Proton X90 1.5T Flagship (2023) - A new player has entered

Proton continues to expand its model lineup after its reintroduction into South Africa by releasing the most affordable hybrid 7-seater on the market.

Interior & Space

The popularity of vehicles like the Toyota Fortuner, Ford Everest and Isuzu mu-X show us that the demand for a mid-size SUV with a seating arrangement for more than just 5 is generous. The push for efficiency and the regulations imposed elsewhere in the world will mean that before long, we can expect to see these larger vehicles offering electrified drivetrains of some sort in the not-to-distant future. Our first vehicle of this kind comes from Malaysian manufacturer, Proton. Their new X90 offers seating for 7^* and pairs it with a mild hybrid powertrain.

The X90 is now their flagship offering, larger and better equipped than the X50 and X70 that can also be found on their showroom floors. Proton is owned by Geely, who has a controlling share in Volvo as well, so it’s no surprise to see some of the engineers dipping into the Volvo knowledge pool for resources.

Styling 

There are only so many ways that you can build a 7-seater SUV without making it look like a school bus. The X90 does well to differentiate itself from the crowd with a bold front visage. The large grille, with its diamond extrusion design, rests between automatic LED headlights and above LED fog lamps. A subtle satin silver garnish divides the upper and lower sections of the front, upturned to creat a smile-like apperance.

The sides are characterised by defined box wheel arches with a lower black trim and satin silver garnish on the lower edge of the Flagship variant we had on test.

Things become a little more Isuzu mu-X around the back with a noticeable kink in the rear side windows but the LED taillights, joined by brightwork that spans the width of the tailgate, helps differentiate the X90 from the opposition. The X90 Flagship model rolls around on attractive 19-inch alloy wheels, finished off in a two-tone arrangement.

Space & Interior 

The Flagship trim level is the only X90 on offer that doesn’t seat a full 7 adults. This version is rather equipped with two individual seats in the second row, each with their own adjustments and arm rests. The walkthrough provided makes it easier for smaller passengers to get in and out of the vehicle as well, eradicating the need to fold the second row forward to access the third. With all three rows upright, the X90 offers adequate cargo space but many will probably opt to fold the third row forward to present even more load space, especially for larger items and suitcases.

The interior is respectably trimmed with Nappa leather upholstery that, unfortunately, was already pulling away in areas, even if our test model only had less than 2000 km on the odometer. The generous use of hard plastics in certain areas, especially the door cards, reminds one that this is a more budget-orientated offering but the overall design is not offensive and perfectly acceptable.

Comfort & Convenience 

Larger vehicles like the X90 ought to be comfortable. It’s the type of vehicle that you use for those family getaways and longer journeys. The X90 does not disappoint in this regard, and the suspension tuning is good, with an agreeable primary ride and only slightly compromised secondary ride, which results from the larger wheel and lower profile tyre combination. The ergonomics are well-considered and do not contribute to driver of passenger fatigue.

The convenience side of things is where the X90 falls flat though, as with many of the latest Asian offerings. A large touchscreen infotainment system is provided but it is devoid of Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, relying on connected services instead for audio streaming or, alternatively, Bluetooth should you wish to stream from your mobile device. A phone tethering option is available but this does not tie into the steering wheel controls and the lack of tactile infotainment controls (everything is done via the screen, volume adjustment included) make this useless. The onboard navigation requires a subscription and in an instance where I needed to make use of navigation, I had to prop my phone up as if it were 2013. Add to that the fact that it was also unable to retain a set time, and you see where the cost savings have been applied.

Performance 

Powering the X90 is a 1.5-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged engine that is augmented bt a 48-volt mild hybrid system. This combination produces 140 kW and 300 Nm torque with 10 kW and 22 Nm of that provided by the electric motor. This system is a self-charging system and the electric drive only serves to fill in gaps in the drive or propel the vehicle when cruising. Cruising is a chore though as the hyper-sensitive throttle will either see you accelerate forward as you breathe on it or gradually slow down as the regenerative braking slows the vehicle when you come off of it. Switching to one of the other drive modes, of which there are three, does not rectify this unfortunately.

The power is sent to the front wheels through a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox that is programmed well and causes no major concern. There are no steering-mounted paddles for downshifting, but the gear selector can be placed in a manual model should you wish to override the system.

Fuel Economy 

When you advertise a vehicle as being a hybrid, one expects there to be some saving in the fuel. This is not the case with the X90 and our regular bouts of commuting and the odd highway jaunt saw us returning figures of 9.7 l/100 km for the time it was with us. Proton doesn’t publish fuel consumption claims, but research leads us to belive that their figures are 6.8 l/100km. There is a possibility that this could be achieved, but that would require switching to the Eco mode and nursing the rather large vehicle as you drive.

Safety 

The X90 comes with a comprehensive array of active and passive safety systems. It is fitted with 6 airbags, the standard array of ABS, EBD and ESC as well. Driver assistance systems include lane departure warning, land change assist and lane centering control, front collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert and host of others. At times, these can be too sensitive and intrusive but a few minutes behind the wheel will let you decide which of these you wish to switch off and which to leave on.

Price 

Pricing for the Proton X90 starts from R559 900 for the Proton X90 1.5T Standard. All models are sold with a 5-year/unlimited km warranty and a service plan is an optional extra.

Competitors 

R80 000 more will see you in the established Volkswagen Tigue Allspace while for similar money, you will be able to look at the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max. Not too far off of the mark are the more rudimentary offerings in the Toyota Fortuner lineup and Isuzu mu-X range. These may not offer the same equipment level, but do present a more rounded, established offering.

Verdict 

Despite coming in under the R700 000 mark, the Proton X90 (in its top spec) just didn’t resonate with me. It serves a purpose and has likeable qualities, but I fear that the shortcomings would have me looking elsewhere. If you can live without some of the features, the pricing of the Standard model makes it more attractive and viable.

Keyword: Proton X90 1.5T Flagship (2023) - A new player has entered