Proton X70

The Proton X70 MC1 (Minor Change 1) comes 4 years after its first introduction. There are 70,000 units of the pre-MC1 model, making the Proton X70 one of Malaysia’s favourite SUVs, and the first facelift is a minimal one, with the main change coming under the hood. This new engine is a familiar one, seen in the smaller Proton X50, which is a 1.5-litre turbocharged 3-cylinder mill. Together with this update, Proton has also updated the prices of the 2022 Proton X70 MC1. The five variants on-the-road prices are:

Proton X70 1.5 Standard – RM93,900 (RM4,000 more)
Proton X70 1.5 Executive – RM105,500 (RM4,500 more)
Proton X70 1.5 Executive AWD – RM111,300
Proton X70 1.5 Premium – RM117,900 (RM4,800 more)
Proton X70 1.8 Premium – RM121,800 (previously known as Proton X70 X, RM6,000 more)

Aesthetic changes are minimal. There are no new body panels to report of, but certain panels that were previously matte gray like the grille bars, accents on the front bumper, rear plate garnish and rear skid plate, are now all finished in glossy black. The chin spoiler and inserts for the air curtain in the bumper are now in matte silver, and the surround of the latter is now finished in gloss black where once they were body coloured.

Accompanying these minor changes are two new wheel designs. The one found on the Proton 1.5 Premium and Proton 1.8 Premium are 19-inch alloys that was first seen on the Proton X70 SE, while the 18-inch rims of the Proton 1.5 Executive are new to the Malaysian market. As for the Proton X70 1.5 Standard, it keeps the same 17-inch alloys as before.

The changes on the interior are even more discreet. The headliner is now in black, which feels classier than gray colour of the pre-MC1 Proton X70. 

Kit levels are unchanged from the pre-facelift Proton X70. The car Proton X70 1.5 Standard comes with automatic halogen headlights complete with LED indicators, LED front fog lights supplemented with a cornering light function, LED tail lights, keyless entry and push-start, electronic parking brake, fabric seats, and a reverse camera.

The Proton X70 1.5 Executive and Proton X70 1.5 Executive AWD have the same level of trim. They both add on to the kit of the Proton X70 1.5 Standard LED headlights and DRLs, automatic wipers, ventilated seats with powered adjustment for the driver, 360⁰ camera system, faux-leather seats, and a powered tailgate.

The Proton X70 1.5 Premium adds to the above a hands-free function for the tailgate, Nappa leather seats, powered adjustment for the front passenger seat, and a 9-speakers Kenwood audio system. The top-of-the-range Proton X70 1.8 Premium gets an additional panoramic sunroof, and security window tint.

Every variant of the Proton X70 MC1 has an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with the Geely Key User Interface (GKUI) with ‘Hey Proton’ voice control, and on the Proton X70 1.5 Premium and Proton X70 1.8 Premium there are  additional voice control functions.

All models of the Proton X70 MC1 comes with 6 airbags and stability control, while the Proton X70 1.5 Premium and Proton X70 1.8 Premium can be specified with ADAS, which includes autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, door opening warning, and automatic high beam, although this suite still lags behind the Proton X50 that has Level 2 semi-autonomous driving features like the lane centering assist.

Both the powerplants available to the Proton X70 MC1 are mated to the same 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.

1.5-litre turbocharged 3-cylinder – 177 PS (175 hp) at 5,500 rpm and 255 Nm between 1,500 – 4,000 rpm
1.8-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder – 184 PS (181 hp) at 5,500 rpm and 300 Nm between 1,750 – 4,000 rpm

Though there is a not insignificant 45 Nm of torque deficit in models with the new 1.5-litre, the engine is also a not insignificant 43 kg lighter than the larger engine. This brings a noticeable improvement in agility through the corners, and steering inputs are more direct with the lighter mill under the hood.

The ride and comfort of the facelifted Proton X70 MC1 is the same as before, which is to say, pretty good. 3-cylinder engines are known to have a certain less-than-pleasing engine note, along with some pretty noticeable vibrations thanks to the engine architecture, but Proton has taken a page from the Proton X50 and successfully muted both sound and sensations from the engine by using a polyurethane engine cover.

1.5-litre turbocharged 3-cylinder – no official figure, but Proton claims 7% improvement over the 1.8-litre engine, therefore the estimated figure is 7.1 l/100km (14.1 km/l)
1.8-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder – 7.6 l/100km (13.2 km/l)

With a newer, more fuel efficient powerplant, the new 2022 Proton X70 MC1 will tick the right boxes for most buyers out there, as many would not care too deeply about the zero-to-hundred times of a family-carrier. What’s more, the Proton X70 MC1 is just below RM130k even at its most expensive and at this price, it is the SUV that gives the most kit and one of the best rides, to say nothing about the noteworthy level of refinement and comfort.