Proton X90 Premium Review – Awesome, Affordable, Family-Friendly SUV for Malaysians

SUVs remain a popular choice in Malaysia and the premium Proton X90 series proved to be a surprise hit, blending appealing design, a smooth ride with a ton of great features at a competitive price point at its launch. Potential buyers have a choice of four different variants – the Standard, Executive, Premium and Flagship with each one running on the same base chassis and engine but with increasingly more luxurious features and perks. 

I previously reviewed the Proton X90 Flagship variant and this time around Proton graciously let me test the Proton X90 Premium that is one step below the Flagship version in price and features for a weekend drive out of town. Here’s our Proton X90 Premium review after taking it for a spin around a few states in Johor and back.

Proton X90 Premium Review – Design and Specifications

My Proton X90 Premium review vehicle has an almost identical exterior design to the Proton X90 Flagship that I previously test drove with its Ethereal Bow and Infinite Weave aesthetic and 19-inch wheels though it comes in a shiny white Snow White finish rather than Cinnamon Brown. 

The shiny Snow White finish looks nice, but it’s pretty common, so it can be hard to find in a busy parking lot. Still, the unique silhouette of the Proton X90 makes it easy to see from far away in a car park. Where it differs the most from the flagship model from the outside is that the Proton X90 premium does not have the panoramic sunroof of the flagship model and instead has a normal covered roof.

Regardless of variant, all versions of the Proton X90 series including our Proton X90 Premium review unit are powered by a 1,477cc  three-cylinder in-line 12 valve DOHC turbocharged petrol engine with a 48V electric motor synergy system that can offer up to 130kW (177PS) at up to 5,500rpm while the EMS system gives it 190Ps and a max torque of 300 Nm with the setup designed for better fuel efficiency and enhanced power as well as torque for improvement performance. Paired with the engine is a 7-speed dual clutch with manual mode and electric power steering options.

Most importantly, safety features for the Proton X90 Premium and Proton X90 Flagship are identical including six airbags, an anti-lock braking system (ABS), brake assist, electronic stability control (ESC), traction control system (TCS), adaptive cruise control (ACC), intelligent cruise control (ICC) and more including the front and rear parking sensors.

Much like the Flagship model, the Premium has a 360-degree camera to make it easier to park and manoeuvre in tight spaces which I found very helpful when parking in malls. The other safety features including the airbags also offer great peace of mind especially as I ferry my kids and parents around town for appointments.

Proton X90 Premium Review – Cabin

In addition to having a normal roof rather than the panoramic sunroof that is exclusive to the Flagship model, the Proton X90 Premium has a different 2-3-2 seating configuration (the flagship has a roomier 2-2-2 setup) though the driver and front passenger seat are mostly untouched. 

The second row of our Proton X90 Premium review vehicle has a fold-down bench-style design with a centre armrest that can be folded up to seat three adults whereas the Flagship model instead has two super comfy Captain chairs. Even so, the seats in the X90 Premium variant are still quite comfortable for long journeys; the Captain chairs in the X90 Flagship still remain the comfiest out of the entire Proton X90 series and my older child loved sitting in them.

The rearmost row of the Proton X90 premium has seats for two though there isn’t much leg room so they are best for young children or smaller sized adults. The Flagship model has much more comfortable second row seats and more spacious leg room all around including the rear row but it seats less people because of its 2-2-2 seating configuration. 

Luckily, the Proton X90 Premium model has air conditioning vents for second and third row seats too so everyone doesn’t have to fight to enjoy the air conditioning.

Beyond the different seating arrangements, our Proton X90 Premium has a lot of accessories including front and rear air conditioning, multiple USB charging ports for each row and a 12.3-inch infotainment system on the inside running ACO Tech’s ATLAS infotainment system. There is also a wireless charger in the front which I found very convenient to keep my phone charged when driving without having to fish around for a charging cable.

Another useful feature also in the X90 Premium that is the same as the flagship is the proximity-based auto lock and unlock and remote engine start which is a life saver as I carry quite a bit of groceries with both hands to the car quite often and it saves me a lot of time.

The ATLAS system sadly does not have Android Auto or Apple CarPlay support and responds to ‘Hey Proton’ using Proton Link though you get access to music streaming, navigation and other necessities. It takes some getting used to and does the job. 

Overall, the comfort and cabin experience for myself and my family were great and the longer and wider second row seat does have its advantages.

While our Proton X90 Premium review vehicle had a pretty spacious boot, I was able to fold up the rearmost seat for additional luggage space as I needed to carry some extra items for a friend when I was I was heading down to Johor for the weekend.and there was enough space to put my kids in the second row with space as well as my maid too.

Proton X90 Premium Review – How does it handle?

As mentioned earlier, the Proton X90 Premium has the same engine and driver safety and security features as the Proton X90 Flagship i reviewed earlier and performs in much the same way.

For consistency, I took my Proton X90 Premium down to Johor Bahru for the weekend to test how it handles on the highway and on an extended drive. It did not disappoint and offered smooth acceleration and handling and an overall good ride. The comfortable driver seat also helped reduce fatigue for me and also made the ride less taxing. 

I also loved the active driver assistance (ADAS) features too especially for parking which was also featured on the flagship model.

Should you buy the Proton X 90 Premium?

Costing about RM8,000 less than the Flagship version, the Proton X90 Premium is priced at RM144,800 on the road without insurance with five-year unlimited mileage warranty, five-year 1GB/month package and six times free-labour servicing appointments. All this combined makes for exceptional value.

Proton X90 Premium review unit courtesy of Proton Malaysia. For more details please visit https://www.proton.com/en/models/protonx90