First Drive: 2026 Proton e.MAS 7 PHEV – A Charged-Up Game Changer?

Malaysia’s first “dual-powered EV” tested! How does the new Proton e.MAS 7 PHEV stack up against other electrified C-SUVs?

Local new energy (NEV) marque Proton New Energy Technology (PRO-NET) shook the whole local automotive industry when it debuted its first-ever plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model, the Proton e.MAS 7 PHEV, earlier this year.

Billed as Malaysia’s first “dual-powered EV," the e.MAS 7 PHEV packs a lot of promising configurations that PRO-NET hopes will convince more Malaysians to embrace this relatively new technology that was previously reserved for more expensive European models.

To put its first PHEV model to the test, PRO-NET has invited us to a one-of-a-kind media drive with the mid-spec e.MAS 7 PHEV Premium, where we were tasked to drive this SUV from its headquarters in Shah Alam all the way to Langkawi Island.

Without further ado, here are some of our thoughts after spending considerable hours behind the wheel of this electrified SUV…

THE CAR

Before we get to the nitty-gritty of the drive, it is best for us to get to know about the car itself.

As mentioned earlier, we were tasked with driving the mid-spec Premium variant of the e.MAS 7 PHEV, which features the same 18.4 kWh LFP battery pack as the entry-level Prime. Proton claims the pack is good for up to 105 km of pure electric range (NEDC), while capable of accepting both AC 6.6 kW and DC 30 kW charging methods—the latter enabling a 30–80% charge to complete in under 20 minutes.

The combustion part comes in the form of a 1.5-litre 4-cyl naturally-aspirated EM-i dedicated hybrid engine that outputs 98 hp (73 kW) and 125 Nm by itself and is rated with a decent fuel economy of 4.3 litres per 100 km. As for the electrified part, the e.MAS 7 PHEV’s electric drive motor is integrated into the 11-in-1 dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT), rated at 215 hp (160 kW) and 262 Nm.

Combined, the whole PHEV setup is rated at 259 hp (193 kW) and 262 Nm, while its 51-litre petrol tank is good enough for up to 1,000 km of range (NEDC).

As for the car itself, Proton positions the e.MAS 7 PHEV as a C-segment SUV, although its dimensions are somewhat closer to midsize SUVs. The SUV spans 4,740 mm long, 1,940 mm wide, and 1,685 mm tall with a generous wheelbase of 2,755 mm, thus putting it above other larger C-SUVs such as the Honda CR-V, Kia Sportage, and even both its stablemates, the Proton X70 and Proton e.MAS 7 EV.

The Proton e.MAS 7 PHEV carries little-to-none design changes over its Chinese donor model, the Geely Galaxy Starship 7.

Design-wise, the e.MAS 7 PHEV follows in the footsteps of its EV twin by not diverting too much from its Chinese donor model, the Geely Galaxy Starship 7, which is also known as the Geely Starray EM-i in some markets. The e.MAS 7 PHEV gets the same generic rounded SUV bodystyle with little-to-none Proton-ification in its design, with the only notable ones being the P1 tiger badge, the 19-inch wheels, and the e.MAS 7 PHEV nameplate.

Thanks to its large footprint, the e.MAS 7 PHEV boasts a pretty spacious cabin with decent amenities and practicality. The latter comes in the form of its large 528-litre boot space that expands to 2,065 litres with the rear seats folded down, plus up to 30 storage compartments distributed throughout the cabin.

As for the cabin amenities, e.MAS 7 EV drivers would feel right at home inside this PHEV SUV, as it gets the same cabin setup featuring a large 15.4-inch Flyme Auto OS-powered central screen that supports wireless mobile connectivity (Android Auto and Apple CarPlay) and Proton’s own live charging map for easier charging.

Other amenities primed in this Premium spec include powered and ventilated front seats, a head-up display (HUD), a 256-colour ambient lighting system, a 16-speaker Flyme Sound audio system, a retractable tonneau cover, auto A/C with an N95 cabin filter, a wireless charger, and many more.

