The Proton X70 is a
compact crossover SUV
Compact crossover SUV is an automobile classification used mainly in North America to describe a segment of crossover SUV, a type of sport utility vehicle, between subcompact crossover SUV and mid-size crossover SUV.
By the late 2010s, the segm ...
produced by the Malaysian car maker
Proton
A proton is a stable subatomic particle, symbol , Hydron (chemistry), H+, or 1H+ with a positive electric charge of +1 ''e'' (elementary charge). Its mass is slightly less than the mass of a neutron and approximately times the mass of an e ...
. Marketed as a
C-segment
The C-segment is the 3rd category of the Euro Car Segment, European segments for passenger cars and is described as "medium cars". It is equivalent to the Euro NCAP "small family car" size class, and the compact car category in the United States.
...
SUV
A sport utility vehicle (SUV) is a car classification that combines elements of road-going passenger cars with features from off-road vehicles, such as raised ground clearance and four-wheel drive.
There is no commonly agreed-upon definition ...
, the car was launched on 12 December 2018, unveiled in a ceremony by then-prime minister and former Proton chairman
Mahathir Mohamad
Mahathir bin Mohamad (; ; born 10 July 1925) is a Malaysian politician, author and doctor who was respectively the fourth and seventh Prime Minister of Malaysia, prime minister of Malaysia from 1981 to 2003 and from 2018 to 2020. He was the ...
.
Being the first SUV released by Proton, it is conceived by
rebadging
In the automotive industry, rebadging (also known as badge engineering, an intentionally ironic misnomer in that little or no actual engineering takes place) is a form of market segmentation used by automobile manufacturers around the world. T ...
the
Geely Boyue
The Geely Boyue ( zh, s=吉利博越, p=Jílì Bóyuè) is a compact crossover SUV produced by the Chinese automaker Geely Auto.
The first generation model (sold as the Geely Atlas overseas) was launched in 2016 and rebadged as the Proton X70 ...
, following the acquisition of Proton by
Geely Automobile Holdings in 2017. The X70 is distinguishable from the Boyue by some design element differences and its right-hand drive configuration.
In the beginning, the X70 was fully imported (CBU or
completely built-up) from China, but since February 2020 the locally assembled version (CKD or
complete knocked down) was made available with several notable mechanical changes.
Background
Pre-launch
On 24 May 2017,
DRB-HICOM
DRB-HICOM Berhad () is one of Malaysia's leading corporations, involved in the automotive manufacturing, assembly and distribution industry through its involvement in the passenger car and four wheel drive vehicle market segment, the national ...
as the owner of Proton has reached an agreement with Geely for the
Chinese carmaker to acquire a 49.9%
equity stake
In finance, equity is an ownership interest in property that may be subject to debts or other liabilities. Equity is measured for accounting purposes by subtracting liabilities from the value of the assets owned. For example, if someone owns a ...
in Proton. The acquisition and partnership was urgently needed, since at the time DRB-HICOM cites several problems which were Proton's lack of technological competitiveness, which it claimed could hamper its ability to develop quality products. Through the close partnership, Proton will have access to Geely's technologies to address the problem. In the same day, DRB-HICOM announced a plan to build a crossover SUV for Proton based on the Geely Boyue. The Boyue was picked as the first new product under the Geely ownership to compete in the booming SUV market, which Proton had no presence in.
Being the first Geely-based product, the X70 does not share any components with any other Proton vehicle. Proton claimed that pricing the X70 competitively was a great challenge as it lacked parts commonality with other models, and yield smaller scale production relative to its left-hand drive Chinese counterpart.
In April 2018, Proton opened up an online poll to the public to vote on the name. Participants could choose between PX7, X7, X70 and X700 or voice in their own input. X70 was later announced as the chosen name for the SUV in September 2018. In June 2018, it was announced that the initial units were going to be fully imported (CBU) from China with latter models being locally assembled (
CKD) at Proton's plant. The X70 was previewed at the 2018 Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show.
Post-launch
The X70 was officially launched on 12 December 2018 at the
Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre
The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (), also known as the KL Convention Centre, is a purpose-built convention and exhibition centre located in the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) development in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It was launched by Prime ...
.
