The Proton eMas 5 was launched again in October, but all of the automobiles we now have seen since then have been of the Premium, not the base-spec Prime. That modifications at present – Regal Motors in Petaling Jaya had one of many few early models of the entry-level mannequin, so we headed over to shoot the photographs you see right here.
Firstly, the Prime represents a big saving over the Premium – priced at RM56,800 inclusive of the RM3,000 launch rebate, it prices RM13,000 lower than its longer-range sibling. That cash buys you a automobile that, from the skin at the least, doesn’t look a complete lot completely different, however you’re getting a considerably lesser car below the pores and skin.
Whereas the rear motor (and multilink rear suspension, non-existent elsewhere on this worth vary) stays, its outputs have dropped by 27 PS (37 kW) and 20 Nm to simply 79 PS (58 kW) and 130 Nm, that means that even the zero to 50 km/h dash takes half a second longer at 4.4 seconds. This being an electrical car, nonetheless, that ought to nonetheless be sufficient for each day use.
Of extra consequence is the CATL LFP battery’s capability, which shrinks from 40.16 kWh to 30.12 kWh. That has the impact of lowering vary from an already modest 325 km to simply 225 km, making this automobile actually solely appropriate for metropolis driving.
It does at the least nonetheless DC quick cost from 30 to 80% in the identical 21 minutes, regardless of having a a lot decrease velocity of 58 kW. And due to it providing the identical 6.6 kW of AC charging, the Prime takes a complete hour and a half much less to cost from 10 to 100%, at 4.3 hours.
Past the mechanicals, the Prime seems to be similar to the Premium, nonetheless with the identical cutesy rounded design. In contrast to in China, the bottom mannequin right here nonetheless will get chrome vertical entrance bumper nook trims, along with the only slat on the consumption.
The sweptback headlights nonetheless include projectors and look equivalent when turned off, however they’re now guide halogen as a substitute of auto LED models – this even extends to the daytime working lights, which occupy one of many three vertical “slats” the place the indications could be on the Premium. Reasonably amusingly, the lamps function the “Basic Tech” script as a substitute of “Full LED Tech.”
You additionally get 15-inch metal wheels as a substitute of 16-inch alloys, with two-tone hubcaps in a brand new three-petal design as a substitute of the four-petal look proven in a earlier thumbnail picture. That is related to what’s presently provided on the Geely Xingyuan in China as a part of the 2026 mannequin yr replace, in addition to in different markets because the EX2. The tyres are the identical Linglong Consolation Grasp rollers because the Premium in a 205/65 R15 measurement.
As for colors, the Prime is barely obtainable in Moonstone White, Graphite Silver and Slate Gray. You may’t spec the automobile in Marble Cream or Quartz Rose, and also you additionally don’t get the Premium’s black roof. This extends to the within, the place Flint Gray is your solely color possibility – no Alabaster White right here.
Discounting that, the cabin is once more a lot the identical because the Premium – you’ll need to dig into the main points to search out out what’s completely different. The necessities are all there, most vital of which being the 8.8-inch digital instrument show and the huge 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen, the latter that includes the most recent Atlas working system with a Bahasa Malaysia possibility for the “Hello Proton” voice management, in addition to wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Different normal options embody keyless entry and begin, fake leather-based upholstery, rear air-con vents, 20 litres of rear under-seat storage, a vehicle-to-load (V2L) operate and a fuel strut-suspended bonnet that opens as much as a 70 litre entrance boot. You’ll need to look intently to identify the full-black (no two-tone) urethane steering wheel, the dearth of a rear USB-A port and the guide tailgate.
The Prime additionally comes with solely 4 audio system quite than six, however the deleted audio system will not be the place you’d anticipate them to be. You continue to get the 2 tweeters up entrance – as a substitute, it’s the rear door audio system which have been eliminated. That might not be such a nasty factor, on condition that these automobiles will seemingly carry just one or two occupants every day.
Much less good is the dearth of superior driver assists reminiscent of autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise management with cease and go, lane departure warning and visitors signal recognition, that are unique to the Premium. Not precisely shocking, given the Prime’s low worth, nevertheless it’s disappointing however.
This omission is made extra apparent by way of the utterly clean left steering wheel spoke, because the cruise management’s velocity and distance controls have been eliminated. You do at the least get blind spot monitoring, rear cross visitors alert, rear collision warning and a door opening warning, together with normal six airbags and stability management.
GALLERY: Proton eMas 5 Premium
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