Six months after its local launch, the facelifted Proton X50 has touched down at its first export market of Brunei. Our Bornean neighbour receives the refreshed B-segment SUV in the same three variants, priced at B$27,499 (RM86,700) for the 1.5TD Executive, B$31,500 (RM99,300) for the 1.5TD Premium and B$34,500 (RM108,800) for the 1.5TD Flagship, with a B$1,500 (RM4,700) discount for the first 100 customers.
Just like in Malaysia, all models are powered by a new BHE15-EFZ 1.5 litre Intelligent Green Technology (i-GT) turbo four-cylinder engine that replaces the GEP3 three-cylinder. It sends 181 PS and 290 Nm to the front wheels through a seven-speed wet dual-clutch transmission and delivers a claimed 4.7% reduction in fuel consumption.
Beyond the engine change, the X50 has also received a significant redesign, with sharper reflector LED headlights, a sizeable lower grille, full-width taillights and a revised tailgate. New 17- and 18-inch wheel designs and a large “Batmobile” rear spoiler on the Flagship complete the look.
Inside, a new dashboard and door cards bring with them reduced switchgear, a repositioned steering column-mounted gear selector, ambient lighting and a new pair of screens – an 8.88-inch digital instrument display and a 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen, the latter with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The suite of Level 2 semi-autonomous driving features, previously exclusive to the Flagship variant, has also been extended to the Premium.
“Brunei is the first overseas market to introduce the all-new Proton X50, and this reflects the confidence Proton has in Brunei as an export market as well as the trust in our long-standing partnership with [distributor] Pad Motors,” said Proton International Corporation (PICSB) vice president Wan Wei. “It also highlights the important role Brunei continues to play in Proton’s international journey.”
The national carmaker is banking on the new X50 to help prop up sales in the oil-rich country, as the model currently contributes 38% to its total sales. The company is targeting to sell 1,000 units this year, further buoyed by the eventual introduction of the new Saga.
GALLERY: Proton X50 1.5TD Flagship facelift in Malaysia
The facelifted Proton X50 was launched in July and has wasted no time finding buyers. Sales have already surpassed 10,000 units and the car shows no signs of stopping, but is this strong performance justified by the substance underneath? That’s what we’re finding out in this video review.
Proton calls this an “all-new” car, and while that’s not strictly speaking true, the changes are substantiative nevertheless. New head- and taillights, a big, toothy lower grille, a massive rear spoiler (on this Flagship model at least) and some significant sheetmetal changes freshen up the exterior, while the interior has been completely redesigned, bringing it closer in look and feel to its Chinese competitors.
There are also larger screens, including an 8.88-inch instrument display and a 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen, the latter now coming with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. But the biggest news is the 181 PS/290 Nm 1.5 litre BHE15-EFZ turbo four-cylinder engine, which is not only more powerful but is also claimed to be more efficient than the old three-cylinder. An unchanged seven-speed DCT is also fited.
All this and more is yours for less money than before, priced from RM85,800 to RM109,300. But with new rivals seemingly being launched every week, are the changes enough for the new X50 to hold its own against some stiff competition? Our very own Jonathan James Tan has driven it, and you can watch his review below.
The Proton Tech Showcase has revealed that the i-GT 1.5 litre engine that now serves in the X50 facelift as well as the 2026 Saga MC3 will be headed for the forthcoming, updated X70, X90 and S70, and the carmaker has revealed further details on the new engine family.
Proton has revealed that the i-GT 1.5 litre engine, in its naturally aspirated and turbocharged forms, will feature local content proportions of 54% and 45%, respectively, and the Malaysian automaker has also detailed how the new engines are improved compared to their predecessors.
Beginning with the headline figures, in turbocharged form the 1.5 i-GT engine in the facelifted X50 outputs 133 kW (181 PS) and 290 Nm, gains of 2.3% and 13.7% over those of previous generations, according to Proton. Its claimed fuel consumption of 6.1 litres per 100 km represents a 16.1% reduction, and Proton claims an industry-leading torque-to-weight ratio of 2.64 Nm per kg.
For the 1.5 i-GT engine in naturally aspirated form as found in the Saga MC3, its outputs of 88 kW (120 PS) and 150 Nm represent gains of 25.7% and 25% for power and torque respectively, while its 11.6-second 0-100 km/h acceleration time is 21.6% quicker than that of its predecessor, the Saga MC2 which did the benchmark run in 14.8 seconds.
