Proton X70

The new X70 gets a horizontally symmetrical and tiered dashboard, linked to a wide-high-rising-floating centre console (wireless charger – Premium, vehicle telematics, armrest, storage, grab handles).

Soft/hard-touched (dash, steering wheel, centre console, doors), it sees one colour scheme (single-tone: Black) with contrast trims (Satin Silver, Gloss Black) and a backlit panel (dash – ambient lighting).

Equipped are driver/central displays (instrument cluster, infotainment), an air-conditioning system (vents: rectangular – control panel: knobs, buttons) and an ambient lighting system (multi-colour, rhythmic – Premium).

Inclusively, the layout is ergonomic (functional) with accessibilities purposefully arranged (driver-centric, passenger-oriented).

Installed (Executive, Premium) is a 7.0-inch colour TFT-LCD (Thin-Film Transistor-Liquid Crystal Display) fully digital (Multi-Information Display – MID) driver display (instrument cluster).

Features are vehicle telematics, media, Bluetooth and customisable interface (Drive Mode Select dependent).

Comfortable, the interior sees leatherette (Executive, Premium) upholstery in one (single-tone) colour scheme (Black: Executive, Premium) with contrast stitching (White) and strips (Red).

The front gets manual-operated (Executive: passenger-multi-way-adjust, ventilation) and electronic-powered (Executive: driver-multi-way-adjust, ventilation – Premium: driver-passenger-multi-way-adjust, driver-lumbar, ventilation, passenger-‘Boss Switch’) bolstered seats. The rear gets a manual-operated (60:40 split-fold: Executive, Premium) bolstered bench (three-seater).

Included are headrests (front, rear), armrests (front – centre console, rear – centre seat fold-out) and a headliner (fabric: Dark Grey).

A five-seater (full-size SUV), the cabin offers generous space, providing comfortable seatings with ample interior mobility for the occupants (front, rear).

Sufficient head, shoulder and leg rooms.

Practical storage compartments. E.g., glove box, centre console spaces (partitioned, caverned, under-stowage) and pockets (seat backs, side doors).

Mounted is a three-spoke-flat-bottom steering wheel. Leatherette (Executive) and Nappa Leather (Premium) in one colour scheme (Black) with contrast stitching (White) and trims (Satin Silver, Matte Black).

Features are multi-switches (Bluetooth, media, MID, voice command, Cruise Control, vehicle telematics), column adjustments (tilt, telescopic) and Steering Mode Select (COMFORT, SPORT).

Drive is aided by an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system (turning radius: 5.5 m).

Provided are four cup holders (two – front, rear) and four bottle holders (one – side doors).

Equipped are five USB ports (three: front, two: rear), one 12 V socket (front) and one wireless charger (front).

Accessing (Executive, Premium) its electronic-powered (contactless-auto-open: remote/key fob, interior button, tailgate button, key-detecting) tailgate, opens to 515 litres (rear seats up) of load capacity.

Weighing in at 1,575 kg (Executive) and 1,585 kg (Premium), the new X70 stands at 4,532 mm long, 1,831 mm wide, 1,694 mm tall and with a wheelbase spanning 2,670 mm.

Solidly sporty, it exudes a curvaceously sculpted exterior, emphasised by roundly angular and cleanly cut contours.

The front-end sees a formed bonnet (raised sides/middle), muscular quarter panels (flared fenders, wheel arch extensions) and a sculpted bumper (Proton ‘Infinite Weave’ grille – Proton ‘Congkak Board’ air vent).

Accentuations, body clad (bumper, wheel arch extensions, side sills) and body trims (Black: grille, vent, side mirror arms, B-pillars – Chrome: grille, window surrounds, Proton emblem – Satin Silver: Proton ‘Ethereal Bow’ grille strip, fog light surrounds, under guard, lower side doors, roof rails – body-colour: door handles).

Solidly wide, it continues the curvaceously sculpted exterior, emphasised by roundly angular and symmetrically cut lines.

The rear-end sees a straight-cut roofline (roof-edge spoiler), muscular quarter panels (flared fenders, wheel arch extensions), a bulging tailgate (centre bar, Proton script, X70 emblem) and a covered bumper (diffuser: corner exhausts – vents: sides).

Accentuations, body clad (bumper, wheel arch extensions, side sills) and body trims (Black: diffuser, vents, tailgate centre bar, B/C-pillars – Chrome: exhausts, window surrounds, Proton script, X70 emblem – Satin Silver: lower side doors, roof rails – body-colour: door handles).

Boxy and angular, the headlamps are housed mildly slim and inward tilted. Installed are full LED units (reflectors).

Features are automatic On/Off/cornering, automatic high-/low-beam (Intelligent High Beam Control – IHBC: Premium), Daytime Running Lights (DRL – LED), welcome/leaving lights and turn signals (bulb). Included is a set of fog lamps (LED).

Large and angular, the tail lamps are framed sharply rounded with wrapped around edges. Installed are full LED units.

Features are automatic On/Off, welcome/leaving lights and turn signals (bulb). Included is a high-mounted stop light (roof-edge spoiler integrated).

