It started as one of those weekends where plans were loose, and the road called. A simple getaway was on the cards, nothing too ambitious – just enough to escape the city’s hum for a bit. But as the journey unfolded, so did the Proton S70's talents reveal themselves.

Traffic jams? Sure. Yet the frustration never really sank in. The road twisted and stretched ahead, the kind of drive that tests both your patience and your comfort. Hours passed, but the fatigue never quite followed.

Hmm, was it the draw of what's to come, or was it that the car was just that good? A proper dig into Tanjung Malim's newest darling is in order...

Exterior: Sharp suit, easy on the eyes

The calling card for the S70 is that, on paper, it offers C-segment equipment for B-segment prices. To an extent that is true, though as far as its look is concerned, there's no disputing that fact.

Brilliant move by Proton for creating this Teal Bayou Green colour as well. It’s a breath of fresh air among the Resale Value Silvers of this world, and hey, a little more patriotism is always good - it’s a shade inspired by our tropical beaches after all.

Of course, that also goes to say that the S70 is already a pretty nice car to start with. Clean lines and unfussy surfacing never gets old, though if it’s up to me I’d skip this bodykit as it adds unnecessary complication to a simple design.

Interior: Great comfort, but not too user-friendly

What’s good inside? Plenty, though material and software choices are a little bit of an odd mix. We’ll get to those in a bit.

Ours is the Flagship X variant with its exclusive panoramic sunroof, though our opinion of that is to save the RM 5k (over the RM 89k Flagship) for something else. In our hands it was entirely underutilised; never beyond photographs in the daytime, and entirely forgotten come nightfall.

In a roundabout sort-of way, that serves as a commendation for the S70’s interior space. There is no need for the sunroof to make the cabin feel larger than it is, which is usually what sunroofs are for. We maintain that the space is almost perfect for the average Malaysian family; specially in a sedan at this price.

The seats - though leatherette, not the higher X70/X90’s Nappa leather - were adequately plush and shaped well enough to never be uncomfortable for the long drive. Notably, back and thigh support were above average (better than the X90's), decently padded and with gentle bolsters that don’t dig too much into your sides.

Suffice it is to mention, things like the 500-litre boot space (expandable by folding the seats) and little storage solutions within the cabin are practical enough for family use.

As for the rest of the cabin, material choices are a little here-and-there. There’s an expanse of soft-touch material covering the top half of the dashboard, while scratchy plastic makes up the rest of common touchpoints.

The main problem however lies in the middle of the dashboard, which is made up of a rubbery, patterned material. I suppose it looks neat, but the little diamond-like motifs that make up the design catch dirt easily, plus it isn’t the easiest to clean.

Ergonomics too is a bit of a hit-and-miss. Driving position is a hit, with the myriad adjustments available through the steering wheel and seating providing just about anyone with an optimal posture, but it's the functions surrounding the drive that’s not very well thought-out.

Window switches, for example, don’t light up. Operating the transmission manual override mode (left to downshift, right to upshift), despite how Volvo-esque it's claimed to be, remains perpetually awkward, and the buttons on the steering wheel - particularly to adjust ADAS settings - aren’t the most straightforward.

The weakest link though, is the software. Proton’s stuck with Atlas OS to run everything within the 10.25-inch infotainment cluster, but sadly this hampers what is an otherwise pretty sharp product.

It wouldn’t have been entirely sordid if the rest of the interior didn’t take such a minimalist tact. The lack of a drive mode button means you have to swipe from the top of the screen to swap between Comfort, Eco, and Sport modes; which, incidentally, is the only way the passenger can adjust media volume as well.

The biggest bugbear is the lack of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, so there’s no native support for Google Maps nor Waze, which in turn necessitates a phone holder. Doesn't look the part, tough to use, just all round bad news, really.

But hey, don’t discount the pre-installed Here Maps. There’s real-time traffic readouts and easy access to common points of interest (petrol stations, rest stops, the like), though it’s not very adept at referring you to alternative routes; something Waze and Google Maps do better. It also provides conservative estimates of arrival times - roughly 30 minutes behind Google Maps - but it certainly won’t lead you astray.

For what it's worth though, the UI has some neat touches. Take a look at the photo up top - the pictorial illustration offers a clearer view to people who don't like turn-by-turn voice navigation (like me), something which can also help new drivers in an unfamiliar location.