Compared against Proton’s older turbocharged engine, the 1.6 litre, port-fuel-injected turbocharged CFE engine, the 1.5 litre i-GT turbo mill offers 41% more useful torque, according to Proton, and the new engine demonstrates greater torque outputs across the entire engine rev range, from 1,000 to 6,000 rpm.
Like the older 1.6T engine, the turbocharged i-GT arrives at peak torque at 2,000 rpm, though it appears to taper down from peak torque for longer compared to the older engine.
Proton 1.5 litre turbocharged engine, vs the 1.6L CFE turbo and 1.5L GEP3 turbo engines
In terms of power, the 1.5 litre turbocharged i-GT also offers higher outputs across the rev range, a claimed 17% more, and the new engine brings a steeper ramp up towards its 5,500 rpm output peak, compared to the 1.6T CFE engine’s plateau, which also peaks at 5,500 rpm before the 6,000 rpm limit.
When compared to the 1.5 litre CEP3 three-cylinder engine previously in the X50, the 1.5 litre turbocharged i-GT engine offers a claimed 14% more useful torque (290 Nm, up from 255 Nm in the X50 Flagship), and 2% more power (up from 177 PS of the X50 Flagship).
Power and torque are increased across most of the rev range, though power and torque bands of the i-GT appear to dip below those of the GEP3 Turbo engine from 4,500 rpm to 5,250 rpm. Test bench fuel consumption figures for the 1.5 litre i-GT turbocharged engine shows a 6% improvement over the 1.5L GEP3 three-cylinder turbocharged engine, and a 20% improvement over the 1.6L CFE turbocharged engine.
Proton 1.5 litre naturally aspirated engine, vs the 1.3L VVT naturally aspirated engine
Compared between naturally aspirated engines, the NA version of the 1.5 i-GT engine offers claimed gains of 25% more torque and 26% more power, relative to the smaller displacement, also-naturally aspirated 1.3 litre VVT engine. According to official specifications listed for the 2026 Saga MC3, this BHE15-CFN port-injected engine outputs 120 PS at 6,100 rpm and 150 Nm from 4,000 rpm to 5,000 rpm.
Proton stated that the turbocharged version of the i-GT 1.5 litre engine for the aforementioned SUV and sedan models, as specified in the X50 facelift, will get 45% local content, while the naturally aspirated version of the engine, as featured in the latest Saga and set for an upcoming SUV model, will have slightly more local content, at 54%.
When asked if, and when, Proton will increase the amount of local content for these engines, a representative of the brand said that the decision is up to the management, and that the current level of localisation is already “well above” what is required by the government.
In naturally aspirated guise, the i-GT engine powers the 2026 Saga MC3, and the BHE15-CFN port-injected, naturally-aspirated four-cylinder unit makes 120 PS at 6,100 rpm and 150 Nm from 4,000 rpm to 5,000 rpm; Standard and Executive variants of the Saga get the Aisin four-speed automatic gearbox, while the Premium gets a Punch CVT.
The BHE15TD i-GT 1.5 litre turbocharged direct injection engine in the 2025 X50 facelift outputs 181 PS and 290 Nm, which are transmitted to the front wheels through a seven-speed wet dual-clutch gearbox. Thus equipped, the B-segment SUV does 0-100 km/h in 7.6 seconds, and Proton claims a 4.7% improvement in fuel efficiency over its three-cylinder engined predecessor.
And why wouldn’t it be? Attractively priced from RM86k-109k (inclusive of a RM4,000 early-bird rebate), the new car looks set to emulate its predecessor‘s runaway success, with a new BHE15TD i-GT 1.5 litre turbo four-cylinder engine, new front and rear ends, an all-new and unique interior, and new technology.
Proton calls it ‘all-new’, and we can really see why. Same platform, yes, but many improvements have been made – more power, more torque, higher (claimed) efficiency, more modern interior, bigger screen, Android Auto/Apple CarPlay from the get-go, Bahasa Malaysia voice command (you need to change the system language to BM first), pre-installed RFID and enhanced safety, including six airbags across the range and rear ADAS functions.
The car(s) you see here is the range-topping Flagship variant, easily identifiable through the black roof and door mirrors, and that bridge-like tailgate spoiler with winglets, which is also black regardless of body colour. This one’s strictly for the extroverts; the Executive and Premium variants get a less shouty spoiler.