All in all, the Proton e.MAS 7 PHEV Premium seems like a solid proposition for most buyers out there, with the only few exclusions over the top-spec Premium+ variant being the larger 29.8 kWh Aegis ‘Short Blade’ LFP battery pack and a full panoramic glass roof. That said, does the smaller battery pack affect the overall performance of this PHEV SUV?

THE DRIVE

Unlike our previous stint with another affordable PHEV SUV, which involved some sort of an efficiency challenge, PRO-NET decided to let us really put the e.MAS 7 PHEV to the max without imposing any limitations or target figures on us.

The drive from Proton’s HQ in Shah Alam to the Kuala Perlis jetty was roughly 500 km, with a few stops for short breaks planned along the way. With no specific routes given for us to follow, the large majority of our time was spent on the North-South Expressway (NSE), which is perhaps the most ideal place for us to do a proper fuel economy challenge on this PHEV SUV.

Instead, we took this opportunity to test out the high-speed stability and comfort level of the car in a bid to simulate real-life situations. At higher speeds, even beyond the highway speed limits, the e.MAS 7 PHEV felt quite stable on the road, and the comfort level for passengers was quite decent—at least on straight roads.

But once we depleted the battery charge, this is where things started to get slightly rough for the e.MAS 7 PHEV. We found the engine note to be more present and noticeable than other next-gen PHEV systems we tried before, and things got worse if you tried to speed up in this condition, where the engine noise got uncomfortably loud and high.

The same can be said for its driving dynamics, where the e.MAS 7 PHEV was definitely not being built with drivers in mind. While the drive felt fine on straight, flat roads, the SUV’s comfort-biased suspension tuning that was virtually calibrated felt too soft and rebound-prone when we took it around twisty B-roads. That said, we still think the rebound level was noticeably lower and less prominent than other EV SUVs we’ve tested prior, but don’t expect it to be on the same level as other Proton models.

One part where the e.MAS 7 PHEV shines over some of its rivals is in the flexibility, where drivers have a few options on how to drive the car. In full electric power, the e.MAS 7 PHEV Premium is good for over 100 km of range, which is enough for your work commute and daily errands.

The same goes for a situation where there are no charging facilities available, where drivers can use the self-charging function for the e.MAS 7 PHEV. This function essentially transforms the engine into a generator, and drivers can self-charge the car while driving or even while stationary—which was exactly what we did during our two-hour stint on the RO-RO ferry en route to Langkawi from Kuala Perlis.

That being said, the smaller battery pack primed on this mid-spec e.MAS 7 PHEV Premium does hold it back from becoming a more practical and stellar dual-powered SUV. Not only do you get less pure electric range out of it, but the battery also depletes faster than what we anticipated, and in a PHEV system that uses an NA engine as its core, this does make a difference in both performance and efficiency.

CONCLUSION

Regardless of some of the shortcomings mentioned above, the Proton e.MAS 7 PHEV is still a decent introduction to plug-in hybrid technology for most Malaysians out there, while offering all the familiar modern bits and creature comforts that helped it to stand out further than some of its rivals.

But what perhaps make the e.MAS 7 PHEV more favourable for buyers out there is in its value, and from just RM123,800 (RM119,800 with special launch rebates) for the Premium guise tested, it currently stands as the most affordable new PHEV model on the market.

Yes, it is simply hard to ignore all the values given by PRO-NET for this price point, where not only do you get a relatively sizable car with decent space and amenities, but also decent warranty coverage and support. This includes a standard 5-year, unlimited mileage base vehicle warranty and a separate 8-year or 160,000 km coverage for the high-voltage battery and components.

At the end of the day, it all comes down to what kind of value you’re looking for out of a car. If you value space, practicality, modern amenities, and safety, then the Proton e.MAS 7 PHEV in this Premium form tested should be more than enough for you. But if you value energy efficiency and better pure electric performance, perhaps the top-spec e.MAS 7 PHEV Premium+ could be a better choice; that is, if you refuse to look at other next-gen PHEV technologies available on the market.

One thing’s for sure, PRO-NET insisted that the e.MAS 7 PHEV is not here to cannibalise or replace their BEV lineups but rather as a more energy-efficient and high-tech alternative to other combustion-powered SUVs out there, and at this level of affordability, they may have succeeded in doing so.