Which is the best variant of Proton X50?

The Proton brand has made its way back to South Africa after briefly dipping its toe in the local waters. We got vehicles like the Satria and Arena but these failed to capture the imaginations of the local audience and Proton packed its bags and disappeared for a while. They're back and brought a refreshed, revised range of crossovers and SUVs, hungry to make an impression. This range includes the Saga, X50, and X70.

Related: Which Proton X50 trim depreciates the fastest?

There's no reason to be concerned about Proton as it actually comes from rather good stock. Geely owns Proton and while our experience with some Geely products has been unfavourable in the past, the modern Geely firm is also responsible for Volvo, Polestar, Lotus and Benelli bikes these days. As such, you will find a similar level of tech and a familiar execution in their products.

 

The Proton X50 range

The Proton X50 is offered in four different trim levels, each offering a little more than the next in the way of safety, features and tech. The range starts with the 1.5T Standard and is followed by the 1.5T Luxury. The 1.5T Executive is next and the range is topped off with the 1.5TGDi Premium. So which Proton X50 is the best variant?

Naturally, if you can afford the 1.5TGDi Premium, we would say go for that. The Premium grade is packed with a host of safety systems, a panoramic roof and creature conveniences that you may like. But if you're looking for the best value for money, take a look at how the rest of the versions fare.

We're only looking at a few of the features that vary between the different trims. This makes it easier to compare the four trims against each other.

 

Proton X50

	1.5T Standard	1.5T Luxury	1.5T Executive	1.5TGDi Premium
Price	R449 900	R499 900	R535 900	R579 900
Power	110 kW	110 kW	110 kW	130 kW
Torque	226 Nm	226 Nm	226 Nm	255 Nm
Headlights	LED	LED	LED	LED
Auto Headlights	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Auto Wipers	No	No	No	Yes
Steering wheel	PU	Leather	Leather	Leather
Driver display	Std	Std	Digital	Digital
Panoramic roof	No	No	No	Yes
Upholstery	Cloth	Leatherette	Leatherette	Leatherette
Electric seats	No	No	6-way	6-way
Air conditioning	Manual	Manual	Automatic	Automatic
Infotainment screen	8-inch	8-inch	10.25-inch	10.25-inch
Speakers	4	4	6	6
Airbags	4	6	6	6
Tyre pressure monitor	No	No	Yes	Yes
Auto Park Assist	No	No	No	Yes
Front Park Distance	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Reverse camera	Yes	Yes	No	No
360-deg camera​	No	No	Yes	Yes

The Proton 1.5TDGi Premium is also fitted with a comprehensive array of driver assistance and safety systems. These include Automatic Emergency Brake, Forward Collision Warning, Adaptive and Intelligent Cruise Control, Lane Keep Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Information System, and Auto High Beam. 

 

Verdict

The 1.5TDGi Premium is most certainly the one to have. Its assistance systems and features make it worth the additional premium charged. The panoramic roof and additional power are also nice to have. But if the price tag is still a little too heavy, the 1.5T Executive is our sweet spot, offering the best of both worlds with minimal sacrifice.