The latest iteration of the Proton X50 has reached the 5,000-unit sales milestone since the refreshed B-segment SUV was launched in late-July this year, Proton has announced. Prior to its official launch, the 2025 X50 received 5,000 bookings since order books opened on July 5.
Priced from RM85,800 for the X50 1.5TD Executive inclusive of a RM4,000 rebate that is applicable to he first 10,000 customers who book before October 31, the starting price of the latest X50 is RM500 lower than 2024 Proton X50 RC that it succeeds, even though the range now starts with the Executive variant that brings a higher level of equipment.
The major redesign of the national carmaker’s B-segment SUV brings a new BHE15TD 1.5 litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, which succeeds the three-cylinder unit that featured before this update. This outputs 181 PS at 5,500 rpm and 290 Nm between 2,000 rpm and 3,500 rpm, representing gains of 4 PS and 35 Nm over the previous TGDi engine, and gains of 31 PS/64 Nm over the PFI engine.
New heart aside, the revised X50 wears a new look which, like its powerplant, is taken from the Geely Binyue L, most notably with its redesigned front fascia. Wheels are 17 to 18 inches in diameter on the X50 depending on variant. Its interior is of an in-house design, not shared with other Geely group models.
Also on is an ADAS suite with improved functionality for Level 2 assisted driving features including adaptive cruise control with stop and go and lane centring assist, an improved park assist system in the Flagship variant and six airbags as standard.
This comes after its previous sales milestone of 999 units delivered in five working days since the model was launched, and Proton also revealed that 2,000 units of the X50 had rolled off the production line in Tanjung Malim as of the end of July. Before that, the company received 5,000 bookings for the X50 in 10 days before pricing was announced.
Sold in three variants from launch, the 2025 X50 starts at RM89,800 for the Executive, through RM101,800 for the Premium and topping out at RM113,800 for the Flagship. As part of the ongoing launch promotion, customers who book before October 31 will get these at a RM4,000 rebate, bringing the prices down to:
Proton X50 1.5TD Executive – RM85,800
Proton X50 1.5TD Premium – RM97,800
Proton X50 1.5TD Flagship – RM109,300
Comprehensively revised for this update, the 2025 X50 now features the new BHE15TD 1.5 litre turbocharged inline-four petrol engine with direct fuel injection, producing 181 PS and 290 Nm of torque and driving the front wheels through a seven-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission. This is up 4 PS and 35 Nm over the outgoing TGDi engine, and 31 PS and 64 Nm more compared to the old PFI engine.
In addition to the restyled exterior, adapted from the Geely Binyue L, its cabin has also been redesigned with a 14.6-inch touchscreen, while ADAS is now available more widely among the variants, though still not standard across the board. More about the facelifted Proton X50 in detail, here.
Under a memorandum of understanding just signed between Proton and Touch ‘n Go, all variants of the Proton X50 facelift will be pre-fitted with RFID at the production line, giving drivers yet another way to get through tolls (remember the third-gen Myvi‘s built-in SmartTAG?). We can see from the above photo that the RFID sticker is on the windscreen’s top-left.
“With other launches in our pipeline, Proton is looking to extend the fitment of Touch ‘n Go RFID tags to other models to offer an improved level of convenience to our customers,” said Proton Edar deputy CEO Zhang Qiang.
“It’s about instant gratification. You drive your new Proton X50 off the showroom floor with RFID already installed, just like that. This is not just about smarter mobility; it’s about bringing real value and delight into everyday journeys,” said Touch ‘n Go CEO Praba Sangarajoo.
Launched last month, the Proton X50 facelift comes in three variants priced between RM89,800 and RM113,300 (if you’re among the first 10,000 to book before October 31, you’ll get RM4,000 off, effectively cutting the price range to RM85,800-109,300). It’s a very thorough facelift – learn more here.
Proton has announced it has delivered 999 units of the facelifted X50 to customers over a period of five working days since the refreshed SUV was launched on July 24 this year. To keep up with demand, the company also revealed that 2,000 units of the latest X50 have rolled off the production line at Tanjong Malim as at the end of last month.
According to Proton Edar deputy CEO Zhang Qiang, 8,000 bookings for the X50 have been received as at the end of July. Previously, the company said it secured 5,000 bookings in 10 days prior to the price reveal.