The side mirrors (dual-tone: Black-body-colour) are electronic-powered (auto-fold, adjust) with turn signals (bulb) and blind-spot indicators (Blind Spot Monitor – BSM: Premium).

Fitted are sets of 18-inch (Executive) and 19-inch (Premium) twin-five-spoke (dual-tone: Black-Silver) alloy rims.

The sets are wrapped in 225/60 R18 (front, rear – Executive) and 225/55 R19 (front, rear – Premium) GitiComfort F50 advanztech (Executive, Premium) tyres.

The new X70 features the following suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

Grouped (Premium) are Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop/Go (ACC-SG), 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), Lane Change Assist (LCA), Rear Collision Warning (RCW), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Door Opening Warning (DOW) and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

Other systems (Executive, Premium) include Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Auto Brake Hold (ABH), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control System (TCS), Hill Hold Assist (HHA), Hill Decent Control (HDC), Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) and Surround View Camera (SVC: 360-degree, 180-degree transparent view).

Passive safety includes six airbags (driver-passenger, front-sides, front-rear curtains), seat belts (reminders, pre-tensioners, anchors), ISOFIX (two – rear-outer-seat), Cruise Control with Speed Limiter (CC-SL – Executive), parking sensors (two: front, four: rear), parking cameras (multi-angle reverse: Executive – 360-degree, 180-degree transparent view: Premium), side mirrors (BSM – Premium), automatic headlamps (On/Off/high-/low-beam), impact beams, door ajar warning, automatic headlamps (On/Off/high-/low-beam), automatic-door locks (speed-sensing, central-locking, walk-away-auto-lock), automatic wipers (rain-sensing, intermittent), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold (ABH) system and anti-theft system (security alarm, immobiliser).

Three (NORMAL ECO, SPORT) drive modes enabled (Executive, Premium).

Included is Steering Mode Select (COMFORT, SPORT).

Installed (Executive, Premium) is a 12.3-inch HD touchscreen floating central display (infotainment), running on ACO Tech’s ATLAS Android Operating System (AAOS – quad-core processor, 4 GB RAM, 32 GB storage).

Features are AM/FM radio, USB, voice command (Hi Proton: English), online navigation/music/weather, smartphone/Bluetooth/4G/Wi-Fi connectivity, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto (wireless), Proton Link 2.0 App (phone app control – vehicle status, functions), vehicle telematics and Over-The-Air (OTA) system updates.

Entertainment is channelled via a standard audio system (six speakers).

The new X70 (Executive, Premium) underpins an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) powertrain (Geely-developed).

Nestled is a (BHE15-EFZ: Intelligent Green Technology – i-GT) 1.5-litre, inline four-cylinder 16-valve, turbocharged direct injection (TGDi) with dual variable valve timing (DVVT) DOHC petrol engine (181 PS/133 kW, 290 Nm).

Mated (Executive, Premium) to the setup is a seven-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) with manual mode.

Power is rooted to the front (Executive, Premium) wheels, via a Two-Wheel Drive (2WD) system.

Fuel tank capacity is at 60 litres (Executive, Premium). Fuel consumption reads at 6.9 l/100 km (Executive, Premium).

The new X70 features these conveniences.

E.g., Intelligent Entry System (keyless entry, engine Start/Stop button, remote engine ignition: key fob, phone app), remote cabin cooling (key fob, phone app), electronic-powered (contactless-auto-open: remote/key fob, interior button, tailgate button, key-detecting) tailgate, dual-zone automatic air-conditioning system (rear-vents, Proton Intelligent Air Purifier System – PIAPS: N95 filter), electronic-powered (Executive: driver-multi-way-adjust, ventilation – Premium: driver-passenger-multi-way-adjust, driver-lumbar, ventilation, passenger-‘Boss Switch’) bolstered seats (front), headrests (front, rear), armrests (front – centre console, rear – centre seat fold-out), internal storage (centre console: partitioned, caverned, under-stowage – pockets: seat backs, side doors), steering wheel (multi-switches, column adjustments, Steering Mode Select, EPS), interior illumination (cabin/boot/ambient), infotainment (navigation, Bluetooth, voice command: Hi Proton, Proton Link 2.0 App: phone app control – vehicle status, functions, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto – wireless, navigation, Bluetooth), charging ports (USB, power sockets, wireless charger), parking sensors (two: front, four: rear), parking cameras (multi-angle reverse: Executive – 360-degree, 180-degree transparent view: Premium), side mirrors (BSM – Premium), automatic headlamps (On/Off/high-/low-beam), automatic headlamps (On/Off/high-/low-beam), automatic-door locks (speed-sensing, central-locking, walk-away-auto-lock), automatic wipers (rain-sensing, intermittent), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold (ABH) system and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

A suitable daily driver, the ride comfortability feels flexible and firm at the same time.

Suspension fitted is a setup of MacPherson strut (front) and multi-link with stabiliser (rear). Inside and out, performance- and comfort-wise, the ride quality is satisfactory.

Good sound insulation with the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) aspects accounted for. The cabin is well-designed, enhancing the in-car ambience.

Overall, the cabin can suppress unwanted noises well and make them barely noticeable, even when cruising through bumpy asphalts or at high speeds.