Driven: Proton e.MAS 5 – Comfy, Zippy and Silent!

Sorry, Proton still won't show the full exterior of the e.MAS 5 yet, hence the camouflaged exterior images featured.

Having sized it up in the flesh prior, albeit only as a static display, the Proton e.MAS 5 certainly holds strong promise when we previewed it prior. Despite its small footprint, it arguably packed enough on board to leave a lasting impression then.

Proton still wouldn’t let us show you the exterior of the e.MAS 5 without camouflage yet, but we’ve been hinted that the model’s official launch is just around the corner. Until then, we can only show you the e.MAS 5 with its exterior covered in camouflage still.

For this report, we'll solely focus on the drive dynamics instead. Read our initial preview report to get to the e.MAS 5 better by clicking here.

All that was left then was to sample the e.MAS 5 by driving it, and the chance to do just that came earlier this week. Though our total seat time barely lasted 20 minutes in all, it was indeed enough for us to grasp what this all-electric (EV) hatchback had to offer.

For this report, we’ll focus solely on the driving experience. With that, here’s everything we can tell you about how the Proton e.MAS 5 drives, and why we reckon it would easily impress almost anyone eyeing it up…

For this test, Proton allowed us to cane the e.MAS 5 on its banked oval test track in Shah Alam. 

It’s Very Zippy!

Being very close in size to the now out of production Iriz hatch, it’s no surprise then that the e.MAS 5 felt very zippy from the get-go. Compact footprint aside, what also arguably fuels this EV hatch’s zippiness is its respectably peppy powertrain.

There certainly has been lots of debate and doubts casted over the 116 hp and 150 Nm output figures from the compact 11-in-1 e-motor mounted in the rear. Perhaps much of these also stems from the claimed 0-50 km/h sprint time of 3.9 secs.

Don’t be fooled by the seemingly 'low’ torque and ‘slow’ acceleration figures noted prior. 150 Nm certainly felt sufficient at getting the e.MAS 5’s claimed kerb heft, which ranges between 1,215 KG and 1,285 KG, off the line almost effortlessly.

Perhaps what will surprise most is just how sufficient 116 hp really is, especially in both rolling sprints from 50 km/h to 80 km/h and from 80 km/h to 120 km/h – the typical highway merging and overtaking dashes.

One just needs to live with the powertrain’s limited V-max of 140 km/h, which the e.MAS 5 easily achieves when we caned it a little on Proton’s banked oval test track in Shah Alam. For its intended use as a ‘city car’ though, we can confirm there’s enough speed here indeed.

Speed and pace aside, the next fact ought to impress most too…

Naturally, given its compact footprint, the e.MAS 5 boasts high agility and nimbleness, especially for city driving.

It’s Very Agile And Stable

Again, this is something perhaps many already expect from any compact hatch with similar size and heft, regardless of what powers it underneath. To that, the Proton e.MAS 5 doesn’t disappoint on this front to say the least.

Much of this again stems from the powertrain detailed prior, specifically its rear-wheel-drive (RWD) setup. Adding to which here is the way the all-round independent suspension setup is dialled in and calibrated too, which resulted in a soft and supple ride.

The combination of both really shines through the surprisingly high agility that the e.MAS 5's chassis delivers for the typical low-speed city-driving bits, which even includes a rather tight 4.95-metre turning radius.

Even when caned at higher speeds around the banked oval track mentioned, that the e.MAS 5 thankfully possess es equally high levels of stability at high speeds. This being a Proton-badged offering, perhaps this was one trait that was widely expected.

Our only gripe here stems from the typically ‘muted’ feel of the electric power steering (EPS) module brimmed. Given how this is the norm with said tech, we’ll perhaps let this one slide, more so given just how it is accurately calibrated.

Indeed, what will be a real surprise instead for most driving the e.MAS 5 will be the next fact…

It’s Very Quiet And Comfy

For anyone who isn’t initiated with an EV, what will take many aback here will be its silence. Given the highly accessible estimate starting price that Proton pitched the e.MAS 5 at, expect to hear this sentiment often from scores of first-time EV buyers this attracts.

Though eerily weird at first for most first-timers, said silence is welcoming given the huge role it plays towards overall comfort. Whilst here, we’ll also point out the e.MAS 5’s cabin is imbued with respectably high noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) suppression levels too.

Coupled that last fact with the soft, supple ride dynamics mentioned and it’s plain to see that this is one EV many won’t mind spending lots of time in. The bonus here is of course the level of kit and amenities brimmed to sate the needs of everyone on board.

Certainly, if its accessible estimated price does not impress you, then the combination of silent running with a well-sorted chassis that’s also very easy and comfy to drive should boost the e.MAS 5’s overall prospects.

Overall, things certainly feel very promising. The only bits we couldn’t sample, and test were the ADAS features. Given how this is executed in the larger e.MAS 7 crossover though, we aren’t too concerned though.

PRO-NET has hinted that the e.MAS 5's launch will take place 'very soon'...

It’s Set For Launch ‘Very Soon’…

Like what you see and hear about this pint-sized EV hatch from Proton so far? The other good news we have is the fact that an official launch is set to take place ‘very soon’, hints PRO-NET – the national automaker’s EV arm.

As a refresher, the e.MAS 5 is now now opened for bookings both online and at authorised Proton e.MAS dealers at a nominal fee of just RM99. With over 3,000 bookings placed thus far, we’re certain the e.MAS 5 will be yet another winner for P1.

Given everything we just laid out, what do you folks reckon then? Fancy this pint-sized EV as your next daily runabout? As usual, share your take it he comments below…