Offered in three variants, the X50 starts at RM89,800 on-the-road without insurance for the base Executive, rising up to RM101,800 for the mid-range Premium and on to RM113,300 for the range-topping Flagship. As part of a launch promo, the first 10,000 customers who place a booking before October 31 will enjoy a RM4,000 rebate, bringing the price range down from RM85,800 to RM109,300.
All variants feature a new BHE15TD 1.5 litre turbocharged inline-four petrol engine with direct fuel injection, which replaces the pre-facelift’s three-cylinder mill that was offered with port (PFI) or direct injection (TGDi). The BHE15TD unit produces 181 PS and 290 Nm of torque, an increase of 4 PS and 35 Nm over the outgoing TGDi engine, and 31 PS and 64 Nm compared to the old PFI unit. A seven-speed wet dual-clutch remains the default transmission, with drive sent to the front wheels.
In what its being dubbed a global first, Proton has announced it has successfully integrated Bahasa Malaysia (BM) into the voice recognition system found in the new X50 facelift. The company first hinted at the imminent arrival of BM voice commands during the launch of the eMas 7 last December, a few months after its ACO Tech joint venture said its Atlas operating system would be improved with support for more languages and features.
According to Proton, the BM voice recognition system was developed together with ACO Tech from October 2024 to May 2025 and involved collecting 4,000 command variations in BM – 4,000 English command variations were also collected during this period.
To ensure accuracy across a wide range of phrases, over 200 samples of standard BM, evenly split between male and female speakers, were also recorded. This is so the system can adapt to natural language variations such as “buka tingkap” and “bukakan tingkap.” With all the work completed, the team decided on the name ‘Aisyah’ for its first-ever BM voice recognition system.
As a recap, the original X70 launched in 2018 came with voice recognition in its GKUI-based infotainment, although the system only understood English then. In 2022 – two years after its launch – the infotainment in the pre-facelift X50 received Atlas OS that included connected services and a localised voice recognition system optimised for Malaysian English. As such, BM voice recognition support is only being introduced seven years after the English system.
Proton says its internal data for June 2025 shows “hello” being the most frequently spoken word with 43,896 commands recorded. This is followed by queries beginning with the word “what” and “call” with 40,779 and 24,647 commands respectively. In total, 2.8 million commands from 228,046 active users were recorded last month.
Over-the-air (OTA) updates will improve the voice recognition system further by expanding its vocabulary and support for more commands. “While currently optimised for female voices, the team is developing male voice recognition and exploring the integration of other languages and dialects for future iterations,” the company stated in its release.
This new model has quite a job on its hands, what with ever stiffer competition, particularly from Chinese brands. The previous X50 had been a resounding success, with over 140,000 units sold since 2020, so the facelift has big shoes to fill. Thankfully, there are plenty of changes that we’ve already detailed, and with today’s launch comes the final piece of the puzzle to be revealed – the pricing.
Base price now RM500 lower, even with much more standard kit
So let’s lead with that. Available in three variants – Executive, Premium and Flagship, the base Standard having been dropped – the new X50 is priced as follows:
Proton X50 1.5TD Executive – RM89,800
Proton X50 1.5TD Premium – RM101,800
Proton X50 1.5TD Flagship – RM113,300
On top of this is a RM4,000 rebate for the first 10,000 customers who book before October 31, bringing the prices down to:
Proton X50 1.5TD Executive – RM85,800
Proton X50 1.5TD Premium – RM97,800
Proton X50 1.5TD Flagship – RM109,300
With this discount, the X50’s starting price is RM500 lower than the outgoing RC, despite the range now starting with the Executive variant with more kit; versus the old Executive, the new base model costs a staggering RM7,500 less. The Premium and Flagship, meanwhile, are both RM4,000 cheaper.
All figures are on-the-road without insurance and include a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty and six times free labour for scheduled servicing. Then there are the launch packages also for the first 10,000 buyers, such as a data upgrade to 2 GB per month for the first five years, up to RM2,000 in trade-in overtrade support and special financing with interest rates of 2.35% per annum over five years and 2.38% per annum over seven years.
Those early-bird buyers also get an upgraded Proton Insurance Programme for the first year that includes special perils coverage, up to RM500 in child seat support and personal accident coverage of up to RM15,000 per passenger.
