One of Proton's best products to date is the Proton X70. It was finally available in CKD version in 2020, with the main highlight being the 7-speed DCT (The CBU version has a 6-speed automatic).

Although new to the C-segment SUV market in Malaysia, the Proton X70 has been able to challenge existing options such as the Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5, and Nissan X-Trail.

Let's run it through our WapCar Rating System to break things down.

2020 Proton X70 Premium X 2WD (CKD): Driving Performance - 30/50 pts, The 1.8 TGDI is not the most powerful

Although boasting a 1.8-litre TGDI engine, the maximum power output of the Proton X70 is lower than the smaller 1.5-litre turbo engine in the Honda CR-V (193 PS). 

Comparisons aside, the performance figures are decent and it is sufficient to haul 5 people around. Gear shifts are fast and smooth, making for a pleasant driving experience.

We managed a 0-100km/h time of 10.4 seconds for the Proton X70 CKD.

In our century sprint test, it is slower than the Honda CR-V 2WD (8.9 s), Mazda CX-5 2.5 Turbo (7.8 s), and Toyota RAV4 (9.0 s), but faster than the Nissan X-Trail 2.0 (11.9 s) and Subaru Forester 2.0 (11.7 s).

The tested braking distance from 100 km/h of 40.7 m is good for its segment.

The Proton X70 scores moderately in terms of handling. Steering feel is not too light and not too heavy, and suspension damping is balanced (not too soft, not too stiff)

2020 Proton X70 Premium X 2WD (CKD): Ride Comfort - 37.5/50 pts, One of the most comfortable in its class

Both front row and second row passengers sit comfortably in the Proton X70. Side support and thigh support are very good and the front row even gets ventilated seats.

Cabin noise of the CKD Proton X70 is better than some of it rivals. At 110 km/h, a reading of 68.5 dB was recorded. That's quieter than the Honda CR-V (70dB) and Subaru Forester (70dB).

Compared to the CBU version of the Proton X70, the CKD version is slightly quieter at low speeds. At and 110 km/h, noise levels are equal between the two.

2020 Proton X70 Premium X 2WD (CKD): Quality and Features - 39/50 pts, Packed with features

The Proton X70 scores well in terms of exterior build quality. Panel gap consistency is good with a maximum difference of only 1mm.

In terms of paint thickness consistency, only one panel showed significant deviation.

Although the cheapest in its class, the Proton X70 still offers "exclusive" features like gas bonnnet struts and a powered tailgate.

The use of Nappa leather gives the cabin a classy feel, and the bright colour tones on the centre console and dashboard compensate for the hard plastics.

Scoring additional luxury points in the cabin of the Proton X70 Premium X is the panoramic sunroof. 

Unfortunately, Android Auto/ Apple CarPlay phone connectivity is not available.

What it has instead is the voice command or "Hi Proton" feature. While it is convenient in some situations, there is still room for improvement.

For the price that you pay, the Proton X70 is packed with features. It tries its best with whatever luxury bits it can fit, and it doesn't cheap out on ADAS either.  The Proton X70 helps you endure long journeys with Active Cruise Control (ACC), BLIS, and LDW.

It even has 360° cameras with a rotatable view to make parking a breeze.

2020 Proton X70 Premium X 2WD (CKD): Space and Practicality - 25.5/50 pts, The boot floor height is a problem

The Proton X70 is rather average when it comes to cabin space. 5 adults can sit comfortably and the second row headroom is decent.

The only issue with the Proton X70 is how high the boot is from the ground. Otherwise, we have no complaints on the 512-litre boot space. At 830mm, you will need to lift things higher just to load them in the X70.

For comparison purposes, the boot height of the Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5, and Volkswagen Tiguan are 620 mm, 750 mm, and 700 mm respectively.

2020 Proton X70 Premium X 2WD (CKD): Fuel Consumption – 9/20 pts, There is yet to be a fuel efficient Proton

After driving for 67.7 km (60% city, 40% highway) and refuelling 7.2 litres of fuel, a calculated fuel consumption of 10.6 l/100km was obtained. Being on the thirstier side, the Proton X70 loses points here.

The figure is comparable to the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace 1.4 (10.34 l/100km) and Mazda CX-5 2.5 Turbo (10.4 l/100km).

The Proton X70 is yet to catch up with the Honda CR-V in terms of fuel consumption.

2020 Proton X70 Premium X 2WD (CKD): Purchase and Cost – 25/30, The most affordable family SUV in Malaysia

The biggest appeal of the Proton X70 CKD is its price. Starting at RM 115,800*, it is a lot cheaper than the Honda CR-V (RM 168,465*) and the Mazda CX-5 2.5 Turbo 2WD (RM 161,103*).

*OTR price without SST

This itself allows you to look past flaws of the X70. Going for the "Standard 2WD" variant makes the X70 a sub RM100k family SUV - a more appealing option for those who wish to spend less.

Usage of 5 years or 100,000 km will accumulate an approximate maintenance cost of RM 4,465.23.

2020 Proton X70 Premium X 2WD (CKD): Conclusion - 166/250 pts overall

Overall, the Proton X70 CKD is an attractive option for a family SUV, mainly due to its price. Its only negative points are the slightly high fuel consumption, high boot floor, and the lack of Android Auto/Apple Carplay.

Otherwise, it offers many convenient features despite being the most affordable family SUV. The X70 tries its best to be luxurious and offers a full suite of ADAS. It even manages to be more comfortable than most of its established rivals. If you're shopping for a family car, you should not ignore the Proton X70.