Proton S70

Proton’s first S series model, positioned as a C-segment sedan, the all-new Proton S70, now in Malaysia.

Locally-assembled (CKD), it underpins Geely’s B-segment Modular Architecture (BMA), and is built based on the Geely Emgrand sedan.

Four variants. S70 1.5T Executive (MYR 73,800), S70 1.5T Premium (MYR 79,800), S70 1.5T Flagship (MYR 89,800), and S70 1.5T Flagship X (MYR 94,800).

Prices (OTR, w/o insurance) include a five-year, unlimited mileage warranty, six free-labour services, a five-year data package (1GB/month - Flagship, Flagship X), financing interest rates from 2.34% per annum, and Proton Insurance Programme.

Early bird package (first 3,000 units - till Feb 29) gets Aerokit (MYR 3,130 - Flagship X), service voucher (MYR 500 - Premium, Flagship, Flagship X), and upgraded Proton Insurance Programme.

Exterior colours. Executive (Snow White, Space Grey), Premium (Snow White, Space Grey, Armour Silver, Passion Red), Flagship (Snow White, Space Grey, Armour Silver, Passion Red, Marine Blue, Teal Bayou Green), and Flagship X (Snow White, Space Grey, Marine Blue, Teal Bayou Green, Quartz Black). 

The S70 gets a clear and symmetrically-aligned dashboard, draped in premium soft- and hard-touch materials.

Black-themed with metal-finished trimmings (steering wheel, air-conditioning surround, centre console), incorporated are ‘Songket’ inspired stitchings.

Commanding the centre is a screen setup, paired to a high-rise, bridge-style centre console (metal-finished). 

Overall, the cockpit is well-designed. All the buttons and other accessibilities are purposefully arranged, driver-centric and user-friendly.

Installed is an analogue metre display (Executive, Premium), and a 10.3-Inch digital instrument cluster display.

The latter features different display themes (Drive Mode Select dependent).

Interior of the five-seater saloon is upholstered in all-black fabric (Executive) and leatherette (Premium, Flagship, Flagship X).

Fitted up front are manual adjustable seats (Executive, Premium), and manual passenger and powered driver seats (Flagship, Flagship X). 

The rear gets a bench seat, featuring a 60:40 split-fold configuration and a centre armrest (Premium, Flagship, Flagship X).

Completing the environment is a grey headliner, framing a glass sunroof (front cabin - Flagship X).

Courtesy of its planted and fairly wide build, it offers plenty of head, shoulder and leg rooms, thus front and rear occupants get ample space.

Mounted is a three-spoke urethane (Executive) and leatherette (Premium, Flagship, Flagship X) steering wheel.

Incorporated are multi-switches (Bluetooth, Media, MID, voice command), and column adjustments (tilt, telescopic, tiptronic).

Also featured is Steering Mode Select (Normal, Comfort, Sport), and drive is aided by an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system.

Numerous storage areas. E.g., side door and seat back pockets, centre console compartmentalised and caverned spaces, and a glove box.

Multiple cup and bottle holders. Two cup holders at the front centre console and two at the rear seating’s centre armrest. Four bottle holders, each at the side door pocket.

Five USB ports with three located up front, and two in the rear. Also included is a wireless charger (Flagship, Flagship X).

Load space is of 500-Litres, and featured is a powered-tailgate (remote-operated, key fob), with a ‘nearby auto unlock trunk’ function (Flagship, Flagship X).

Weighing in at 1,300 KG (Executive), 1,305 KG (Premium), 1,312 KG (Flagship) and 1,319 KG (Flagship X), the S70 stands at 4,602 MM long, 1,809 MM wide, 1,466 MM tall, and with a wheelbase spanning 2,627 MM.

Exuding an overall sharp and elegant outlook, its design is based on the Geely Emgrand but with signature Proton elements.

Dynamically-sculpted, the front-end sees a restyled ‘Infinite Weave’ grille, featuring a silver surround (‘Ethereal Bow’) and diamond pin inserts (‘Songket’). 

Accentuating the layout are bumper-corner angular surrounds, a stretched-out central air-intake, and an optional lip kit (Aerokit - front, sides, rear - Flagship X).

Angularly-athletic, it boasts a horizontally-lined and symmetrically-designed rear-end with clean-cut contours. 

Featured is a mildly-sculpted tailgate, an optional tailgate-integrated spoiler (Aerokit - Flagship X), and the ‘Proton’ script bordered in black.

Completing the layout are bumper-corner angular surrounds, a standard diffuser, and an optional lip kit (Aerokit - front, sides, rear - Flagship X). 

Boxy and sharp, the headlamps are well-suited and are linked with the grille’s frame, forming a unison look. 