All-new 1.5 litre turbo 4-cylinder, more power, lower fuel consumption
It’s been nearly five years since the X50 was launched, and while the basic body structure and many components of the original have been retained, this major revamp brings with it some serious, far-reaching upgrades. And the biggest talking point of all has to be the all-new 1.5 litre BHE15TD turbocharged and direct injected (TD, which does not stand for turbodiesel) engine.
Still with the same nominal swept capacity, this mill brings the much-vaunted switch from three cylinders to four, accompanied by new Intelligent Green Technology (i-GT) branding. Proton has previously said that the Global Engine Petrol 3 (GEP3) three-pot would form the building blocks for its future engines, but it looks like the new BHE15 will fill that role instead.
Aside from the TD mill that powers this car, the forthcoming Saga MC3 will use a naturally-aspirated derivative of this engine. That will most likely be the BHE15PFI port-injected version also found in the plug-in hybrid Geely Galaxy Starship 7/Starray EM-i, which is set to become the Proton eMas 7 PHEV.
Anyway, back to the BHE15TD, which produces 181 PS at 5,500 rpm and 290 Nm of torque between 2,000 and 3,500 rpm – increases 4 PS and 35 Nm over the outgoing TGDi engine. That doesn’t seem like much, but it’s enough for it to get from zero to 100 km/h three tenths of a second faster at 7.6 seconds, despite using the same seven-speed wet dual-clutch transmission and front-drive layout.
More importantly, this TD engine is fitted as standard across the range, meaning that the lesser variants get a massive 31 PS/64 Nm bump over the old PFI three-pot, so they should now be a damn sight faster. The four-pot is also more frugal, with fuel consumption down to the tune of 4.7%, as well as requiring less maintenance thanks to the adoption of a timing chain in place of a traditional belt.
The X50 continues to feature Eco, Normal and Sport drive modes, but there’s now a new Adaptive mode that automatically adapts to prevalent driving conditions and the way you drive. Unlike in the previous model, there’s no physical switch – you’ll have to change the modes through the screen.
Brand-new look from Geely Binyue L with gaping front grille
Aside from the new engine, the significant redesign is the other highlight. Both the engine and new look were taken from China’s Geely Binyue L, the latest version of the X50’s donor car launched just last November. By the way, the four-pot was first seen in the Binyue powering the L’s predecessor, the Binyue Cool, which has been discontinued.
The X50’s entire front clip is new, sporting reflector LED headlights (no more projectors, unfortunately, but with triple daytime running light “eyebrows” à la the S70), a massive full-width slatted lower grille with silver L-shaped corners, and even new fenders to house S70-style chrome A-pillar extensions.
The grille is also new and unique to Proton, reintroducing the red “Ethereal Bow” strip and adding alternating vertical “pins” that is as always said to be inspired by songket patterns. The headlights and grille continue to be tied together by a frame, now finished in satin rather than gloss silver. A reshaped bonnet has been added as well, now with fake vents on the outer edges.
Further back, the aforementioned A-pillar extension has led to the previously full-chrome window line to be split into two. The lower trim continues to feature the reflective finish, but the upper trim is now plain plastic. This may seem like a downgrade, but when combined with the Flagship’s exclusive black roof (regardless of body colour), it leads to a cleaner look. Down below, the black plastic body cladding has been redesigned, now with fake vents aft of the front wheels.
At the back you’ll find another wholesale redesign, with full-width taillights and a new tailgate that pushes the number plate recess lower down. The bumper gains more L-shaped corners but retains the old car’s large diffuser and quad tailpipes (finally, the X50 gets one pipe per cylinder).
The wheels measure 17 inches in diameter on the Executive – now a two-tone turbine design that looks much more upmarket than the old silver rollers – while the Premium and Flagship gain new 18s with a rather classy “knurled” finish on the five spokes. Finally, the Flagship model at last receives the Binyue’s massive “Batmobile” rear wing to go with the black roof; other models retain the old split spoiler.
In-house interior with larger screens, more standard kit
But the standout new feature is the new interior that, despite what the China-centric look suggests, is actually an in-house design not shared with other Geely models. The cabin on the Flagship model continues to be two-tone (it’s all black on the others) but with the colour scheme inverted – a black upper dash and a red lower, instead of the other way around (presumably to reduce reflections on the windscreen).
