SIX Things We Learnt About The 2025 Proton X50 Facelift

At long last, there's now a properly new and face-lifted iteration of the Proton X50 B-SUV fighter, and it's promising!

By now, we’re certain you’re up to speed already about the upcoming new and heavily revised 2025 Proton X50 Facelift. With an embargo now lifted, we can finally shed more light on the exciting new bits you can expect from P1’s revamped B-SUV fighter.

Overall, things look mighty promising – Proton took no chances at preparing its second best-seller after the Saga, which is also set to be renewed this year. Given how hotly contested the local B-SUV waters are, P1 was wide to up the ante in fending off its rivals here.

With that in mind, here are SIX key things you ought to know about the 2025 Proton X50 Facelift…

There's a powerful new 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen primed with both wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

1. Apple CarPlay & Android Auto Comes WITHOUT AN OTA UPDATE!

Unlike the X70 Facelift that arrived initially with the ‘promise’ of Apple CarPlay enabled via post-launch over-the-air (OTA) software update, Proton elected to make sure this – and Android Auto – is ready immediately in the X50 Facelift instead.

Enabling this is a segment-leading and larger, more powerful new 14.6-inch touchscreen propped up front-and-centre of the X50 Facelift’s fully revamped dash, powered by a quad-core processor with 6GB RAM and 64GB ROM storage plus an Android 10 Operating System.

Critically, BOTH Apple and Android smartphone suites are available, and wirelessly too. This is certainly great news for prospects who aren’t keen to use the native Proton infotainment suite, which has improved tremendously (see #3)…

Under the hood, there's a brand new 1.5-litre 4-cyl turbo petrol heart, and it sees heightened new outputs of 181 PS and 290 NM to drive the front wheels via a 7-speed DCT box.

2. It Gets A Peppy & Smooth NEW 4-cyl Heart

Yes, under the hood, there’s now a new 1.5-litre 4-cyl turbo petrol mill, which is paired with a 7-speed DCT box. As expected, the extra cylinder brings with it heightened headlining figures of 181 PS, 290 NM and 7.6 secs for the 0-100 KM/H dash.

There are four drive modes on offer now too, those being ‘Normal’, ‘Sport’, ‘Eco’ and a newly added ‘Adaptive’ mode – all self-explanatory. Proton also touts a 4.7% improvement in fuel efficiency, but that’s not the best part.

A brief 10-minute test-drive through Proton's Shah Alam Test Track allowed us to experience just how much smoother and more refined this new 4-cyl mill felt.

Arguably, this new four-banger’s prowess lies in its refined and smoother operation versus the outgoing 3-cyl unit. This pairs up well with the heightened NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) suppression already imbued in the X50 RC onwards.

A quick 10-minute spin through Proton’s Shah Alam test-track was enough time for us to assess this new-found refinement. Certainly, this is one aspect many will appreciate from the X50 Facelift, and perhaps the next bit too…

The X50 Facelift also benefits with a slew of enhanced connectivity-based functions on board thanks to the powerful new infotainment unit detailed prior.

3. It’s A Lot ‘Smarter’ Now

If you haven’t guessed it yet, the infotainment’s added processing power wasn’t just aimed for AA/CP. The new Android 10 Operating System mentioned should’ve clued you in on the improved native connectivity-driven functions primed.

Leading things here is an enhanced Proton Link 2.0 mobile app, which brings enhanced vehicle control and monitoring, newly added navigation and tracking function bundled in, improved voice command, and more. In short, expect greater access and controls here.

The enhanced intelligence continue on the driver assistance front with an improved ADAS package that bring Level 2 semi-autonomous driving abilities and more.

Next comes the uprated Level 2 semi-autonomous driving abilities granted by a barrage of new and improved Advanced Driver Assistance or ADAS features powered using enhanced array of optical and radar sensors all-around.

These improved sensors array brings more accurate autonomous perpendicular and parallel parking abilities, trick new ‘transparent chassis’ view for the 360-degree parking camera view, newly added Rear Collision Warning (RCW) function, and more.