Installed are halogen (Executive) and LED (Premium, Flagship, Flagship X) units, featuring LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), and automatic On/Off, welcome/leaving light, and high-beam (Flagship, Flagship X) functions.

Softly- and angularly-shaped, the tail lamps are in a lightbar design (Premium, Flagship, Flagship X), propped-up by the ‘Proton’ script in the middle.

Fitted are halogen (Executive) and LED (Premium, Flagship, Flagship X) units, featuring signature light graphics, and welcome/leaving light function.

The side mirrors (Premium, Flagship, Flagship X) are electronically configurable (fold, adjust) with turn signals, and blind spot indicators (Flagship X).

Installed is a setup of ventilated (front) and solid (rear) disc brakes. Drive is aided by an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold.

Variants Executive and Premium ride on a set of 16-Inch multi-spoke alloy rims, wrapped in 205/55 R16 Goodyear Assurance TripleMax 2 tyres.

Variants Flagship and Flagship X ride on a set of 17-Inch multi-spoke alloy rims, wrapped in 205/50 R17 Goodyear Assurance TripleMax 2 tyres.

The S70 features the following suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). 

Standard for all variants. Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control System (TCS), Hill Hold Assist (HHA), Rear Collision Warning (RCW), Lane Change Assist (LCA), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), and Door Opening Warning (DOW).

Variants Flagship and Flagship X add on Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Stop/Go, Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Departure Prevention (LDP), Lane Centring Control (LCC), Traffic Sign Information (TSI), Intelligent High Beam Control (IHBC), Blind Spot Information System (BLIS), and 360-degree camera with 3D display.

Passive safety includes six airbags (driver-passenger, front side, front-rear curtain), seatbelts (anchors, reminders, pre-tensioners), ISOFIX (anchors, top tethers), front parking sensors (two - Premium, Flagship, Flagship X), rear parking sensors (three), reverse camera (Premium, Flagship, Flagship X), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) (Flagship, Flagship X), Digital Video Recorder (DVR), and anti-theft alarm with immobiliser.

Three drive modes at the driver’s disposal. Eco, Comfort, and Sport.

Installed are 8.0-Inch (Executive, Premium) and 12.3-Inch (Flagship, Flagship X) floating touchscreens, running on ACO Tech ATLAS OS (Flagship, Flagship X). 

The system supports voice command, online navigation/music/weather, smartphone connectivity, 4G/Wi-Fi, and the Proton Link App (phone app control - vehicle status, vehicle functions) (Flagship, Flagship X). 

Audio is channelled through a four-speaker (Executive, Premium) and a six-speaker (Flagship, Flagship X) setup.

Nestled in the S70 is a Multi-Point Injection (MPI) turbocharged engine (1.5-Litre three-cylinder in-line, 12-valve DOHC with VVT). 

The setup produces 148 HP/110 KW at 5,500 RPM, and 226 NM of torque at 1,750 to 4,000 RPM.

Fitted is a seven-speed automatic Dual-Clutch Transmission (DCT) with manual mode.

All power is transmitted to the front, via a Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) system.

Acceleration from 0 to 100 KM/H is done in 10 seconds.

Fuel tank capacity is at 50-litres.

The S70 features intelligent entry system (keyless entry, engine On/Off button), ‘nearby auto unlock trunk’ function (Flagship, Flagship X), powered-tailgate (remote-operated, key fob), remote engine ignition/cabin cooling (key fob, phone app), automatic headlamps, automatic rain sensing front wipers, powered driver seat (Flagship, Flagship X), steering wheel (multi-switches, column adjustments, Steering Mode Select, Electric Power Steering (EPS)), wireless charger (Flagship, Flagship X), interior lighting (map, cabin, boot), auto air-conditioning (Premium, Flagship, Flagship X) with N95 cabin air filter, rear air-conditioning vents, voice command (Hi Proton), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold, parking sensors (front, rear), and parking cameras (reverse, 360-degree with 3D display).

Rear air-conditioning vents are provided, located at the rear part of the centre console.

Installed setups are Macpherson strut (front) and torsion beam (rear). 

Drivability and comfort levels are satisfactory. Specifically tuned for the rough and tough Malaysian roads.

Overall, the ride quality is firm, and the interior is spacious and comfortable.

Good sound insulation, covering all the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) aspects. The cabin experience is refined and peaceful, alienated from most of the road noises.

The all-new Proton S70 is a great daily-driver, be it for leisure or business. First, its exterior is well-sculpted, and strikingly-elegant.

Second, its shell envelopes a refined interior, which sees a myriad of advanced connectivity, safety systems and creature comfort features.

Overall, its build quality is satisfactory, bargaining good looks and mechanics. The all-new Proton S70 is surely a saloon for Malaysians to consider.