Clearly, Proton has taken inspiration from its Chinese partner, particularly evident in the “floating” centre console that houses twin phone holders (the driver’s side incorporates a Qi wireless charger, again a Flagship-exclusive feature), two cupholders arranged side-by-side and a row of four buttons for air-con on and off, auto climate control, the front demister and the hazard lights.
The rest of the air-con controls have been moved into the much larger 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen, now standard. The interface is ostensibly similar to the Flyme Auto system in the eMas 7 but gains features yet to be offered on that car, including wireless Apple CarPlay (only recently added to the EV) and Android Auto and a Bahasa Malaysia voice control function named Aisyah.
Proton claims the BM system can understand four dialects – including Kelantanese – and required 336,000 man hours of development on its own. You still of course get access to the latest Proton Link 2.0 app with the usual remote vehicle functions.
Elsewhere, the 8.88-inch digital instrument display is considerably larger than the outgoing model’s seven-inch unit, while the gear selector has been moved from the centre console to the steering column, freeing up more storage. The left stalk now combines the functions of the indicators and wipers, with headlight operation (unfortunately) also migrating to the screen. The three-spoke flat-bottomed steering wheel, however, remains the same.
Other new features include a 72-colour ambient lighting system (with the X70’s “rhythmic” function) visible in the door pulls and a distinctive “looping” light band design ahead of the front passenger. This motif is mirrored in the also-new door cards, which get new door handles that hopefully won’t break as often.
A curious new item is a metallic disc with a Torx bolt pattern below the driver’s side air vent, next to the repositioned engine start button. Officially, this hides a mounting point, but no details have been provided. It’s likely that this is a similar mount found on some Chinese cars, most notably the Xiaomi SU7. If so, the disc should unscrew to reveal a tripod-style 1/4-inch threaded interface that will allow users to affix phone holders and other accessories more securely than the usual suction mounts.
The rest of the cabin looks identical to before, including the seats that still come with power adjustment for the driver on the Premium variant onwards. Meanwhile, the Flagship version retains its panoramic glass sunroof and adds the Binyue L’s cool half-transparent sun visors that provide some additional forward visibility while still keeping glare to a minimum.
Standard kit includes remote engine start, auto lights and wipers, single-zone auto air-con, fabric upholstery and a reverse camera (the Executive’s lens-like front nub is just a dummy cover). The Premium adds red brake callipers, faux leather upholstery, the aforementioned ambient lighting, a tyre pressure monitoring system, a powered tailgate and a 360-degree camera system with a new transparency function, while the Flagship throws on the exclusive features listed earlier.
ADAS now on more models, but still not standard
Last but not least are the driver assistance systems. New rear side radar sensors are now fitted as standard, bringing features such as blind spot monitoring and the new rear collision warning, rear cross traffic alert and door opening warning to the entire lineup.
Unfortunately, you’ll have to step up to at least the Premium (previously Flagship only) to get the rest of the ADAS suite – yes, even autonomous emergency braking. This is enabled through a new camera array at the top of the windscreen, which is claimed to offer improved functionality for Level 2 semi-autonomous driving features such as adaptive cruise control with stop and go and lane centring assist.
Other features included in the package are traffic sign recognition and auto high beam, with the Flagship throwing on an improved park assist system. Six airbags are now standard-fit.
Clockwise from left: Flagship, Premium and Executive
2025 Proton X50 1.5TD Executive Gets as standard:
Mechanicals
1.5 litre DOHC i-GT TD engine
1,499 cc turbocharged direct-injected four-cylinder petrol
181 PS at 5,500 rpm, 290 Nm of torque at 2,000-3,500 rpm
“Hi Proton” voice control with Bahasa Malaysia option
Two front USB ports (USB-A and USB-C)
Two rear USB ports (USB-A and USB-C)
Electronic parking brake with auto brake hold
Proton Link 2.0 app connectivity (vehicle status, remote control, navigation)
330 litres boot space
Safety
Six airbags (front, side, curtain)
ABS with EBD and brake assist
Traction control and stability control
Hill start assist and hill descent control
Blind spot monitoring
Rear cross traffic alert
Rear collision warning
Door opening warning
Reverse camera
Front and rear parking sensors
2025 Proton X50 1.5TD Premium Adds on:
Exterior
Silver roof rails
Red brake callipers
18-inch two-tone alloy wheels with 215/55 R18 tyres
Interior
Six-way power-adjustable driver’s seat
Faux leather upholstery
72-colour ambient lighting with “rhythmic” mode
Six speakers
Powered tailgate
Safety
Autonomous emergency braking
Adaptive cruise control with stop and go
Lane centring assist
Lane keeping assist
Traffic sign recognition
Auto high beam
Tyre pressure monitoring system
360-degree camera with transparency
2025 Proton X50 1.5TD Flagship Adds on:
Exterior
Rear spoiler with fake carbon fibre print
Black roof and door mirrors
Interior
Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
Black and red interior with red stitching
Black headliner
Semi-transparent sun visors
Panoramic glass sunroof with powered sunshade
Qi wireless charger (driver’s side)
Safety
Park assist
Proton says the facelifted X50 features 245 new parts (claimed to add RM15,000 in value) and has undergone 412,000 R&D man-hours and 4.3 million km of testing. You can get the car in five colours – Snow White, Passion Red, Jet Grey, Armour Silver and the new Teal Bayou Green from the S70, the latter replacing Ocean Blue. What do you think of the new X50 and the pricing? Sound off in the comments after the jump.
