We’ve had a go on the new Proton X90, and right here’s our first impressions on the corporate’s newest SUV, the third X mannequin after the X70 and X50, the flagship of the vary. The latter is what the X90 is billed as, and on the floor, it makes excellent sense – the X90 is bigger than the C-segment X70, has three rows of seats and will probably be priced a good bit increased too. However as we discovered from the media preview drive, it’s not so clear reduce. Extra on this later.
By now, you wouldn’t simply have heard concerning the Proton X90, however have a reasonably good image of what’s on provide, should you checked out Hafriz’s complete walk-around commentary (not video, as a result of no cameras had been allowed on the static preview session). Right here’s a recap.
The X90 is a D-segment SUV based mostly on the Geely Haoyue, which is also referred to as the Geely Okavango in different markets such because the Philippines. Proton’s right-hand-drive VX11 – which by the way in which will probably be CKD Tanjung Malim from the beginning – has been given the X90 title to suit the native naming conference, putting it above the X50 and X70 SUVs.
At 4,835 mm lengthy and 1,900 mm vast, the X90 is 316 mm longer and 69 mm wider than the X70. The seven-seater’s wheelbase is 2,815 mm, which is 145 mm longer than the X70’s. Conceptually, Proton’s largest mannequin will compete with three-row SUVs such because the Mazda CX-8, Hyundai Santa Fe (facelift coming quickly) and Kia Sorento. Its measurement is between the CX-8 (bigger) and Santa Fe (smaller), however you get the ballpark.
As within the norm with SUVs of this measurement, the X90 might be had as a seven-seater (2-3-2) or six-seater (2-2-2), with the latter positioned as a extra luxurious choice. Certainly, solely the highest Flagship variant of the X90 will get the six-seat choice with two particular person “captain seats” within the center row; the Customary, Government and Premium have a bench for 3.
In contrast to the X50 and X70, all X90 variants are powered by the identical engine. The 1.5 TGDI unit in query is a well-known one from the X vary, however the ICE is supplemented by a belt-starter generator (BSG) system to make it a light hybrid. Proton is utilizing “48V EMS” as branding (badge is beneath the wing mirrors), and it stands for electrical motor synergy.
The EMS system integrates six key elements – the BSG, a DC-DC converter, a shoebox-sized lithium-ion battery within the boot ground, battery administration system, recuperation braking system and the hybrid module management system. The gearbox is a seven-speed moist dual-clutch unit driving the entrance wheels – there’s no AWD variant right here.
Within the X50 Flagship and X70 MC, the 1.5 litre three-cylinder turbo engine produces 177 PS and 255 Nm of torque. Right here, the BSG provides on 13 PS and 45 Nm for complete output of 190 PS and 300 Nm.
In comparison with the 1.5 TGDI with out the EMS (within the X70), Proton claims that the gentle hybrid boosted powerplant improves standing begin acceleration by as much as 10%, improves passing acceleration by as much as 15% and reduces CO2 emissions by as much as 13%. Nevertheless, observe that the baseline is the smaller X70. In any case, the X90 is a much bigger automobile so any assistance is welcome.
Torque help apart, listed here are some consolation advantages to having a BSG system too. Auto start-stop turns the engine off when the automobile is stationary, and ‘consolation begin’ delivers a smoother and quieter launch if you get going. ‘Good glide’ disengages the gearbox throughout coasting (between 30 and 120 km/h) to cut back engine braking for a smoother expertise, and if you’re slowing down, the engine switches off at beneath 15 km/h (as a substitute of 0) to enhance gasoline financial system and cut back vibrations throughout stop-start.
Did we really feel the gentle hybrid do its factor? Not likely, however working unobtrusively within the background is unquestionably factor. I think that with out the data of the EMS and what it does, most homeowners/check drivers received’t discover the system’s consolation/increase results, because it’s fairly hushed at low speeds anyway and the digital meter panel’s tachometer isn’t within the common analogue gauge structure. Seamless is sweet.
The X90 is a quiet and comfy drive if you’re simply puttering alongside, however based mostly on my reminiscence of the X70, there’s extra highway noise within the cabin. We additionally heard extra of the engine when accelerating, and the tune of our tester’s TGDI sounded gruff, virtually diesel-like with out the vibrations. This stunned me a bit, as I used to be anticipating X70 ranges of NVH. I believe that’s honest, because the X90 is meant to be the flagship of the vary.
To make certain, I requested my Paultan.org BM and CN colleagues (three of us shared the automobile with a Proton rep) they usually confirmed that it wasn’t simply me listening to issues. Now, it needs to be clarified that the X70’s isolation is moderately distinctive and the X90’s cabin noise ranges isn’t annoyingly excessive by any measure. But it surely’s there to notice.