In the launch ceremony, then-prime minister Mahathir Mohamad presents the first X70 key to his wife
Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali
Hasmah binti Mohamad Ali (; born 12 July 1926), commonly known as Siti Hasmah, is a Malaysian physician and civil servant who was the spouse of the prime minister of Malaysia from 1981 to 2003 and again from 2018 to 2020, as the wife of Mahath ...
during the launch, a
tribute
A tribute (; from Latin ''tributum'', "contribution") is wealth, often in kind, that a party gives to another as a sign of submission, allegiance or respect. Various ancient states exacted tribute from the rulers of lands which the state con ...
to the original
Proton Saga
The Proton Saga is a series of subcompact cars and currently city cars produced by Malaysian automobile manufacturer Proton. Introduced in 1985, the Proton Saga became the first Malaysian car and a major milestone in the Malaysian automotive in ...
launch as the first Proton vehicle. She then proceeded to drive across the Penang bridge in a nod to the original Proton Saga.
The X70 is available with four variants. Prior to the CKD version these were Standard 2WD, Executive 2WD, Executive AWD and Premium 2WD. All variants are powered by the same 1.8-litre
turbocharged
In an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger (also known as a turbo or a turbosupercharger) is a forced induction device that is powered by the flow of exhaust gases. It uses this energy to compress the intake air, forcing more air into the ...
gasoline direct injection
Gasoline direct injection (GDI), also known as petrol direct injection (PDI), is a fuel injection system for internal combustion engines that run on gasoline (petrol) which injects fuel directly into the combustion chamber. This is distinct f ...
(TGDI) engine with the Geely Boyue, producing and paired to a 6-speed automatic gearbox.
Local assembly of the X70 in Proton's
Tanjung Malim
Tanjong Malim, or Tanjung Malim, is a town in Muallim District, Perak, Malaysia. It is approximately north of Kuala Lumpur and 120 km south of Ipoh via the North–South Expressway. It lies on the Perak-Selangor state border, with Sunga ...
plant commenced on 13 December 2019. In February 2020, the locally assembled (CKD) version was launched with lowered pricing and a few major mechanical updates. The gearbox is now a 7-speed wet
DCT, and the same 1.8-litre TGDI engine has its torque increased by (to ). It is still available in four variants, however the top two variants had received a major revision. The Executive AWD trim has been discontinued due to low demand and in its place the Premium 2WD. The CKD Premium 2WD trim however excludes the panoramic sunroof previously included in the CBU version. The panoramic sunroof is instead reserved for the top-of-the-line Premium X 2WD; the only additional feature for this variant. Although identical in styling to the CBU, the CKD version is distinguishable by its use of Proton's new round logo. With the introduction of the CKD units, the CBU units were no longer being imported from China.
In August 2019, Proton introduced a special version of the car called the Proton X70
Merdeka
''Merdeka'' ( Jawi: ; , ) is a term in Indonesian and Malay which means "independent" or " free". It is derived from the Sanskrit ''maharddhika'' (महर्द्धिक) meaning "rich, prosperous, and powerful". In the Malay Archipelag ...
Edition of which only 62 are available for sale to celebrate Malaysia's 62nd
independence day
An independence day is an annual event memorialization, commemorating the anniversary of a nation's independence or Sovereign state, statehood, usually after ceasing to be a group or part of another nation or state, or after the end of a milit ...
on 31 August 2019. Only 2 colours were offered; Flame Red (26 units) or Snow White (36 units).
The X70 was launched in Pakistan in December 2020. Initially, a fixed quota of the X70 has been planned to be imported from Malaysia. It is also expected that local assembly of Proton X70 will also start in Karachi in mid-2021.

In July 2021, Proton introduced a special version of the car called the Proton X70 Special Edition. Only 2 colours were offered; Ocean Blue and Ruby Red. Powertrains remained the same as the original X70.
In June 2022, the X70 received minor changes dubbed as MC (Minor Change) giving the model some mild styling tweaks, revision of its line-up and a new engine option. Standard, Executive and Premium variants are powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine shared with the
X50 while the range-topping variant also called Premium is powered by the same 1.8-litre turbocharged engine. AWD is only available on the Executive variant. The X70 is localized to almost 70% of its parts were made.
Facelift
On 2 August 2024, the Proton X70 has undergone a major facelift to refresh its aging design. The new look features a bold grille with Proton's Infinite Weave design and
songket
''Songket'' or sungkit is a '' tenun'' fabric that belongs to the brocade family of textiles of Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia. It is hand-woven in silk or cotton, and intricately patterned with gold or silver threads. The metallic threads ...
