After months of teasing, Proton’s first ever X70 SUV has been officially launched yesterday. In this article, we will provide you with all the information you need to know about the X70, and also delve into the vehicles that is priced within the range.
Size
In terms of dimensions, the X70 is closest to the Mazda CX-5 and Honda CR-V, with the latter most being the largest of the three. Between the X70 and CX-5, the X70 is 31 mm shorter, 9 mm narrower and 19 mm taller.
Power and Mechanics
All four variants of the X70 is powered by a 1.8-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that outputs 181 hp and 285 Nm of torque from 1,700 to 4,400 rpm. This is paired to a six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode. Drive goes to the front wheels except for the all-wheel drive Executive variant.
As standard across all variants, steering is electric, brakes are ventilated discs at the front and solid at the rear, and suspensions are Macpherson struts at the front and multi-link with stabiliser bar at the rear.
There’s also three drive modes of Normal, Eco and Sport that’s standard.
Exterior
Distinguishable differences between the Standard, Executive and Premium variants can only be seen in the alloy wheels. In terms of size, the Standard gets 17-inch, while Executive and Premium roll on 18- and 19-inch alloys respectively. Design wise, the spokes get slimmer and sportier as the variant goes up.
While Executive and Premium variants get LED projector headlamps with Daytime Running Lamps, the Standard only comes with Halogen units.
Interior
Across the range, the X70 comes standard with Steering Wheel controls for Audio, Telephone and Cruise Control, Smart Entry with Push Start, Auto Dual-Zone Air Conditioning, Rear Air Vents and an Air Purifier System that filters out harmful gasses, odour and kills bacteria.
The Standard 2WD variant does get fabric seats and a reverse camera, but the Executive 2WD variant adds on Leatherette seats with a 6-way power Driver seat and 360-degree camera. For the Executive AWD, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System adds on the list, and the Premium 2WD packs on the full feature with Nappa Leather Seats, Driver 6-way power and 2-way lumbar, Front Passenger 4-way power with rear-passenger side switch, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems and a Panoramic sunroof.
Although not specified, the boot volume for the Geely Boyue and Emgrand X7 states 320-litres.
Infotainment System
One of the most important parts of the new X70 has to be the integrated head unit and the vehicle’s connectivity. Based on Geely’s Smart Ecosystem (GKUI), the 8-inch touchscreen unit includes online music streaming, online navigation, smartphone and Bluetooth connectivity, as well as voice command and 4G Wifi. The latter most is an in-built Celcom eSIM which comes with a 5-year Internet Data Plan and 1GB data per month based on the Xtra Data Package plan. The package price will be announced at a later date.
According to the brand, with mobile data enabled, the X70 has access to Unlimited Music and has a host of songs in the connected Tencent app which has selection from Sony, Warner and Universal Music, navigation via Baidu Maps with live traffic, and because the unit is Android based, offers mirroring as well.
For sound, the Standard comes with 6-speakers, Executive at 8-speakers and the top of the range Premium at 9-speakers with power amplifier and subwoofer. There are six USB A ports with 2.1A rating, including one strategically placed just above the rear-view mirror headliner for vehicle dash cams. We think this is genius.
Connectivity doesn’t stop there. There is a Proton Link App that allows the user to check vehicle status like fuel consumption, range, service intervals, vehicle location as well as to lock and unlock the vehicle.
As for the voice command, the Premium variant extends the features to include controls to the power windows and sunroof.
Safety
On top of the recently announced five-star Asean NCAP safety rating, all variants are standard with 6 SRS Airbags, ABS, EBD, Brake Assist, Auto Brake Hold, ESC, Traction Control, Hill Hold Assist, Hill Descent Control, Emergency Stop Signal, and Isofix. For Active Safety, the Premium variant adds on the Autonomous Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Information System, Door Opening Warning System, and Intelligent High Beam Control.
Price
For the first time, the prices for the Proton X70 is standard throughout Malaysia including Sabah and Sarawak. Prices for the variants are:
Standard 2WD – RM 99,800
Executive 2WD – RM 109,800
Executive AWD – RM 115,800
Premium 2WD – RM 123,800
To entice Malaysian buyers, Proton has also added special value added packages that include:
Xtra Service Package – 5 times free labour service
Xtra Low Financing Rate – Low interest rates starting from 2.34% per annum
Xtra Warranty Coverage – 5-year warranty with unlimited mileage
Xtra Data Package – 5-year Internet data plan
What we think
All the variants of the Proton X70 are priced competitively against compact SUVs, sedans and MPVs in this price range. At RM 99,800 for the base Standard variant, buyers who are interested in the Toyota Rush and Honda HR-V could be swayed with a more powerful engine and larger C-segment size SUV.
As the variant progresses, we think that the sales of the Executive 2WD and Premium 2WD should be able to convince buyers interested in the Mazda CX-3, CX-5, Nissan X-Trail, Honda CR-V, Kia Sportage, Hyundai Tucson, Toyota Innova and Subaru XV. We feel that the X70 certainly provides great value for the specifications and features.
What do you think? Share with us your thoughts in the comments!
Click here to watch the Asean NCAP crash test of the Proton X70 here!
What do you think about the Toyota Rush? Click here to get up to date!
Sell your car through Carsome when you're ready to get that all new X70!
