Proton S70 Premium Review

In recent years, the competition in Malaysia's compact sedan market has become increasingly intense. Consumers not only value cost-effectiveness but also demand higher standards for design, features, and performance. As Proton's latest compact sedan, the S70 Premium enters the market at a price of approximately RM 80,000, with its key selling points being advanced intelligent features, a mature powertrain, and a youthful design. This test drive aims to verify whether its actual performance aligns with its positioning, providing a reference for prospective buyers.

In terms of exterior design, the S70 Premium adopts Proton’s latest "Infinite Weave" design language, with an overall style leaning towards youthful sportiness. The front features a large waterfall-style grille paired with glossy black trim, making it highly recognizable; the sharp-shaped LED headlight clusters on both sides integrate daytime running lights, offering clear visual effects when illuminated. The side profile has smooth lines, with a waistline extending from the front fender to the rear, adding a sense of depth. The 17-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels are considered standard in its class, with the tire size being 205/50 R17. At the rear, the highlight is the through-type LED taillight design, which not only enhances the horizontal visual width but is also very striking when illuminated at night. The chrome trim and diffuser-style design on the lower rear bumper further emphasize the sporty feel. Overall, the exterior design of the S70 Premium retains the brand's family characteristics while catering to the aesthetic preferences of young consumers today.

Sitting inside, the interior layout of the S70 Premium is clean and organized, with plenty of soft-touch materials used on the dashboard and door panels, offering a refined texture. The 10.25-inch floating central control screen is the core of the interior, delivering good resolution and smooth operation. It supports Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Proton’s own "Hi Proton" voice control system, making daily operations convenient. The instrument cluster is also a 10.25-inch full LCD display, capable of switching between multiple display modes, clearly presenting information such as speed, RPM, fuel consumption, and the status of driver assistance systems. The seats are wrapped in faux leather material, with the front seats offering 6-way electric adjustment (driver's seat) and 4-way manual adjustment (passenger seat). The seat padding is substantial, lumbar support is moderate, and long-term sitting is less likely to cause fatigue.

In terms of space, the S70 Premium has body dimensions of 4692mm×1825mm×1469mm, with a wheelbase of 2700mm, which is at the upper tier within the segment of compact sedans. The front seating space is ample; a 175cm tall individual has a fist's worth of headroom left after adjusting the seat. The rear space is even more impressive—an individual of the same height sitting in the rear has over two fists of legroom and four fingers of headroom, making it comfortable even for three adults sitting together. Regarding storage space, the front central armrest box and the door panel storage compartments offer generous capacity. There’s also a wireless charging pad in the front row. The trunk has a standard capacity of 500L, and the rear seats support a 4/6 split-fold design, expanding the space for daily use or short trips as needed. Additionally, the rear seats are equipped with independent air conditioning vents and USB charging ports to enhance passenger comfort in the back.

Powertrain-wise, the S70 Premium is equipped with a 1.5T turbocharged three-cylinder engine, delivering a maximum power of 150 horsepower (110kW) and a maximum torque of 226N·m, paired with a 7-speed wet dual-clutch transmission. During actual driving, the power response is quite responsive in the starting phase, and light throttle input provides a decent sense of acceleration. At low to medium speeds, gear shifts are smooth with almost no noticeable jerks. When switched to sport mode, throttle sensitivity is further enhanced, and when the throttle is pressed deeply, the transmission delays shifting, providing more direct power output, giving you more confidence when overtaking. However, during high-speed cruising, the acceleration in the later stages feels somewhat average. Beyond a speed of 120km/h, the power reserve is not particularly abundant.

In terms of handling and chassis performance, the S70 Premium's steering wheel has moderately weighted steering with fairly precise directional control and minimal dead zone. It provides a light and effortless hand feel during daily driving and automatically becomes heavier at high speeds to enhance stability. The chassis suspension adopts a combination of front MacPherson independent suspension and rear torsion beam non-independent suspension, with a tuning bias towards comfort. It effectively filters out minor bumps and speed bumps on the road, delivering gentle vibrations to the cabin. However, when passing through continuous bumpy sections at high speed, the rear suspension's bouncing becomes slightly more noticeable. For cornering performance, the body roll is kept within a reasonable range, and the suspension offers sufficient support to meet the needs of daily driving. Overall, its handling is inclined towards family comfort rather than sporty performance.

Regarding fuel consumption, our tests on urban traffic and highway cruising, each accounting for half the distance, revealed an average fuel consumption of about 6.8L/100km as displayed, which is slightly above average among vehicles with similar displacement turbocharged engines. Its fuel economy in daily use is considered decent. In terms of noise control, the cabin is relatively quiet at low speeds, but as the speed exceeds 80km/h, road and wind noise gradually become noticeable, although they remain within acceptable limits and do not affect normal conversations.

In summary, the core advantages of the Proton S70 Premium lie in its spacious rear seating space afforded by the 2700mm long wheelbase, class-leading intelligent features (dual 10.25-inch screens, voice control), and a mature powertrain. Compared to competitors in the same class, such as the Honda City and Toyota Vios, the S70 Premium has clear advantages in space and equipment, with a more attractive price offering good value for money. However, its high-speed acceleration and rear suspension filtering capabilities still have room for improvement.

This car is suitable for consumers focusing on family needs, especially those requiring spacious rear seating and abundant features. Additionally, with a price close to 80,000 Ringgit, it appeals to young buyers on a budget who desire intelligent features. Overall, the S70 Premium is a well-balanced compact sedan that strikes a good balance between space, features, and price, making it a worthy option to consider in its segment.