Tested: Proton e.MAS 7 Premium – Just How Good Is It?

We put the Proton e.MAS 7 Premium to find out just how good this supposed ‘national’ EV really is…

Malaysia’s First ‘National’ EV? Really?

Making a loud arrival amongst the seas of Chinese EVs flooding our market late last year, the Proton e.MAS 7 is often touted as Malaysia's first all-electric passenger car. Truthfully, there’s no need for us to mention its obvious Geely origins.

Nevertheless, the main question remains: how ‘local’ does this supposed ‘national’ EV look? Squint as hard as you want, there’s no hiding that the e.MAS 7 looks very similar to its Chinese cousin, the Geely Galaxy E5/EX5. Upon first glance, you’ll notice that the only differences are the Proton e.MAS badges on both ends and the centres of each 19-inch alloy wheel, as well as the e.MAS 7 tailgate script badge.

Making matters worse is the fact that the e.MAS 7 misses out on a few design bits seen in its Geely twin, notably in the front end, where it ditches the Geely original’s illuminated front grille and extended LED DRLs.

Then again, Proton’s first EV, or more appropriately the Galaxy E5, does have a pretty likeable yet borderline generic EV design. Key highlights to which include the sharp LED headlights, sleek SUV bodystyle with a rounded roofline, full-width LED taillights a la Porsche Macan, and more.

Don't let its sporty design fool you, the e.MAS 7 is one sizable SUV!

Generic design aside, the e.MAS 7 designers have successfully managed to hide its surprisingly large footprint - it spans 4,615 MM long with a 2,750 MM, 1,901 MM wide, and 1,670 MM tall. These figures not only dwarf some of its direct rivals, they also put the e.MAS 7 on par with other larger C-segment SUV crossovers.

Sure, we can talk all day on missed opportunities to make the e.MAS 7 look more Malaysian. Nevertheless, in this current form, it still garners positive reception amongst local folks, which we’d reckon is enough for now.

The Most Sophisticated Proton To Date!

Exterior design aside, this is where we think the e.MAS 7, especially in its top-spec Premium guise, truly shines against some of its direct competitors. At the same time, it also makes other Proton models look like they came from an entirely different era.

Upon entering the car, passengers will be greeted by a fairly typical minimalist cabin setup, laced with tons of tech and comfort amenities. Up front, the e.MAS 7 harbours a large 15.4-inch central infotainment screen, plus a slim 10.2-inch digital metre cluster with a head-up display (HUD).

While both the Flyme OS and Flyme Sound work wonders in the e.MAS 7, the lack of the Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support is quite frustrating to see.

More on the infotainment screen, the large display is powered by the Flyme OS, which includes several built-in apps like Spotify and an on-board navigation app with a dedicated EV charging map. However, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are absent for now. That said, we’ll admit that the 16-speaker Flyme Audio system hooked to this infotainment is simply one of the best we’ve ever tried in this space.

The minimalist approach continues on the central console, where the only available physical controls are the four buttons for the A/C and a dial, aside from the wireless charger, multiple USB ports, and some storage compartments. The shifter, on the other hand, has been relocated behind the two-spoke steering wheel, which boasts several dedicated, easily accessible control buttons.

Space and comfort are definitely not an issue in the e.MAS 7!

As for the seats, the two powered front ones also come with ventilation, where the driver's side gets a memory function, while the passenger side can be fully reclined. The rear ones, on the other hand, can also be folded flat to expand the e.MAS 7’s 461-litre boot space further. Predictably, rear passengers also get two A/C vents and USB ports, plus an almost flat floor with plenty of legroom.

Regarding space and practicality, Proton claims the e.MAS 7 boasts 33 storage compartments, including a large hidden compartment under the main boot space plus a drawer under the rear seats, though there’s no front trunk. Rounding off the amenities primed aboard the e.MAS 7 Premium are bits like a massive panoramic sunroof, a 256-colour ambient lighting system, driver’s seat headrest speakers, and more.

All-Electric Powertrain, But Still Drives Like a Proton!

This is perhaps where most of the localisation efforts made by Proton comes alive as we feel the national automaker instilled its driving DNA in this all-electric machine. As a result, the e.MAS 7 stood as one of the best-driving models in this segment.