When requested, Proton engineers insisted that NVH for the X90 is equal or higher than the X70, so there’s that. Additionally, it should be famous that the media preview vehicles had been pre-production models. In any case, we’ll be getting the X90 for a extra complete check drive as soon as it’s launched.
By the way in which, pop the hood and also you’ll be capable of see the X90’s engine in full. Earlier than you scratch your head, the X70 – and to a barely lesser extent, the X50 – have fully-enclosed engine bays the place all of the mechanical bits are hidden from view. This can be a factor in China and a number of the Cherys we lately previewed had zero seen engine, too. We’re not placing two and two collectively right here, simply saying.
Additionally unanimous is our opinion that the X90 isn’t a quick automobile. Once more, velocity is relative, however we’re mentally evaluating it with different SUVs out there. There’s a slight however noticeable delay between stepping onerous on the throttle and the automobile choosing up velocity. Overtaking takes a good bit of effort, and time, as you hear the engine giving all that it’s obtained. With 4 adults onboard, easy it definitely is just not.
A lot of the second half of the Genting climb was finished standing on the gasoline pedal, and also you may rue the lack of momentum. So, the X90 doesn’t have luggage of reserves in the case of grunt and tempo, however is that this a deal breaker? No, not except you’re a Genting taxi driver or a fantastic lover of the distinctive actions on the hill resort. For more often than not, the efficiency is satisfactory for a household SUV.
Our check route didn’t have any tough or deformed highway surfaces, however we suspect that the X90 will trip effectively within the city jungle. The massive SUV’s freeway trip isn’t too delicate and bouncy, whereas physique roll is well-contained even on our twisty route. The steering feels pure in velocity and weight. Total, the X90 is a pleasing steer, which isn’t a given in the case of vehicles developed for the Chinese language market.
The inside of the X90 is a little bit of a blended bag for me. Our Premium tester had a large 12.3-inch central touchscreen and a full digital instrument panel. The latter is a step up from the screens in Proton’s different SUVs, that are sq. models flanked by bodily gauges. The graphics for each screens look sharp and the general really feel may be very high-tech. Additionally very clear is the digicam feed. Curiously, the picture of the X90 on display might be personalised to match your automobile’s color and even quantity plate!
There’s no Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, so navigation is left to the ATLAS OS’ native maps. Right here’s a real story. Colleague Jason was driving again to Proton COE from Genting, and I fell asleep within the passenger seat. After I wakened, I used to be shocked to see Jalan Kuching visitors and Sogo on my proper. Upon realising that it wasn’t a dream, I quizzed Jason and he stated he deliberately adopted the navigation as an experiment, which is why we he didn’t enter DUKE from MRR2, which might have led us to the NKVE and Subang.
As if that detour wasn’t unhealthy sufficient, the navigation then led us to Jalan Syed Putra and declined the NPE (close to Midvalley) in favour of the jam on Federal Freeway. Good thing about the doubt: maybe it wished to keep away from tolled roads. Even so, I consider that many would favor Waze or Google Maps. Disgrace, as a result of the display is huge and exquisite, and the instrument panel has the power to point out a full-width map.
Proton has finished very effectively with its SUV interiors, efficiently offering a premium really feel past the asking worth. The X90 has delicate leather-based overlaying the highest of the door playing cards (even on the rear doorways, which is sweet) and the passenger-facing space of the dashboard. You’ll know the place, as a result of there’s distinction stitching on the black leather-based.
Talking of which, Proton has opted to go along with all-black for the X90’s cabin theme, even on the Flagship, a departure from the lighter shades on the X70/X50 that I believed was fairly good. IMO, the X50 Flagship’s purple and the brown leather-based within the X70 added positively to the atmosphere of these cabins, enhancing their premium really feel, however all-black might be a results of buyer surveys, and we all know that Malaysians are fairly conservative in the case of colors.
The leather-based is marketed as Nappa, however for some motive it doesn’t really feel as supple because the conceal within the X70. Not unhealthy, simply regular. Much less regular is the onerous plastic of the meter binnacle prime and the sharp edges of the borders of the centre console, the place it meets the centre stack. Curiously, the wing mirror management knob is in black and never metallic, which might look extra upmarket and match the drive mode knob higher. As soon as once more, these are pre-production models and there could be trim or ending variations in buyer vehicles.
