2020 Proton X70 CKD - 4 variants, which is the best to buy?
Jerrica · Feb 12, 2020 05:30 PM
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After much anticipation, the locally-assembled (CKD) Proton X70 is now officially here in Malaysia. No longer imported from China, the locally produced Proton X70 CKD is now cheaper and comes with better features. You can read a summary of what's new here.
There are now four variants, all front-wheel drive and powered by the same updated 1.8-lire turbocharged TGDi engine paired to a new 7-speed dual clutch automatic transmission. Handling has been improved thanks to an improved suspension. It also comes with a new Space Grey colour.
In our opinion, the pick of the range is the Premium variant.
The difference between Premium and Premium X is just the addition of panoramic sunroof, and for that you will have to pay RM 3,000 more.
Sunroof is a nice to have feature but its use in our hot and humid climate is questionable. Even with tinting and a retractable cover, heat from the sun will still penetrate into the cabin, which forces the air-conditioning system to work harder to keep the cabin cool, which in turn contributes to higher fuel consumption.
Then there's the issue of additional wear and tear items like the sunroof's motor and rubber seals - the latter will result in water leaks when it wears out.
The panoramic sunroof allows you to enjoy a spot of stargazing, but we think it's a novelty only in the first 3 months of ownership. After that, we doubt it's a feature that you will use very often.
We say: you’re better off saving the RM 3,000 for the Samsung Galaxy S20. At least that's something that you will use every day, and it helps you do carry out your work or business better. The panoramic sunroof? What are you going to do with it?
There isn’t a time in memory that doesn’t involve staring at cars. After discovering the excitement of watching Schumacher vs Hakkinen, Formula 1 became a major part of life. The love for cars and F1 ultimately led to a job with CAR Magazine. The untimely death of the magazine meant a hiatus from cars at lifestyle women’s magazine Marie Claire before another opportunity came knocking again.