Powering the e.MAS 7 is the same front-mounted (FWD) motor seen in its Geely twin, which delivers 215 HP (160 kW) and 320 NM. These figures are sufficient to propel this EV SUV and make it the fastest-accelerating Proton model to date, as it despatches from 0 to 100 KM/H  in an impressive 6.9 seconds before hitting the limiter at 175 KM/H.

Simply said, the e.MAS 7 delivers a very refined driving dynamics, thus making it feel more mature than most of its Chinese adversaries.

Straight-line performance aside, we believe that the e.MAS 7 shines brightest on B-roads and through the twisties - this is where you can truly feel the excellent work of Proton’s in-house ride and handling team. Unlike other EV SUVs, the e.MAS 7 feels neither too floaty or soft, whilst rebound rates dialled into the springs and dampers felt spot on - these feel much more refined than other Chinese counterparts, in fact.

Given its surprisingly large size, the FWD motor setup manages to drive the e.MAS 7 in a very smooth and effortless manner. With lots of torque ready on tap, overtakes and hillclimbs are also made effortlessly brisk. Should you need more oomph, Proton even endowed the e.MAS 7 with a livelier Sport drive mode.

Also working well here are several driver-assistance functions primed. Compared to its Chinese rivals, the e.MAS 7’s Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), feel very intuitive and usable, while other functions, like Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) and Rear-Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), provide an extra layer of safety and confidence.

Sure, while there are many other EV saloons that offer better drive dynamics, P1’s first EV, which comes in practical SUV crossover form, isn’t terrible to drive overall - far from it. In fact, we’re confident that the e.MAS 7 stands as your best bet in experiencing a decent combination of ride, comfort, and safety. Making that fact even more impressive in the fact that this is Proton’s first tango in the EV realm.

Decent Battery & Charging Performance

Being the nation’s first EV model, range and battery performance quickly became a concern for many. Through our stint with the e.MAS 7 Premium, we’re happy to report that both are quite decent and more than usable for most Malaysians.

Underpinning Geely’s proprietary 400-volt GEA platform, the e.MAS 7 Premium comes with a 60.22-kWh LFP Aegis ‘Short Blade’ battery pack that promises up to 410 KM of WLTP range. Charging-wise, it supports 100 kW DCFC, which sees 30-80% re-charge done in just 20 minutes, whereas AC charging at 11 kW sees 10-80% re-charges done in about six hours.

We do manage to get quite close to the e.MAS 7's claimed WLTP figures.

From our week-long drive the lowest average energy consumption we hit was 14.1 kWh/100 KM, whilst our worst stood at around 15.6 kWh/100 KM - indeed, we came close to its claimed WLTP figure. Surely, with even more lenient driving, we won’t be surprised if the e.MAS 7 manages to better its claimed figures.

Another important thing about the e.MAS 7 is the aforementioned onboard EV charging map. Just like the one found on the smart EVs, the e.MAS 7’s charging map allows travellers to plan their trips ahead, where the navigation will suggest charging stops along the way, as well as giving near-precise estimations based on the current battery percentage of your car.

Combined with the Proton e.MAS dedicated mobile app, which allows you to manage your charging sessions and grant access to PRO-NET’s fast-growing charging network, we feel these extra bits really help to not only elevate your EV ownership experience but also provide a guide to less-experienced EV owners too.

Should You Buy One?

With its spacious, practical, and tech-laden cabin, combined with a sublime ride and handling performance, plus decent battery and charging performance, it is hard to deny that the Proton e.MAS 7 Premium delivers a near-perfect package not only for EV enthusiasts but also for first-time EV buyers out there.

What makes things more impressive is its tantalising price tag, with the top-spec Premium model currently retailing at RM123,800, which makes it one of the most affordable EV SUVs in our market. Said price is inclusive of a 6-year, unlimited mileage vehicle warranty, plus a separate 8-year or 160,000 KM high-voltage battery and components warranty.

Again, we can debate all day about all the opportunities Proton has missed for the e.MAS 7, but given its complete package and still affordable price tag, there’s nothing much for us to loathe and complain about the car.

That being said, should Proton manage to apply the same formula for its upcoming EV models and perhaps go slightly further in localising its looks and innards, then we’re confident to say that P1 is on the right track in dominating the local EV scene, that is, until Perodua’s first EV model arrives…

SPECIFICATIONS

PROTON e.MAS 7 PREMIUM