Proton’s first car launch in 2023 will be the Proton X90, but before the three-row SUV officially goes on sale in Malaysia, here’s a preview of what you can expect. In this video, Hafriz Shah takes you on a comprehensive tour of the carmaker’s latest SUV, which is positioned as a D-segment model above the C-segment X70.
The order books for the X90 are already open as of April 8, with four variants being offered to buyers. The first three – Standard, Executive and Premium – will come with seven seats arranged in a 2-3-2 layout, while the range-topping Flagship gets six seats in a 2-2-2 layout with second-row captain chairs.
All variants come with the same engine, a 1.5 litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol unit that is augmented by a 48-volt mild hybrid system, which includes a belt starter generator (BSG). This is said to improve fuel consumption by around 15% when compared to the non-electrified 1.5 TGDi powerplant, while also providing higher outputs.
The official figures are 190 PS and 300 Nm of torque, which is a gain of 13 PS and 45 Nm compared to the normal 1.5 TGDi in the X50 Flagship as well as the X70. The electrified mill is paired with a seven-speed wet-dual-clutch gearbox to drive the front wheels.
In terms of dimensions, the X90 measures 4,835 mm long, 1,900 mm wide, 1,785 mm tall and has a wheelbase spanning 2,815 mm. This makes it the biggest car in the line-up – the X70 is 4,519 mm long, 1,831 mm wide, 1,694 mm tall and its wheelbase is 2,670 mm by comparison.
As for styling, the new Proton SUV looks a lot like the Haoyue, although the front is differentiated by the grille, which is described as an evolution of the Ethereal Bow and Infinite Weave elements we’ve seen on Proton models over the last few years. There are even diamond-shaped studs emanating from the central logo that are apparently inspired by a songket pattern.
The interior is also 100% Geely but with the steering wheel on the right side, while other notable highlights include a widescreen digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch central touchscreen – the latter is powered by a more powerful system-on-chip (SoC) and uses ACO Tech’s ATLAS OS – still no Android Auto and/or Apple CarPlay.
Given this is a three-row SUV, interior space is important and the X90 offers sufficient legroom in the second- and third-row seats, although the latter are a little difficult to access as Hafriz points out and demonstrates in the video.
He also goes over a lot of the features that are available for the X90, so if you want to pair what he says in the video to his thorough text article breaking down the details of Proton’s new SUV, give this video a watch. After you’ve done so, check out our first impressions and share your thoughts on the X90 in the comments below and try and guess how much the retail pricing will be.
GALLERY: 2023 Proton X90 Flagship
GALLERY: 2023 Proton X90 Premium
GALLERY: 2023 Proton X90 colour variants
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
So what’s Proton contribution on this model? Designing grille and plate number holder?
You didn’t read kan? Not surprising. Jangan jadi tak berpelajaran boleh tak?
You read? So what’s the contribution?
imma sure it’s not Power window
Please admit this is not local car. This is Geely. Why name it proton? Proud.
Geely can do RHD conversion themselves without Proton help.
Soon all Proton cars will just be a rebadge of Geely cars. 30 years of automotive experience now masuk longkang and Game Over. Might as well just rename Proton to Geely
No different than what P2 did for the last 20 years, so?
Of course! You expect Geely to use Campro engine in their rebadged Geely?
Try reading. Instead of rushing to be first to look dumb.
Let me teach this Luddite a lesson in reading:
“The steering feels natural in speed and weight. Overall, the X90 is a pleasant steer, which isn’t a given when it comes to cars developed for the Chinese market.”
“Proton has done very well with its SUV interiors, successfully providing a premium feel beyond the asking price.”
“By the way, this second row bench is unique to Proton as the Geely base car has three individual seats – the team says that Malaysians prefer the 60:40 split.”
“Also unique to the X90 are the roof aircon vents, which work much better than pillar vents, or worse, vents at the back of the centre console. Roof vents are nearer to the parts of the body you want cooled, instead of your knees. This is a seemingly small detail, but it took effort to engineer and it makes a big difference in passenger comfort. Good job.”
Unique doesn’t mean Proton is doing the actual job. Which part it says Proton is doing the actual job and not merely stating their preference to Geely, unlike the grille where they explicitly say they designed it.
Get the difference.
Unique means only X90 has it and Proton either developed or codeveloped it. Which part it says Proton didn’t do the job? You critically need help in English lesson.