-inspired diamond pins seen on the
X90 and
S70, slimmer LED headlights, and a redesigned front bumper. The rear bumper has also been updated with horizontal reflectors and fake air outlets. The X70 now comes with new 19-inch or 18-inch two-tone wheels, depending on the variant.
Inside, the X70 sports a new dashboard with a gloss black panel and 72-colour ambient lighting that changes with the music. It also introduces a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen with
Apple CarPlay
CarPlay and CarPlay Ultra is an Apple Inc., Apple standard that enables a car radio or automotive head unit to be a display and controller for an iOS device. It is available on iPhone 5 and later models running iOS 7.1 or later.
More than 800 ...
and
Android Auto
Android Auto is a mobile app developed by Google to mirror features of a smartphone (or other Android device) on a car's dashboard information and entertainment head unit.
Once an Android device is paired with the car's head unit, the system ...
, although these features will be available via a future update. The car’s hardware includes dual quad-core processors, 4GB of RAM, and 32GB of storage. USB ports have been updated to include both USB-A and USB-C options.
The facelifted X70 features new steering wheel design, Stone Grey Nappa leather upholstery, and updated digital meter panel graphics. The gear lever has a new design, and the car includes new semi-autonomous driving features like
adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go,
lane centering assist, and
traffic sign recognition.
The X70 retains its 1.5-litre
turbocharged engine, producing 177 PS and 255 Nm of torque, and is paired with a revised seven-speed
dual-clutch transmission
A dual-clutch transmission (DCT) (sometimes referred to as a twin-clutch transmission) is a type of multi-speed motor vehicle, vehicle Transmission (mechanics), transmission system, that uses two separate clutches for odd and even gear train, ...
. Fuel economy is improved by 4% compared to the previous model. The previous 1.8-litre turbocharged Premium and Executive AWD variant were dropped from the facelift. The facelifted X70 is available in four variants—Standard, Executive, Premium, and Premium X—with a new Marine Blue colour option added, all powered by the same 1.5-litre turbocharged unit. Proton has updated 360 parts of the X70, which underwent 4.2 million km of testing.
Etymology
The "-70" suffix is correlated to it being a C-segment vehicle, similar to the
Proton S70
The Proton S70 is a C-segment B-segment, compact Sedan (automobile), sedan produced by Malaysia's automotive company PROTON Holdings, Proton in collaboration with Geely Auto. The vehicle was previewed on 20 November 2023, as it is marked the fir ...
while the "X" implies the vehicle being an
SUV
A sport utility vehicle (SUV) is a car classification that combines elements of road-going passenger cars with features from off-road vehicles, such as raised ground clearance and four-wheel drive.
There is no commonly agreed-upon definition ...
.
Development
Compared to the Boyue, Proton said it had to reposition and realign several critical parts which include the dashboard assembly, pedals, steering console, door buttons, brakes, gearbox, headlights calibration, wiper orientation, air-conditioning ducts, glove box, and several cables and wires in order to convert it into a right-hand drive vehicle, as the Boyue was not developed to have an RHD version in mind. A total of 761 parts had to be changed to convert the Boyue into the right-hand drive X70, without counting the components that were completely re-engineered.
The localisation process also involved several adjustments of the car to suit the tropical climate. Some rubber components and cooling parts had to be redesigned, while the engine management system had to be recalibrated to account for the rougher terrain and altitude. The X70 must be able to withstand Kuala Lumpur's standstill traffic at daily, drive up to the mountainous
Genting Highlands
Genting Highlands is a hill station located on the peak of Mount Ulu Kali in the Titiwangsa Mountains, central Peninsular Malaysia, at 1800 metres elevation. Located in the state of Pahang, it was established in 1965 by the late Malaysian busi ...
at over where the air is thinner, as well as survive the treacherous landscape of
East Malaysia
East Malaysia (), or the Borneo States, also known as Malaysian Borneo, is the part of Malaysia on and near the island of Borneo, the world's third-largest island. East Malaysia comprises the states of Sabah, Sarawak, and the Federal Territory ...
. After all the changes, the X70 had to undergo a testing process that involved repeating around 25 percent of the 548 tests that was conducted in the development of the donor car, the Boyue.
Proton managed to reach 45 percent of local content for the X70 by the time production in
Tanjung Malim
Tanjong Malim, or Tanjung Malim, is a town in Muallim District, Perak, Malaysia. It is approximately north of Kuala Lumpur and 120 km south of Ipoh via the North–South Expressway. It lies on the Perak-Selangor state border, with Sunga ...
began in late 2019. It was achieved by sourcing components from local suppliers, which some of them did not initially have the capability to produce several advanced components. Proton and Geely offered a solution by initiating a series of and technical assistance and joint ventures agreements with Geely suppliers in China. The company aims to increase the local component figure to around 53 percent by the end of 2020.
