Proton S70

The Proton S70 is a C-segment four-door sedan from Malaysian national carmaker, Proton. Developed as a product of the deep partnership between Proton and Geely, the S70 is built on the Geely Emgrand platform, serving as a key strategic model for the national marque in the three-box market. The sedan was officially launched in Malaysia on 28 November 2023. At present, the model on sale is the 2026 MC1 (Mid-Cycle 1) facelift. Positioned as a C-segment family sedan, it is aimed primarily at family buyers and younger drivers looking for value for money and an engaging drive, competing against segment rivals such as the Honda City and Toyota Vios.

Design Language

On the outside, the 2026 S70 largely retains the overall silhouette of the pre-facelift model. Being based on the Geely Emgrand, it shares identical dimensions with its donor car, measuring 4,638 mm in length, 1,820 mm in width, and 1,460 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,650 mm. The front fascia features Proton's signature large mesh front grille, finished with the Proton crest. For the 2026 facelift, the headlamp clusters have been revised; while maintaining a similar profile, the turn signals have reverted to conventional halogen bulbs, integrated alongside high and low beam elements. The range-topping Flagship X variant gains an exclusive sports bodykit featuring "fang" trim pieces on the front bumper air curtains, side skirts, a rear lower diffuser, and a prominent ducktail boot lid spoiler with a centre cutout, highlighted by red contrast accents on black and white exterior colourways. In terms of footwear, the Executive and Premium variants roll on 16-inch wheels, whereas the Flagship and above step up to 17-inch dual-tone alloys. Six exterior paint finishes are available: Quartz Black, Snow White, Ruby Red, Armour Silver, Space Grey, and Marine Blue.

Stepping inside, mid-to-high-spec models feature an all-black interior scheme. The Flagship variant comes equipped with a 10.25-inch full digital instrument cluster alongside a 12.3-inch floating infotainment touchscreen. The centre console is neat and broad, retaining a row of tactile physical buttons. Upholstery differs across the lineup: the entry-level Executive gets manual fabric seats, while the Premium and above variants are upgraded to leatherette/leather upholstery.

Powertrain & Performance

The defining change for the 2026 S70 MC1 resides under the bonnet. The sedan phases out the previous 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged powerplant (GEP3) in favour of the 1.5L i-GT four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine (codenamed BHE15-EFZ), shared with the facelifted X50 and X70. This unit puts out a punchy 181PS (approx. 179 hp) and 290Nm of torque, representing significant gains of 31PS and 64Nm over the outgoing three-pot engine. Power is sent to the front wheels via a seven-speed wet dual-clutch transmission (7-DCT), recalibrated for smoother and sharper shift logic. The 0–100 km/h century sprint is now dispatched in 7.5 seconds, a 1.5-second improvement over its predecessor. Benefiting from a lighter kerb weight, official combined fuel consumption is rated at a frugal 5.7L/100km (approx. 17.5 km/l). Inside the engine, a toothed timing chain replaces the timing belt, helping to lower long-term maintenance costs.

Chassis & Handling

Underpinning the S70 is the Geely Group's BMA (B-segment Modular Architecture) modular platform. The suspension uses a MacPherson strut setup at the front and a torsion beam layout at the rear. Across all variants, power is driven through the front wheels. For the 2026 model year, the recalibrated transmission delivers more direct and linear power delivery. The suspension tuning continues to lean towards everyday ride comfort and compliance, while preserving composed and responsive handling dynamics.

Cabin & Equipment

The 2026 S70 gains noteworthy updates in terms of in-cabin amenities. From the Flagship variant upwards, the infotainment system natively supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto out of the box. Mid- and high-spec variants are equipped with a 10.25-inch digital meter display and a 12.3-inch touchscreen unit. The Flagship also comes equipped with a Qi wireless charging pad, a 360-degree surround-view camera system, and factory-fitted security window tint. The top-spec Flagship X adds an electric sunroof, full black headlining/trim, and a front driving video recorder (dashcam). Boot capacity is rated at an ample 500 litres, easily meeting everyday family needs. The entire model range is backed by a standard 5-year, unlimited-mileage manufacturer warranty.

Safety & Driver Assistance

Safety remains a cornerstone of the S70's value proposition. As standard, the entire range comes equipped with 6 airbags, ABS with EBD and Brake Assist (BA), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control System (TCS), and Hill Hold Assist (HHA). For 2026, the Flagship and higher variants boast a comprehensive Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) suite encompassing 13 active safety functions. Key features include full-speed Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Keep Assist (LKA), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Blind Spot Information System (BSM), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Rear Collision Warning (RCW), and Door Opening Warning (DOW). The upper variants are further fitted with a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and a 360-degree camera. While the base Executive variant skips the full ADAS suite, its baseline active and passive safety kit remains reassuringly complete.

Market Performance & Reception

The 2026 S70 MC1 is offered across four variants: Executive, Premium, Flagship, and Flagship X. Official retail pricing starts at RM73,800, RM79,800, RM89,800, and RM94,800, respectively; an across-the-board limited-time rebate of RM5,000 brings the actual barrier of entry down to RM68,800.

The S70 has enjoyed solid market traction since its arrival. In May 2026, the model logged sales of 2,350 units, crossing the 2,000-unit monthly milestone for three consecutive months. Deliveries for the first five months of 2026 reached 10,525 units, marking a 32.5% year-on-year growth. As of February 2026, the updated S70 stood as Proton's second best-selling model overall. As the maiden sedan borne out of the Proton-Geely tie-up, the S70 leverages a proven Geely Emgrand foundation, combining a punchier 1.5T four-cylinder engine, an extensive ADAS safety array, and aggressive pricing to cement a strong foothold in Malaysia's C-segment sedan arena.