Is the Proton X50 good for long drives?
The new X50 by Malaysian automaker Proton recently arrived in Mzansi sporting handsome crossover looks and a spaciou cabin, but is it good for long road trips? Let’s look at what really matters when we hit the open road: Interior comfort, safety, space, performance, and fuel economy.
Proton has released their X50 to South African consumers toward the end of last year. Proton is owned by Geely, who also happens to own Volvo, and therefore there are some shared underpinnings between the X50 and the Volvo XC40, like the platform and powertrain, interestingly enough, which actually makes the X50 a lot more attractive. To learn more you can read the top 3 things you need to know about the Proton X50, here.
But then again, some details like the roof lining feel a little less upmarket and then you realise why the X50 is not as pricey as the Volvo X40, for example, which happens to be one of my favourite Volvo models - read my review on the all-electric XC40 P6 here.
Proton X50 Performance
But let's get back to the topic - the X50's power and performance.
The X50’s 1.5-litre turbocharged, 3-cylinder engine has an output of 110kW and 226Nm but the flagship Premium model which my colleague tested has 130kW and 225Nm on tap. You don't need to stretch to R580 000 to get a car with decent pulling power, however, as other media members report that the run-of-the-mill X50s are rather agreeable to drive from a power and performance perspective, but here is what Sean had to say in his review about the more powerful Premium model nonetheless:
The 1 370kg crossover will get from 0-100km/h in a claimed 7.9 seconds, and in practice, the X50 feels reasonably brisk, with less turbo lag than anticipated and a very well-calibrated gearbox. We switched between Eco and Sport driving modes throughout our time with the vehicle and found the latter to be a bit too responsive for most driving scenarios, while the former is better suited for daily driving tasks.
In terms of refinement and comfort, the X50 proved to be quite agreeable, with good insulation and a reasonable amount of comfort, although we found the seats to be quite firm when compared with similar vehicles. In terms of dynamics, the X50 was better than anticipated, with a solid chassis, relatively communicative steering and handling that could be considered fun for a vehicle of this type. - Sean Nurse, AutoTrader
Space and second-row comfort in the Proton X50
Passengers in row two have a decent amount of leg- and elbow room for a comfortable journey, while Sean reports that the driver’s seat was a little hard. Those in the entry-level model have cloth seats to sit on while the rest of the lineup offers a high quality faux leather. USB ports are available for the front and rear along with enough air vents to keep passengers at a comfy temperature.
Related: Can you tow with a Proton X50?
If you take a look at the image of the boot, you'll notice it's shaped in such a way that it's able to swallow a fair amount of luggage despite having only 330 litres' worth of volume thanks to its clever design.
If you're wondering whether the Proton X50 will be any good for new drivers, click here.
The Proton X50's fuel consumption
When we had the more peppy X50 Premium on test, fuel consumption came to 8.3 litres per 100 km - not fantastic, but not bad for the size and weight of the crossover either - if fuel conservation is a major consideration, rather opt for one of the other three trims (see the lineup at the bottom of this page).
Safety features in the Proton X50
The Proton X50 scored an impressive 5-star rating by ASEAN NCAP thanks to its structural rigidity. All models are equipped with ABS, brake assist, traction control, stability control, hill-descent control, a rearview camera, Bluetooth, an infotainment system with voice control, hill-start assist, LED daytime driving lights, LED headlamps, and a minimum of four airbags.
Semi-self-driving features like adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning, and forward collision warning, are only available in the top-tier Premium model. While the infotainment system is compatible with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay users should be able to upgrade their systems at dealerships soon. For more in-depth info on the Proton X50's safety features, click here.
Verdict - does the Proton X50 pass the road-trip test?
Although I haven’t personally taken the X50 on a road trip, according to my colleague Sean it will be a very agreeable car for travelling long distances - just bear in mind the front-wheel-driven X50 is not built for anything rougher than a poor dirt road, despite its SUV styling.
Proton X50 model lineup and pricing (correct at the time this article was published - March 2023):
Proton X50 1.5T Standard, R449 900
Proton X50 1.5T Luxury, R499 900
Proton X50 1.5T Executive, R535 900
Proton X50 1.5T Premium (tested), R579 900
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