Let’s add fuel to the fire
“The steering feels natural in speed and weight. Overall, the X90 is a pleasant steer, which isn’t a given when it comes to cars developed for the Chinese market.”
– the writer has driven a geely haoyue/okavango before. You knows, maybe the geely haoyue/okavango does have a pleasant steer.
“Proton has done very well with its SUV interiors”
– Proton’s past contribution to its SUV interiors is debatable.
“Also unique to the X90 are the roof aircon vents”
– Paultan mentioned in their video that the roof aircon vents were taken from the Jiaji MPV
*
– the writer has never driven a Geely Haoyue/Okavango before. Who knows, maybe the Geely Haoyue/Okavango does have a pleasant steer.
Changing The rear suspension system, which uses Multi Link Suspension (Which Newer Geely Okavango Facelift use) …
Which is better than Original Okavango that was sold in Philippines and other Countries ?
Changing The rear suspension system, which uses Multi Link Suspension (Which Newer Geely Okavango Facelift use) …
Which is better than Original Okavango that was sold in Philippines and other Countries ?
“The interior is ALSO 100% Geely…”
“Also” here means the exterior lah. Interior-exterior, what else can be “also”?
when talking about proton new car, asking about proton contribution.
when talking about china ev, saying it is not environmental friendly.
Japanese cars are so doomed, LOL
No one say china ev is not environment friendly. It just that the entire country is covered with smog is a known fact to everyone.
P1’s contribution is grille design,Tiger logo n syiok sendiri advertising.
They get Hafriz n the abang Gan auto journalist to give them some saleable “marks”.
Bolehland is the only country in the world,where hardcore addicts buy cars without knowing the actual car price.
Is it 120,130 0r 150K ? People r booking, half blind but syiok sendiri,wanting to drive back kampong to show new SUV to datuk nenek.
I feel this one is going to be a flop, should have prioritized the S50 and exora replacement
Can replace old Innova….proton hv more features…
Exora replacement is coming
No it won’t! If there are patriotic Malaysians who are willing to spend RM100K+ on a Potong, Geely will manage to sell these!
@pakcik. I felt tht too..try hard to selling upmarket…but consumer r brand conscious, especially above 120k. When innova zenix arrives, this will surely affected.
So many choices of 7 seater rm120k+
Mitsubishi Outlander
Toyota Innova
Nissan Serena
Mazda CX-8
Toyota Fortuner
But just careful or wait for high spec,
Many of them are low spec.
The only company in the world that has models that cost rm35k and rm150k+ range.
Next launch maybe a sport car that’s rm350k?
the more i look at it, the more it look ordinary…not like x50, design is impressive and attractive. It fail to tempt me to buy. Whn x50 launched, i hv the urge to book 1. Maybe the design target over 50y.o.? For big Suv 7 seater, i think Kia Carnival is the best looking 1.
Why is not an individual seat on the center 7 seater model, and looks like cheap looking seater, query id this really nappa???
No sunglass holder even premium spec, what ashamed proton
Nice exora replacement but price not cheap.
This is not the exora replacement your looking for.. *waves Jedi hand*
The only 7 seater with 3 cylinders Engine.
my 2 cents. Stay away from China made cars. Look nice, great feature and after 1 or 2 yrs……
So true and have experience it.
after 1 or 2 years and what? Well Geely + Proton formed since 2018 while there so many Chinese car brand penetrating to other continents like S. Africa, Australia, Philippines, Middle East etc. – guess their presence last much longer than your 2 cents.
I doubt less than 50 people willing to book the car without or after knowing the price. The reality are the x50 and x70 hardly sell with plenty of ready stock now. Most owners realise these models maintenance ain’t cheap after 2 years.
If this car sell above rm150k, it will be a limited edition.
For these est. price I think missing a simple manual sun shade on second row.
I hope it have tyre pressure monitoring system.
Two tone color inside will make it better in my opinion. Engine power 190hp is good enough.
Only left is quality in long run. Need to read X70 and X50 owner experience before decide on this booking.
Hafiz ,
Thank you for your excellent coverage in your walkaround commentary. I particularly liked your frank opinion on certain aspects especially those on safety aspects , being excluded from the lower versions.
no sliding door and squatting seats on the last row is a big turnoff.
Talk 3 talk 4 till now still don’t have launch prices. What a joke proton expect ppl to book car without looking at the prices. X90 is no Rolls Royce.