The Proton X50 comes to us from the far-flung land of Malaysia, off the assembly line of Geeley. These small SUVs are packed with features that will appeal to a large swathe of consumers, but will they strike a chord with new drivers?
We took a look at some of the features that make the Proton great for the target audience and see if a new driver may glean anything from it.
What makes the Proton a good car for a new driver?
The first factor is size and ease of use. The X50 is compact and easily maneuverable in small spaces. Observation from the driver's seat is excellent with big windows making it easy to see the corners of the vehicle. If that isn't enough there is a surround-view camera incorporating a reverse camera setup.
The Proton also has a top-notch infotainment system which has a 10.25-inch centre screen that features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality. It is also very reasonable on fuel consuming just 8.3 L/100km,
Check out all the Proton X50 models on AutoTrader here
What would deter new buyers from the Proton X50?
There isn't much that would deter anyone from buying into a Proton. We can however say that the unknown nature of the brand name and the rather steep pour has price may cause new drivers to look elsewhere for a vehicle.
Check out the review of the Proton X50 here
The Premium-badged model produces 130kW and 255Nm of torque and is paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox that sends power to the front wheels. 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
Any potential issues?
The Proton brand from the Geely factory is still relatively unknown and there isn't much info out there about how these vehicles behave in South Africa or what pitfalls may exist mechanically for first-time buyers.
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