Best-selling over the past four years with 110,000 units sold, Proton’s second X series model, Proton X50, upgraded for the year 2024.

Alias X50 RC (Running Change), the B-segment SUV (crossover) underpins Geely’s B-segment Modular Architecture (BMA), and is based on the Geely Binyue SUV.

Locally-assembled (CKD), offered are four variants (Standard - MYR 86,300, Executive - MYR 93,300, Premium - MYR 101,800, Flagship - MYR 113,300).

Prices (OTR, w/o insurance) cover a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, a five-year data package (1GB/month), and six free-labour services.

Five exterior colours (single-tone). Snow White, Armour Silver, Jet Grey (Executive, Premium, Flagship), Passion Red (Premium, Flagship), and Ocean Blue (Flagship).

Two-tone (Black roof) colour scheme (Flagship).

Weighing in at 1,325 KG (Standard), 1,345 KG (Executive), 1,350 KG (Premium) and 1,370 KG (Flagship), the new X50 stands at 4,330 MM long, 1,800 MM wide, 1,609 MM tall, and with a wheelbase spanning 2,600 MM.

Exuding a sharp and sporty outlook, its highly-sculpted design is based on the Geely Binyue but with signature Proton elements.

The front-end gets the Proton ‘Infinite Weave’ grille (Black) with a thin strip (Auburn Red), a spanned-out wing-like trim (Silver) and the Proton emblem (Chrome).

Accentuating the layout are angular lower corner/middle air-vents (Black), lower body fitments (Black - front lip, fenders, side sills) and roof rails (Premium, Flagship).

Parading an athletic appeal, it boasts a horizontally- and symmetrically-designed silhouette with a slightly dipped roofline.

The rear-end sees a middle-indent roof-edge spoiler, and a middle tail-gate trim bar (Silver) with the Proton script.

Heightening the layout is a bumper with corner-integrated quad exhausts, lower body fitments (Black - front lip, fenders, side sills) and roof rails (Premium, Flagship).

Boxy and sharp, the angularly-housed headlamps are inward-tilted, linked with the grille’s framing. 

Installed are LED units with LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), paired with a set of LED fog lamps (Executive, Premium, Flagship).

Features are automatic On/Off (Executive, Premium, Flagship), welcome light function, and automatic high-beam (Flagship - Intelligent High Beam Control - IHBC).

Angularly-shaped, the half-hexagonally-housed tail lamps are horizontally and evenly positioned. Installed are LED combination units.

The side mirrors (Black) are manual-operated (Standard) and electronic-powered (auto-fold, adjust), with turn-signals and blind-spot indicators (Flagship - Blind Spot Information System - BLIS).

Installed is a setup of ventilated (front) and solid (rear) disc brakes, featuring red-painted callipers (Premium, Flagship). 

Aiding the drive is an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold system.

Variant-specific, fitted are 17-Inch multi-spoke single-tone (Silver - Standard, Executive) and 18-Inch turbine-style dual-tone (Silver-Black - Premium, Flagship) alloy rims.

The sets are rubbered-up in 215/60 R17 Goodyear Assurance TripleMax 2 (Standard, Executive) and 215/55 R18 Continental UltraContact UC6 (Premium, Flagship) tyres.

The new X50 gets a polished and symmetrically-tiered dashboard, linked to a high-rising bridge-style centre console (Silver panels). 

Soft-/hard-touch panelled (upper/lower), it sees single-tone (Black - Standard, Executive) and dual-tone (Black-Red - Premium, Flagship) colour schemes.

Accentuating the layout is a contrasting centre section (Silver panel), and centre-staged is the frameless-floating screen setup (infotainment).

Overall, the cockpit is neatly-designed, with accessibilities purposefully-arranged, driver-centric and user-friendly.

Installed is a 7.0-Inch LCD digital instrument cluster display, featuring different display themes (Drive Mode Select dependent).

Premium-made, the five-seater sees variant-specific interior treatments (colour schemes, upholsteries).

Single-/dual-tone (Black - Standard, Executive/Black-Red - Premium, Flagship), and fabric/leatherette (Standard/Executive, Premium, Flagship).

The front gets manual- (driver, passenger - Standard, Executive) and electronic-configuration bolstered seats (driver, passenger - Premium, Flagship).

The rear gets a manual-configuration (60:40 split-fold) bench seat. Included are armrests (front - centre console - sliding, rear - centre seat - fold-out).

Highlighting the environment is a headliner (Grey), framing a panoramic glass sunroof (Flagship - tilt/slide).

Despite being a compact SUV, the cabin space offers plenty of mobility, providing the front and rear occupants with generous head-, shoulder- and leg-room.

Mounted is a three-spoke-flat-bottom steering wheel. Urethane (Standard) and leather (Executive, Premium, Flagship).

