d be hard-pressed to find even the faintest ounce of vibrations, let alone differentiate them between a three- or four-cylinder engine.
Even in the noise department, the three-cylinder rattle is only really audible when I put my foot down to the ground. Even then, engine noise was still well-suppressed thanks to the X70’s competent soundproofing.
ALSO WATCH: 2023 Proton X90 Flagship review – Affordable luxury?
And when you add in goodies such as Nappa leather upholstery, ‘Boss’ switch which allows the rear passenger to conveniently adjust the powered front passenger seat, and even ventilated front seats, you can just imagine how supremely comfortable it is to be seated inside the Proton X70 – a point that’s made even more apparent when you compare it to its equally-priced peers.
Pricing is perhaps the Proton X70’s biggest selling point. It’s a C-segment SUV, but its price tag of between RM98,800 and RM128,800 (OTR, without insurance) essentially undercuts all of its rivals.
The next best option that’s even remotely in the same vehicle class would be the Toyota Corolla Cross, which is priced from RM130,400 (OTR, without insurance) onwards. And sure, you get a bigger (albeit naturally-aspirated) 1.8-litre engine, and the coveted Toyota badge in front. But you’ll still be getting a smaller car, and you’ll also still be losing out on the advanced driver assistance features unless you spring for the more expensive G variant.
Of course, there are things that can discourage you from the X70, such as Proton’s lack of spare parts availability, which the company said is amongst the main issues it’s prioritising on fixing; the lack of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, or even its design that might now be a little stale when placed beside its more modern-looking competitors.
Some of these issues are a little harder to fix, but at least, we do know that the last one will be changing soon. The upcoming 2024 facelift is expected to bring some fresh new design and hopefully more modern equipment to the C-segment SUV, and it’ll certainly push the Proton X70’s value proposition to even greater heights.
GALLERY
