The Proton eMas 5. You already know the corporate calls it ‘Malaysia’s first reasonably priced EV’. You already know its RM60k-80k estimated value vary. You already know over 3,000 folks have put their names down for one. You already know it’s basically a Geely EX2/Geome Xingyuan. You already know it’ll be totally imported (CBU) first and locally-assembled (CKD) later. You already know what it’s like inside and outside. You already know there’s no Proton enter in its suspension, journey and dealing with.
That’s lots you already know, however there are nonetheless three lacking items of the puzzle – the ultimate value, particulars of any lesser variant(s), and what it’s prefer to drive. For the time being it appears to be like like we’ll solely have solutions to the primary two at launch, which, if every little thing goes to plan for Professional-Web, will in no way be far-off. Fortunately, immediately we will reply the third query, albeit not with out some caveats.
Earlier this week, we went to Proton’s Shah Alam take a look at monitor (presumably and sadly for the final time). There, we subjected the nationwide carmaker’s second zero-emissions car to a collection of dynamic workouts and a high-speed blast on the banked oval. The uneven testing surfaces weren’t made out there to us, so we sadly can’t report with conviction on how the non-Proton-tuned suspension would tackle unhealthy roads – however we will take Danny’s phrase for it for now.
We solely had a couple of hours with the automotive, and solely the Premium variant was there; that is the one with 116 PS, 150 Nm of torque, a 40.16-kWh battery and a 325 km WLTP vary. All exams had been executed with 4 folks within the automotive together with the motive force, so do digest this report with that considered.
First up, straight-line acceleration. Formally, it’s 0-50 km/h in 3.9 seconds, however we’re knowledgeable on the facet that the 0-100 km/h time is round 10 seconds. This checks out, because the eMas 5 pulls cleanly and onerous from a standstill as much as 50-60 km/h, after which it begins to taper off barely.
It’s not particularly quick by EV requirements, however it does beat the ‘king’ Myvi in acceleration and response, which ought to be good for the various cut-and-thrust conditions we face day by day in Malaysian site visitors. Beneath very heavy braking, regardless of a fairly pronounced nose-dive, the car tracks straight and true, scrubbing off pace with subsequent to no drama. By the best way, Proton claims a class-leading 100-0 km/h braking distance of 36.9 metres.
A good slalom gave the eMas 5 an opportunity to indicate off its chuckability. Being rear-wheel drive (RWD), the automotive is extra inclined to yaw given sharp steering actions, and you may nearly really feel the swing of the again finish as it really works to level the automotive to the place you wish to go. Banish out of your thoughts any drifting concepts although, as a result of A, you don’t fairly have sufficient grunt for that right here, and B, the geometry remains to be arrange for secure understeer whenever you mix extreme quantities of throttle and steering angle.
The steering is mild and devoid of really feel, however linear, correct and completely sufficient for day-to-day driving. It may very well be a contact lower-geared although, as whereas the eMas 5’s tight 4.95-metre turning radius (helped, we’re positive, by it being RWD, because the entrance wheels are unencumbered by driveshafts and might subsequently flip extra) got here in helpful within the determine of eight, one does want to use extra lock, and sooner, than anticipated.
This was a lot much less of a problem within the extensive slalom that adopted, the automotive capable of carry a very good flip of pace via the gates. Altering path at pace additionally demonstrated pretty good road-holding from these 205/60 Linglongs, a minimum of within the dry – moist efficiency is normally the place extra budget-oriented tyres falter. It’s fairly enjoyable to drive, actually.
One sharp flip later introduced us to a protracted, sweeping left-hander, the place once more, the eMas 5 clung adequately nicely to the tarmac with little physique roll (having the heavy battery beneath the occupants should assist issues on the centre-of-gravity entrance). We do should report, nonetheless, that when underneath throttle on this sustained left flip, a comparatively high-pitched grinding sound was audible from the rear-right, finally disappearing.
Initially we dismissed this as an anomaly, however the sound was additionally heard in one other automotive we later drove on the banked oval, once more when turning left. As a result of there have been no sweeping proper turns that day, we have no idea if turning proper would produce the identical sound from the rear-left (in different phrases, the outside-rear nook), however we did carry it as much as Professional-Web and we’re positive the crew is trying into it.
Excessive-speed efficiency is OK – stability is nice and subsequent to no minor steering corrections had been wanted to maintain the automotive in lane. Wind noise is audible after 80 km/h, changing into what you’d deem loud solely after 110 km/h. We wouldn’t let that take away from the automotive’s refinement, which is in any other case above par – definitely miles higher than your common B-segment hatch. 135 km/h is formally the highest pace, a minimum of for this Premium variant, however we did handle to the touch 140 km/h on the oval.
Some notes concerning the driving place – whereas I had no complaints, the steering wheel (which isn’t telescopically adjustable) was too shut for Hafriz, and he couldn’t discover a snug seating place. Within the again, whereas legroom is appropriate, head- and shoulder-room are at a premium, and the fairly upright backrest (not recline-adjustable) means that lengthy journeys wouldn’t be paradise for rear occupants.
That is primarily a metropolis automotive – the modest WLTP vary corroborates that – and in that respect it fulfils the transient, with the added bonus of being fairly nimble and sprightly. A scorching hatch it isn’t, however now that the Iriz has left us… dare I name the eMas 5 its non secular successor when it comes to fun-to-drive-ness (with out ‘Proton journey and dealing with’; what irony!), or would that be pushing it? It definitely doesn’t talk with the receptors in your fingers and your buttocks the best way the Iriz did, however it’s nonetheless an excellent attempt.
The RM60-80k estimated value vary silences almost all my grouses. With the Proton eMas 5, you’re getting a superbly inoffensive little runabout that’s sensible (70-litre frunk, 375-litre boot that’s expandable to 1,320 litres, under-seat storage), doesn’t really feel low-cost and is each straightforward and enjoyable to drive. It had higher make as a lot hay as it will probably earlier than the Perodua EV comes although, since that’s nonetheless very a lot an unknown.
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