The failings in it though is that the zoomed out view is way too messy, to the point that it’s difficult to follow the guiding line. Swapping over the Volvo-style map-in-instrument cluster view worsens things because now there's just too much going on in a smaller screen.

Driving experience: Plenty powerful, comfort is the game

The S70 may not be the fastest car in its class, but the 1.5-liter turbocharged multi-point injection (MPI) engine delivers enough mid-range torque to make everyday driving a breeze. With 150 PS and 225 Nm, it's considerably above most similarly-priced B-segment cars, so that's one of the draws as well.

As expected, acceleration is brisk enough for highway merging, city traffic, and backroad fun. Once the turbo kicks in, the engine pulls smoothly, making light work of overtaking, while noise and vibration from the three-cylinder unit remain impressively muted, if a little clattery at startup and idle.

Speaking of which, noise isolation is generally quite good, only to be let down by the roar from the Goodyear Assurance tyres that are quite intrusive at higher speeds.

The 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (7DCT) pairs well with the engine, offering smooth shifts. However, manual mode takes some getting used to, as you need to flick the lever left or right to shift - much like in the X90. Paddle shifters would have been a welcome addition for those wanting a more engaging drive.

Moving on to the ride, Proton has spent considerable time fine-tuning the S70’s suspension for Malaysian roads, and it shows. The sedan easily absorbs bumps and imperfections, offering a composed secondary ride that’s great for long-distance comfort. 

The soft suspension setup, while good for comfort, does result in some noticeable body roll through tighter corners. However, the trade-off is a relaxing driving experience, even on less-than-perfect roads. In short? The car’s dynamics feel well-calibrated for local conditions.

Handling is enhanced by an electrically assisted steering system that, although lacking in feedback, is precise enough for confident driving. The steering weight can be adjusted to suit different driving modes, and the contrast between Comfort and Sport is enough to notice, offering a bit more control during spirited drives such as along the winding roads Pahang is known for.

Those aside, we think there’s still room for improvement, mostly in the calibration of the gearbox. We note a slight delay in throttle response, leading to a more aggressive pedal input, which in turn causes front wheel spin.

This is more apparent when auto brake hold is engaged and when we’re on a hill; the split-second between the brakes releasing and the power catching on leads the car to roll back slightly, à la a manual car.

Fuel consumption: 9.56 litres/100 km

Our 398 km journey was one that included city drives, brief stops, and smooth-flowing highways, keeping steady pace. After that, it needed about 38.06 litres of fuel - which comes up to 9.56 L/100 km (10.45 km/litre).

A figure like this puts the S70 below its nearest-priced B-segment rivals (the Toyota Vios does 6.1 L/100 km, while the Honda City musters 6.3 L/100 km). If we compare it to the Honda Civic - fair game, given the S70's size and power - the Japanese competition is still better, coming up to 8.7 L/100 km.

Tech: ADAS not the sharpest, but the camera is ace

In terms of tech, the S70’s adaptive cruise control works well on highways but can feel a bit overeager when slowing down to maintain distance, regardless of settings for the distance to vehicle in front.

Similarly, the lane-keeping assist is vigilant, occasionally overly aggressive in nudging the car back into line, which happens when we gently move closer to the centre line to pass motorcycles on the left, or when driving around potholes that are common on our roads. We think in overall execution, the Japanese still have an edge in this respect.

Even still, the S70 has awesome cameras; superbly clear in the day, and perfectly bright at night.

Verdict

In summary, the Proton S70 strikes a fine balance between performance, comfort, and practicality, all at a price that makes it an appealing contender in its segment. The turbocharged engine delivers just the right amount of punch for everyday driving, while the suspension is well-suited for Malaysia’s road conditions, offering a relaxed ride even on longer journeys. 

Despite a few quirks, particularly with the software and occasional powertrain jitters, the overall driving experience is one of refinement and ease. 

Just as it proved itself on our time with it, the S70’s ability to comfortably handle both city traffic and winding roads makes it a versatile companion. Whether you're headed for a scenic weekend getaway or navigating through daily commutes, Proton has put in the effort to craft a sedan that casts a wide net of merits for the average Malaysian driver.