A total of 95 Proton engineers were said to be involved in the entire process of turning the Boyue into the X70, from
research and development
Research and development (R&D or R+D), known in some countries as OKB, experiment and design, is the set of innovative activities undertaken by corporations or governments in developing new services or products. R&D constitutes the first stage ...
to the testing stages. These engineers, along with technicians from manufacturing and quality divisions, made up around a total 200 people the company sent to Geely within a span of six months to conceive the X70. Each of these individuals were claimed by the group has learned knowledge and experience from their counterparts at Geely, further enhancing Proton engineering expertise.
On 7 June 2022, a recall was made for CBU versions of the X70 to fix the cooling fan assembly made by Valeo under the chassis number L6T7742Z8KU043589.
Design
There are a few design elements incorporated into the X70 to distinguish it from the Boyue, especially at the front of the SUV. A new grille design is used and it is referred to as the "infinite weave". It is inspired by the
batik
Batik is a dyeing technique using wax Resist dyeing, resist. The term is also used to describe patterned textiles created with that technique. Batik is made by drawing or stamping wax on a cloth to prevent colour absorption during the dyein ...
and Malaysian wood carvings, and the design is also used on the inside for the speaker covers. A chrome surround is added on the grille and is inspired by a hunting bow, one of Malaysia's traditional weapons. To further showcase Proton's identity and evoke the appearance of a tiger, the muscular body surfacing of the X70 is also accompanied by a headlight design inspired by the eyes of a tiger.
Interior

A tonneau cover, air purifier system, rear air vents, dual zone automatic climate control, steering wheel switches, tilt and telescopic adjustment, LCD meter combination, central door locking with auto lock and push start button are all standard interior related features.
Across the range, the Proton 'GKUI' head-unit is offered which consists of 8-inch touchscreen display, voice recognition, online music streaming, navigation, smartphone connectivity, Bluetooth connectivity and 4G Wi-Fi. Speaker count is 6 on the Standard 2WD variant, 8 on the Executive 2WD and 9 on the Premium 2WD and Premium X 2WD variant with the additional subwoofer. Note that the Premium 2WD variants gets additional voice recognition functionality.
The GKUI Android-based infotainment system is based on the similar system found in the Boyue with adjustments to operate properly in Malaysia.
Facelift

The X70 now features a new three-spoke steering wheel and a unique dashboard with a gloss black panel and multi-colour ambient lighting that changes with the music. It also has a larger 12.3-inch “floating” infotainment screen, compared to the previous 10.25-inch version. The major update is the addition of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Moreover, the Proton Link app has been upgraded to allow users to start the engine remotely, enabling them to cool down the vehicle before getting inside. Material wise, new Stone Grey Nappa leather replaces the old brown upholstery, with a new crisscross stitching pattern on the door cards and a black headlining instead of beige.
Safety
ASEAN NCAP
Proton X70 had received a full score in ASEAN NCAP crash safety rating for the side impact test as well as for head protection technology in 2018. All versions are equipped with
ABS,
EBD,
brake assist
Brake assist (BA or BAS) or emergency brake assist (EBA) is a term for an automobile braking technology that increases braking pressure in an emergency. The first application was developed jointly by Daimler-Benz and TRW/ LucasVarity. Research c ...
,
ESC,
traction control
A traction control system (TCS), is typically (but not necessarily) a secondary function of the electronic stability control (ESC) on production motor vehicles, designed to prevent loss of traction (i.e., wheelspin) of the driven road wheels. TCS ...
, six
airbag
An airbag is a vehicle occupant-restraint system using a bag designed to inflate in milliseconds during a collision and then deflate afterwards. It consists of an airbag cushion, a flexible fabric bag, an inflation module, and an impact sensor. ...
s,
ISOFIX
Isofix (styled ISOFIX) is the international standard for attachment points for child safety seats in passenger cars. The system has other regional names including LATCH ("Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children") in the United States, and LUAS ("L ...
child seat mounting points, and seat belts with pretensioners and load limiters.