Essentially, what was already a rather ‘smart’ B-SUV before has been made even ‘smarter’ now, which in turn translates to a compact crossover that’s much safer and more convenient for the daily than before too. Of course, there’s more…

On board, the X50 Facelift rocks a revised new and arguably much neater cabin design largely inspired by EVs like the e.MAS 7.

4. There’s A Neater-Looking Cabin

Truthfully, static images – as well as dynamic cinematography – simply don’t do justice versus seeing and feeling things in the flesh. Instead, we’ll do our best through words. In short, the ideal adjective to describe the revamped interior is ‘refreshing’.

Clearly, there are a lot of aspects imbued here that were inspired by the Electric Vehicles (EVs) – Proton e.MAS 7 included. Both digital screens aside, this couldn’t be more evident with the new column-mounted gear-selector lever, which we love.

Both new column-mounted gear selector and simplified centre console are very EV-like. The latter boasts a wireless charging pad up to (Flagship) plus new 10-litre storage bin below.

Next comes the fully revised dash and centre console, the latter now simplified and de-cluttered to look neater. Housed here is a wireless charging pad up top for the Flagship guise, followed by a new 10-litre storage bin below where the transmission would’ve been.

New here too in the range-topping Flagship guise is a novel semi-transparent sun visor, though how ‘useful’ this feature will be in the hands of most Malaysians remains to be seen. Otherwise, little else has changed, which isn’t bad news altogether.

Pictured is the X50 Facelift in mid-spec Premium guise (top) and range-topping Flagship guise (above).

5. The Exterior Looks Sharper Now Too

If kerb-side appeal is something you favour highly, then we’re certain many of you are already digging the X50 Facelift’s sharp new lines. Notably, Proton has done a fair bit to differentiate the X50 Facelift from its Geely-badged Coolray and Binyue twins.

The sharpness gets turned up to 11 in the new range-topping Flagship guise, which gains a prominent Batmobile-esque new rear wing, though we reckon the more ‘restraint’ mid-spec Premium guise shown alongside holds broader appeal.

Common design changes include the front grille, bumpers plus its intake and diffuser elements, head- and taillights, as well as the 18-inch rolling stock (Premium & Flagship), though only the Flagship gets a prominent new rear wing.

Common changes across the board sees distinct new all-LED forward and rear lighting, the latter now sporting a new connecting light bar element, followed by a new front grille, as well as new bumpers with distinct new front intakes and rear diffuser elements.

New too are the rolling stock, with the base Executive guise gaining 17-inch units, whereas both the Premium and Flagship share a distinct new dual-tone, five-spoke 18-inch units. Overall, you’ll either love or loathe these changes.

No prices were announced yet, but ROI is now opened for the 2025 Proton X50 Facelift.

6. Prices Are TBC Still, But ROI Is Open Now

As usual, Proton kept mum about price and launch timelines, but we’re certain the latter won’t take too long from now – perhaps in the coming weeks. As for the former, your guess is as good as ours really.

For reference, the 2024MY X50 RC model saw its MPI-engined variants command RM86,300 (Standard), RM93,300 (Executive) and RM101,800 (Premium), whilst its TGDi-engined Flagship range-topper was tagged at RM113,400.

given the streamlined line-up and shared new powertrain across the board, expect the X50 Facelift’s starting price to be higher than the outgoing and now axed Standard trimline guise offered prior – it should hover around or close to the RM90,000 mark.

If all this tickle your fancy, then you’ll be glad to know registration of interest (ROI) is now opened for the revamped 2025 Proton X50 Facelift detailed through authorised dealers and official showrooms nationwide.

X50 Facelift in mid-specced Premium guise pictured above.

What Do You Folks Think?

Given everything we’ve detailed, what do you think of P1’s revamped B-SUV fighter then? Has Proton sharpened it enough to warrant a second look? Would this ‘local’ fighter be your top choice still over other foreign-badged alternatives?

As usual, share your take in the comments below, or on the official Carz.com.my Facebook page. You can also check out more images from the exclusive preview mentioned in the gallery prepared below….