Bookings are open for the Proton S70, the Malayan Tiger marque’s latest sedan. As for its price, that is still yet to be announced as this is just a preview, but prices are not expected to veer too far from RM 100k.

A common question on many potential buyers’ mind is what a fair comparison model for the Proton S70 would be.

The Proton S70 is based on the Chinese market’s Geely Emgrand, which straddles between conventional B and C segments. This Chinese car market is so big that manufacturers will find opportunities in plugging even the smallest gap in the market, and the Geely Emgrand is one such example.

Still, Malaysian customers want to know what a fair comparison for the Proton S70 is – the B-segment Toyota Vios and Honda City, or the C-segment Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic?

If you want a simple answer, Proton describes the S70 as a C-segment sedan, putting it in the same category as compact sedans like the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic.

At the same time, Proton’s own dynamic driving demonstration of the S70 to the local press is done using B-segment Toyota Vios and Honda City. Is it an indirect admission that the S70 is a C-segment sedan that won't be able to hold its ground when pitted against the Corolla and Civic?

Mohd Haizam, Vehicle Program Executive for Engineering and Technical said, “Yes, our primary competitors are the Toyota Vios, the Honda City, and the Nissan Almera. We also look into our secondary competitors, which is Honda Civic as well as Toyota Corolla Altis.”

Haizam explained that the S70’s packaging and performance allows it to compete in both the B- and C-segment.

Edmund Lim, Vice-President of Sales and After-Sales said, “We are looking at the same customer base as the Vios and City, that’s why we want to compare with them.” He also added that Proton wants to target the B-segment customer base with a C-segment sedan, simply because the potential sales volume in the B-segment is much bigger.

He added that Proton targets to sell around 2,000 to 3,000 units of the Proton S70 every month. A separate check revealed that those figures are the average monthly sales of B-segment stalwarts like Toyota Vios and Honda City.

Deputy CEO Roslan Abdullah added that the dynamic driving comparison is done with B-segment rivals because that’s an indication of its price, while its C-segment positioning is an indication of the Proton S70’s size.

Proton has yet to reveal the dimensions of the S70 but the table below is how the Philippines market Geely Emgrand measures up against the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic.

A/B/C/D/E segmentation, is it still relevant?

But this whole 'Is it a B- or C-segment' debate is purely academic. On the showroom floor, what segment a car sits in has almost zero meaning to car buyers.

Customers shop based on their ability to stomach the monthly instalments, not based on A/B/C/D/E segments, which we must emphasize, has no fixed definition.

For example, the Honda HR-V is often referred to as a B-segment SUV because it shares the same platform as the Honda City, while the Toyota Corolla Cross is called a C-segment SUV because it rides on the Corolla’s TNGA-C platform, but this is incorrect (we went along with the incorrect narrative anyway because even UMW Toyota Motor calls the Corolla Cross a C-SUV).

The Toyota Corolla Cross’ 2,640 mm wheelbase is a lot shorter than the Toyota Corolla (Altis) - a genuine C-segment sedan - 2,700 mm wheelbase. Instead, the Corolla Cross sits closer to the B-segment Honda HR-V (2,610 mm wheelbase) and Proton X50 (2,600 mm wheelbase) than a true C-segment SUV like the 2,700 mm wheelbase Honda CR-V.

A vehicle’s wheelbase is the only acceptable reference to determine a vehicle’s segment because it influences interior space. 

Manufacturers often lengthen or shorten platforms to build derivative models to suit different customer needs. Just because a model has underpinnings from a C-segment / B-segment car doesn't necessarily mean that it needs to be pigeon-holed as one. What matters is the car's overall packaging and what kind of value does it offer to customers.

In conclusion, vehicle segments no longer mean much. You can, and you should make comparisons as you see fit, between different body styles – sedans, hatchbacks, MPVs, SUVs - between models from different price points and sizes. Only then can you decide what car best fits your needs. So, yes you can compare the Proton S70 with a wide range of models, from the Vios and City to the Corolla and Civic.