The X70 is the latest model in the lineup to receive Proton’s new 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine.
Despite only being majorly facelifted a little over a year ago, Proton has nevertheless kicked off the new year with yet another refresh of its X70. And as the headline already gives away, the big (and really only notable) change here is that this saviour SUV of the Malaysian marque has now gained an extra cylinder under its hood.
Yes, the X70 is now the latest Proton model to receive the new 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine that was first introduced with the facelifted X50 last year. And yes, it should come as no surprise that this engine will eventually find its way into the brand’s other three-cylinder offerings (namely the S70 and X90) before 2026 is out.
Also, if we are being pedantic, it is worth pointing out that the X70 did originally feature four cylinders. The pre-facelift model of this very car did after all launch with a 1.8-litre four-pot, before Proton later switched to a 1.5-litre turbo three unit in a subsequent update.
That aside, returning to the current hardware, the X70’s new 1.5-litre turbocharged, direct-injected four-cylinder shares its state of tune with the facelifted X50, delivering 181 PS at 5,500 rpm and 290 Nm of torque from 2,000 to 3,500 rpm. This marks increases of 4 PS and 35 Nm over the outgoing three-cylinder unit, while also placing it closer to the original 1.8-litre four-cylinder’s 184 PS and 300 Nm outputs.
More pertinent to most buyers however is perhaps the new fuel efficiency figure of this X70, with Proton quoted combined 6.9 litres per 100 km for this four-pot SUV marking a surprising 5.5% improvement over the 7.3 litres per 100 km of the outgoing three-cylinder model. As an added bonus too, overall NVH levels are also claimed to be reduced by 4.5%.
Now beyond the engine, Proton has made several mechanical revisions beneath the skin as well. The suspension setup has been comprehensively retuned, while the steering ratio has been adjusted for quicker and sharper responses. The all-wheel-drive variant has also been dropped entirely, with the seven-speed wet dual-clutch transmission now sending power exclusively to the front wheels across the range.
And speaking of the range, the X70 lineup has been significantly simplified, with it to now be consisting of just two variants: Executive and Premium. The former is currently priced at RM 106,800, while the latter retails for RM 119,800.
Specification levels of this updated X70 largely mirror what came before, though there are two notable deletions. The panoramic sunroof is no longer available following the removal of the Premium X variant, while Nappa leather upholstery has also been dropped entirely, with all variants now featuring leatherette seats instead.
That said, the X70 remains rather well equipped. The Executive variant comes with LED lighting all round, 18-inch alloy wheels, a 12.3-inch central infotainment display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster, ventilated front seats and a hands-free powered tailgate.
Stepping up to the Premium in turn adds a Nappa leather-wrapped steering wheel, two-colour rhythmic ambient lighting, additional two-way powered lumbar support for the driver’s seat, a four-way power-adjustable front passenger seat with “Boss switch”, larger 19-inch alloy wheels and the full suite of Level 2 ADAS driver assistance systems.
Now finally, as the images would have already made clear, this refresh of the X70 is really almost entirely under the skin. The only exterior change comes in the form new i-GT badges on its tailgate, in addition an updated colour options, with Ruby Red discontinued and the palette now consisting of Snow White, Armour Silver, Jet Grey and Marine Blue.
And another quick word on pricing again here: compared to pre-rebate figures, both the Executive and Premium variants are RM 4,000 cheaper than before. The RM 106,800 and RM 119,800 list price for the Executive and Premium variants include a five-year unlimited-mileage warranty, six free labour services and a five-year data package now upgraded to 2 GB per month (up from 1 GB). Proton is also offering interest rates as low as 2.2% for a nine-year loan with 90 percent financing.
As part of the launch package too, Proton is providing overtrade support of up to RM 2,000, along with an upgraded first-year Proton Insurance Programme that includes Special Perils coverage, personal accident coverage of up to RM 15,000 per person and up to RM 2,000 in additional flood relief. These offers are limited to the first 1,500 customers and are valid until March 31st.