Shifting on, the centre console has this cool-looking gear lever surrounded by enormous lake of black. The console’s usable space is beneficiant, maybe so beneficiant until it feels fairly sparse, to my eyes a minimum of. What’s much less subjective is that the graceful silver trim right here feels much less premium than the brushed items within the different X SUVs. Content material clever, the X90 isn’t missing, that’s for positive.
I had a stint within the Premium’s center row bench and it’s spacious, though the seat itself is sort of flat and seat base is brief. By the way in which, this second row bench is exclusive to Proton because the Geely base automobile has three particular person seats – the workforce says that Malaysians want the 60:40 cut up.
Additionally distinctive to the X90 are the roof aircon vents, which work significantly better than pillar vents, or worse, vents in the back of the centre console. Roof vents are nearer to the elements of the physique you need cooled, as a substitute of your knees. This can be a seemingly small element, nevertheless it took effort to engineer and it makes a giant distinction in passenger consolation. Good job.
Third row passengers additionally get the roof vents, together with USB charging ports and indents for smartphones and cupholders. I attempted out the rearmost seats for measurement and located the house to be fairly good. Sure, the seat base may be very low however that’s par for the course and you’ll’t expect stadium seating. These usually are not child-only seats and adults match moderately effectively – it is a good distinctive promoting level on the X90’s worth level.
Nevertheless, the second row seat folding mechanism is extra difficult than the one-touch-tumble system you’ll discover in lots of MPVs. It’s a must to first pull the ‘fast launch’ latch (which feels fairly flimsy) and push the seat ahead. To get the seat again in place, it is advisable pull the identical latch and push the seat again, however the bench will then go all the way in which again to its rear-most place. To get center floor, you’ll have to drag the bottom of the seat ahead once more. It’s removed from single motion and the SOP might be simplified for positive.
The so-called captain seats of the Flagship is paired with a generously-sized panoramic glass roof and I can think about how nice it’ll be on cool evenings and sightseeing after darkish. The benefit of the person chairs is that they’re ventilated (sure, 4 ventilated seats in complete), however apart from the hole between passengers, the seat itself isn’t very huge and the bottom is sort of brief too. The wings on the headrest doesn’t fairly fold sufficient and there’s just one hooked up armrest (internal facet). They’re not unhealthy, don’t get us flawed, simply not very VIP.
Entry to the third row within the six-seater is extra simple, however is greatest left for smaller sized individuals or the nimble-bodied. You’ll want to crouch and stroll via the slender aisle, however as talked about, as soon as in there, house is sweet.
So, there you will have it, our first impressions of the Proton X90 from all three rows. This huge SUV is a little bit of a blended bag for me because the preliminary impression isn’t “wow, that is really fairly good”, similar to the primary time we sat within the X70 and X50. The X90 is much less premium-feeling in supplies and design, despite the fact that its the flagship of the vary. In isolation, it’s not unhealthy, however maybe Proton set itself a reasonably excessive bar with earlier SUV efforts.
The X90 may be very well-equipped although, and its two screens look good. On the flipside, there’s no Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to take full benefit of the beneficiant display actual property. Its true seven-seat functionality is a powerful promoting level for bigger households. Cooling is a powerful level due to the roof-mounted vents and ventilated seats for the captain chairs within the Flagship. Don’t chuckle, as a result of everyone knows how a lot weight Malaysians placed on AC.
On the transfer, it doesn’t have luggage of torque in reserve, however the 1.5L gentle hybrid powertrain is satisfactory for regular driving and most conditions. And it’s solely regular to listen to an engine that has to work onerous. Keep in mind our difficult check route and psychological comparisons with the X70, which units a really excessive bar for consolation and isolation. We’ll give the X90 the same old complete check drive therapy when the automobile is launched.
We now have to make notes, that’s what we do, however context is necessary. The way you view the X90 will rely on what automobile you’re upgrading from. If that’s a nationwide model MPV, the X90’s lack of ample efficiency reserves received’t be obvious, and I doubt that there will probably be many, if any, X70 homeowners shifting to the X90. Additionally, there aren’t many three-row SUVs out there, and the X90 will undercut all of them bar the utilitarian Perodua Aruz, a really primary car.
Which brings us to maybe crucial level. Every part that everybody evaluates is relative to cost, and that’s honest – you get what you pay for, proper? The X90 isn’t an ideal SUV, and a few D-segment rivals could be higher in sure departments, however Proton’s entry is ready to undercut all of them by margin. We don’t know the X90’s worth vary but, but when it’s round RM150k, some shortcomings might be ignored, and SUV consumers will probably be contemplating it, particularly these with increased house necessities.
GALLERY: 2023 Proton X90 Flagship
GALLERY: 2023 Proton X90 Premium
GALLERY: 2023 Proton X90 color variants