Reception
Malaysia
The X70 has received generally favourable reviews from critics in its domestic market. Malaysian automotive journalist Jonathan Lee from
paultan.org commended the X70's looks, infotainment, suspension and
NVH attributes. The overall package offered were exceptionally praised, in which Lee claimed was "beyond anything else in the segment – with or without the pricing advantage". However Lee also criticised on the high driving position, shallow boot and lack of more common features found in the segment such as a powered tailgate. HP from evomalaysia.com commended the X70's premium feeling interior but commented that steering feel could be improved and both turbo lag and body roll is quite noticeable.
With the locally assembled model, Hafriz Shah from paultan.org criticized the X70's lack of differences in the exterior when compared to the CBU variant and the new Proton logo as "out of place". Shah however commended on the improvements compared to the CBU model which includes the DCT transmission and added equipment. Kon from evomalaysia.com shared a similar conclusion saying the improvement bundled with the reduced price makes the X70 ever harder to avoid. Kon however did criticise the X70 as "not quite as sporty as Proton vehicles from the 2000s"
Awards and accolades
* Connectivity & Infotainment - Carlist.my Editors' Choice Awards 2018
*Vehicle Design of the Year - DSF.my
Allianz
Allianz SE ( , ) is a German Multinational corporation, multinational financial services company headquartered in Munich, Germany. Its core businesses are insurance and asset management.
Allianz is the world's largest List of largest insurance ...
Vehicle of the Year (VOTY) 2019
* Best 3 Mid-sized SUVs - 2019 'Cars of Malaysia'
* Local Car of the Year - CarSifu Editors’ Choice Awards 2019
* Best Large-size SUV/Crossover (2-row seating) - CarSifu Editors’ Choice Awards 2019
Export markets
Brunei
In July 2019, PAD Motors, the official distributor of Proton cars in Brunei, has announced that
Brunei
Brunei, officially Brunei Darussalam, is a country in Southeast Asia, situated on the northern coast of the island of Borneo. Apart from its coastline on the South China Sea, it is completely surrounded by the Malaysian state of Sarawak, with ...
will become the first export destination for the Proton X70, which is a right hand drive version of the Geely Boyue. It will be only be available in a
2 wheel drive
Two-wheel-drive (2WD) denotes Motor vehicle, vehicles with a Powertrain, drivetrain that allows two wheels to be driven, and receive Engine power, power and torque from the engine, simultaneously.
Four-wheeled vehicles
For four-wheeled vehicles ( ...
configuration and will be offered in the same three variants as the Malaysian market: Standard 2WD, Executive 2WD and Premium 2WD. The car will include similar specifications to the Malaysian model including the 8" touchscreen display, voice recognition and the additional safety features such as the
Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) which is only available on the Premium 2WD variant.
The X70 update was launched on 6 September 2020 with the three trims: Standard, Executive and Premium X (all in 2WD trims).
The facelifted X70 was launched in Brunei on 31 January 2025.
Indonesia
Rully Septiadi, the head of marketing at Proton Edar Indonesia (PEI), mentioned that the Geely Boyue was planned to be launch in Indonesia by 2019 as the Proton X70, it will be expected to be showcased at the
27th Indonesia International Motor Show 2019, but however, the plans were eventually postponed.
Kenya
On November 19, 2021, 30 X70s were sold to the Kenya Police Service.
Pakistan
The X70 is due to be exported to Pakistan after tests were conducted in Karachi.
The Pakistani version will have a 1.5-litre engine mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission at and because of Pakistani tax structures, which can make it affordable.
In December 2019, the Malaysian PM gifted this car to the
Pakistan PM on his arrival at Malaysia.
South Africa
On May 31, 2022, Proton has shipped some X70 units to South Africa alongside the
Proton X50
The Proton X50 is a subcompact crossover SUV produced by the Malaysian car maker Proton. Marketed as a B-segment SUV, the vehicle was revealed on 15 September 2020 and was launched on 27 October 2020. The model is the second SUV from the brand ...
and
Proton Saga
The Proton Saga is a series of subcompact cars and currently city cars produced by Malaysian automobile manufacturer Proton. Introduced in 1985, the Proton Saga became the first Malaysian car and a major milestone in the Malaysian automotive in ...
.
Mozambique
On May 26, 2023, X70 was launched in Mozambique with four variants: Standard, Executive and Premium X (all in AWD and 2WD).
Sales
References
External links
Official website
{{Proton vehicles
Proton vehicles
Cars introduced in 2018
2020s cars
Front-wheel-drive vehicles
All-wheel-drive vehicles
Compact sport utility vehicles
Crossover sport utility vehicles
ASEAN NCAP small off-road