Proton says that it has collected 5,000 bookings of the 2025 Proton X50 facelift in 10 days after order books opened on July 5. This means that half of the early bird offer quota – RM1,000 cash rebate, special edition Touch n Go card and an exclusive ‘Gempak!’ deal that will be announced at the launch – has been taken up.
Test drives are now available at selected 3S/4S dealerships ahead of the launch and price reveal, which is happening on July 24.
“The incredible response we have seen for the all-new Proton X50, truly shows how much Malaysians love this model. We are humbled by the 5,000 bookings received in just 10 days, and to keep the momentum rolling in the final week prior to the launch, we will offer test drives at our outlets beginning July 19 so that customers can get a live on-road experience from behind the wheel,” said Zhang Qiang, deputy CEO of Proton Edar.
“Proton’s production team at Tanjong Malim have also worked hard to build up our stock levels to enable the delivery of cars to customers immediately after the launch. The target is to have at least 5,000 units ready for registration by the end of August, which will help manage the time it takes for a customer to receive their vehicle after placing an order,” he added.
Offered in Executive, Premium and Flagship variants (Standard dropped), the X50 is now powered by a new ‘i-GT’ 1.5-litre turbo-four with 181 PS and 290 Nm of torque from 2,000 to 3,500 rpm. The good thing is that this engine, which has higher outputs than the old 1.5 TGDi, is standard across the range. Mated to a seven-speed DCT, 0-100 km/h is done in 7.6 seconds (0.3s faster than old Flagship) and there’s also 4.7% better efficiency to boot.
Looks wise, there’s an all-new face based on the Geely Binyue L plus an entirely new interior that Proton says is fully designed in-house – big screen, clean layout, angled slot for phones, just like many Chinese EVs on the market. Check out our walk-around videos and full galleries of all three variants below.
The 2025 Proton X50 facelift (or all-new, according to Proton) has been open for booking since July 5, and although we will only know the prices at launch, we know that the first 10,000 customers will enjoy a RM1,000 cash rebate, an exclusive ‘Gempak Deal’ that will be revealed at launch, as well as a special edition Touch ‘n Go card.
We’ve already covered the new X50 extensively, so do refer to our earlier story detailing exactly what’s new and what’s not, including a complete breakdown of the three available variants: Executive, Premium and Flagship. You may also watch our walk-around videos below, available in both English and Bahasa Melayu, just like the new X50’s upgraded Hi Proton voice recognition system.
Just to recap, the 2025 X50 gets a heavily updated look on the outside based on the Geely Binyue L, an entirely new interior claimed to have been fully designed in-house by Proton, as well as a 181 PS/290 Nm 1.5 litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine from a new i-GT engine family. The motor is codenamed the BHE15TD, developed by Aurobay – a Geely-Volvo joint venture (based in Sweden) that is now part of Horse Powertrain, a Geely-Renault JV.
A week after Proton released the first details of the facelifted X50, we finally get our first look at the car in 1.5TD Executive trim. This is the new base model of the revised B-segment SUV after the outgoing Standard variant was discontinued.