Features are multi-switches (Bluetooth, Media, MID, voice command) and column adjustments (tilt, telescopic, tiptronic).

Also featured is Steering Mode Select (Normal, Comfort, Sport), and drive is aided by an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system.

Numerous storage areas. E.g., side door/seat back pockets, centre console partitioned/caverned spaces, glove box and boot side wall pockets.

Provided are four cup holders (two - front, rear) and four bottle holders (one - side doors).

Provided are three USB ports (one-front, two-rear) and one 12 V socket (front).

Accessing its manual-/power-operated (tailgate button - Standard, Executive/key fob - Premium, Flagship) tailgate, opens up to 330-Litres of load capacity.

The new X50 features the following suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). 

Standard systems (Standard, Executive, Premium, Flagship) are Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control System (TCS), Hill Hold Assist (HHA), and Hill Descent Control (HDC).

Variant-specific systems (Flagship) are Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Stop/Go, Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC), Lane Keep Assist (LKA), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Blind Spot Information System (BLIS), Intelligent High Beam Control (IHBC), and Auto Park Assist (APA).

Also included are reverse/360-degree with 3D display parking cameras (Standard, Executive/Premium, Flagship) and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS - Premium, Flagship).

Passive safety includes airbags (four - Standard, six - Executive, Premium, Standard), seatbelts (anchors, reminders, pre-tensioners), ISOFIX (two - outer rear seats - anchors, top tethers), front parking sensors (two - Executive, Premium, four - Flagship), rear parking sensors (four - Standard, Executive, Premium, Flagship), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold, Door Opening Warning (DOW), and security alarm (anti-theft, immobiliser).

Three selectable drive modes (Normal, Eco, Sport). 

Also incorporated is the Steering Mode Select (Normal, Comfort, Sport).

Installed is a 10.3-Inch frameless-floating centre touchscreen.

The system runs on ATLAS Operating System (ACO Tech OS - dual-quad-core) with 2 GB RAM/64 GB storage, supporting voice command (Hi Proton), online navigation/music/weather, Spotify, and smartphone/Bluetooth/4G/Wi-Fi connectivity.

Included is the Proton Link App (phone app control - vehicle status, functions – Executive, Premium, Flagship).

Entertainment is channelled via a setup of four (Standard, Executive) and six (Premium, Flagship) speakers.

Developed by Geely and Volvo, harbouring in the X50 is a petrol powertrain with variant-specific setups.

Variants Standard, Executive and Premium get a multi-point injection turbocharged engine (1.5-Litre three-cylinder in-line, 12-valve DOHC with VVT - 148 HP/110 KW at 5,500 RPM, 226 NM at 1,500 to 4,000 RPM).

Variant Flagship features a direct injection turbocharged engine (TGDi - 1.5-Litre three-cylinder in-line, 12-valve DOHC with VVT - 175 HP/130 KW at 5,500 RPM, 255 NM at 1,500 to 4,000 RPM).

Fitted is a seven-speed automatic Dual-Clutch Transmission (DCT) with manual mode.

Power is transmitted to the front wheels, via a Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) system.

Fuel tank is of 45-Litre capacity, and fuel consumption reads at 6.5 L/100 KM (Standard, Executive, Premium) and 6.4 L/100 KM (Flagship).

The new X50 comes with these conveniences.

E.g., Intelligent Entry System (keyless entry, engine Start/Stop button), remote engine ignition (key fob, phone app - Premium, Flagship), remote cabin cooling (key fob, phone app - Premium, Flagship), auto dimming rear-view mirror (Flagship), automatic headlamps (Executive, Premium, Flagship), automatic wipers (rain sensing - Flagship), electronic-configuration seats (driver, passenger - Premium, Flagship), steering wheel (multi-switches, column adjustments, Steering Mode Select, EPS), interior lighting (cabin, boot), single-zone automatic air-conditioning (Premium, Flagship), rear air-conditioning vents, voice command (Hi Proton), Proton Link App (phone app control - vehicle status, functions - Executive, Premium, Flagship), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold, front parking sensors (two - Executive, Premium, four - Flagship), rear parking sensors (four - Standard, Executive, Premium, Flagship), reverse/360-degree with 3D display parking cameras (Standard, Executive/Premium, Flagship), and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS - Premium, Flagship).

Installed are manual (Standard, Executive) and single-zone automatic (Premium, Flagship) air-conditioning system, with rear air-vents.

Installed setups are Macpherson strut (front) and torsion beam (rear). 

Drivability and comfort levels are satisfactory. Specifically tuned for the rough and tough Malaysian roads.

Overall, the ride quality is firm, and the interior is very spacious and extremely comfortable. 

Good sound insulation, covering all the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) aspects (20 interior areas improved). 

The cabin is refined and peaceful, alienated from most of the road noises.