For the first time, all models get the same high-output engine – a new 1.5 litre BHE15TD turbocharged and direct-injected i-GT four-cylinder engine, making 181 PS at 5,500 rpm and 290 Nm of torque from 2,000 to 3,500 rpm. As before, drive is sent to the front wheels via a seven-speed wet dual-clutch transmission, and the zero-to-100 km/h time of 7.6 seconds (three tenths of a second faster than the outgoing TGDI-powered Flagship) should comfortably eclipse that of the old port-injected PFI model.
Instead, the differences over the Premium and Flagship variants come down to the equipment. All models get the same new look, with reflector LED headlights (no more projectors, sadly), songket-pattern upper grille, massive full-width lower grille, LED taillight bar, redesigned tailgate, re-profiled side skirts and L-shaped front and rear bumper corners. And yes, you still have fake vents on the bonnet.
But whereas the Premium and Flagship roll on handsome 18-inch alloy wheels, the Executive makes do with 17s. The design looks similar to the old one but it’s actually slightly different and it comes with a nice two-tone finish, which helps make the car look less bargain-basement.
The Executive is also the only variant not to come with red brake callipers, sticking to the usual bare metal stoppers. And don’t be fooled by the glossy “camera lens” on the bumper – there’s no 360-degree camera system here, just a black nub where the front camera would be. The roof rails on the other two variants have also been ditched.
Inside, the Executive retains the all-new, in-house-designed cabin (as with the Premium, it’s all black here; no red highlights as per the Flagship) with a “flying” centre console, a steering column-mounted gear selector, new (and hopefully more sturdy) door handles and twin “floating” displays.
The good news is that the tech – an 8.88-inch digital instrument display and large 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen – has now been standardised, meaning you get the same revised interface, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, more powerful “Hi Proton” voice control with a new Bahasa Malaysia option, updated Proton Link 2.0 app connectivity and six speakers (previously four).
But there are differences here, too. The dual phone holders are just that – there’s no Qi wireless charger like you have on the higher variants. You also get manual fabric seats here, with no leather as per the previous Executive (the steering wheel is thankfully still leather-wrapped); then again, given the additional kit over the old car, this seems like a fair trade. One of those added bits of kit is auto wipers, which are again now standard.
Elsewhere, the Executive gets the same “looping” graphic on the passenger-side dashboard panel (repeated on the door cards), but unlike the Premium and Flagship, it does not light up. Other standard equipment includes keyless entry with proximity locking and unlocking and remote engine start, push-button start, auto air-con and a reverse camera.
In terms of safety, the X50 now gets six airbags as standard; the previous Standard model had four airbags, so this is a great update for the base model. You also receive stability control and new rear side radar sensors that add blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert rear collision warning and a door opening warning.
However, you still don’t get the full suite of driver assistance systems such as autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and lane centring assist. This means the X50 remains subpar by class standards (barring the Mazda CX-30, all of the car’s main rivals get these features as standard).
The facelifted X50 is now open for booking, with early-bird buyers getting a RM1,000 cash rebate, an unspecified “Gempak Deal” and an exclusive Touch ‘n Go card. Refer to our in-depth preview post for full details and first impressions by our own Jonathan James Tan.
2025 Proton X50 1.5TD Executive Gets as standard:
Mechanicals
1.5 litre DOHC i-GT TD engine
1,499 cc turbocharged direct-injected four-cylinder petrol
181 PS at 5,500 rpm, 290 Nm of torque at 2,000-3,500 rpm
The 2025 Proton X50 facelift (or all-new, according to Proton) is now open for booking. First 10,000 customers will also receive a RM1,000 cash rebate, exclusive “Gempak Deal” that will be revealed at the official launch, as well as a special edition Touch ‘n Go card. As usual, the actual prices will only be unveiled at launch.
We’ve already covered the new X50 extensively, so do refer to our earlier story detailing exactly what’s new and what’s not, including a complete breakdown of the three available variants: Executive, Premium and Flagship. You may also watch my walk-around videos below, available in both English and Bahasa Melayu, just like the new X50’s upgraded Hi Proton voice recognition system.
Just to recap, the 2025 X50 gets a heavily updated look on the outside based on the Geely Binyue L, an entirely new interior claimed to have been fully designed in-house by Proton, as well as a 181 PS/290 Nm 1.5 litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine from a new i-GT engine family. The motor is codenamed the BHE15TD, developed by Aurobay – a Geely-Volvo joint venture (based in Sweden) that is now part of Horse Powertrain, a Geely-Renault JV.
