Proton S70 a ‘conti killer’? – Here’s how it compares to the usual C-segment sedans
The recently launched Proton S70 MC has now been upgraded with the new 1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged i-GT engine, producing 181 PS and 290 Nm of torque, sparking some interesting conversations among Malaysians. Dubbed as the ‘conti killer’ by some netizens, the Proton S70 MC’s solid power output, combined with premium features at such a low price of under RM 100k, suggests that it is the best value for money in the C-segment saloon market.
We’re not entirely sure that the Proton S70 MC can compete with Continental cars of BMW or Mercedes-Benz, but we certainly can compare it against its Japanese rivals, the Honda Civic and the Toyota Corolla. For context, we will be comparing specifically the Proton S70 Flagship X with the Honda Civic 1.5L RS and the Toyota Corolla GR Sport. No hybrid variants here, just good old-fashioned ICE powertrains with top-of-the-line trim levels in their respective variant lineups.
The main highlight of the Proton S70 is the moniker ‘C-segment saloon priced like a B-segment saloon’, to which the Proton S70 has a huge advantage against the other two Japanese cars. Take a look at the table below to see the price comparison on the road, excluding insurance, between the three models.
Proton S70 Flagship X | Honda Civic 1.5L RS | Toyota Corolla GR Sport | |
Price | RM 94,800 | RM 149,900 | RM 149,800 |
However, both the Proton S70 and the Honda Civic have an additional aero kit package that can be installed with additional price of RM 3,130 and RM 5,063, respectively. The Toyota Corolla does not have an optional aero kit package (rear boot lid spoiler and rear bumper lip included as standard), but an additional RM 1,500 to RM 2,000 is required for 2-tone Platinum White Pearl and Red Mica Metallic exterior colour options.
On the outside, all three saloons feature a sleek design in their own way, equipped standard with LED headlights with DRL and LED taillights. The Proton S70 features dual-tone 17-inch alloy wheels, while the other two are equipped with 18-inch single-tone sporty design alloy wheels. All three cars feature the same front suspension setup, bar the rear suspension with all three of them different to each other.
Proton S70 Flagship X | Honda Civic 1.5L RS | Toyota Corolla GR Sport | |
Headlights | Auto LED with Follow-Me-Home | Auto LED | Auto Bi-LED projector with Follow-Me-Home |
Daytime Running Lights | LED | LED | LED |
Taillights | LED Rear taillight bar | LED Rear combination lights | Smoke-tinted LED taillights |
Wheels | Geometric multi spoke two-tone 17-inch alloy wheels | Geometric dark grey 18-inch alloy wheels | GR Sport black 18-inch alloy wheels |
Tyres | 205/50 R17 | 235/40 ZR18 | 225/40 R18 |
Brakes | Ventilated Disc (Front) Solid Disc (Rear) | Ventilated Disc (Front) Solid Disc (Rear) | Ventilated Disc (Front) Solid Disc (Rear) |
Suspension | MacPherson Strut (Front) Torsion Beam (Rear) | MacPherson Strut (Front) Multi-Link (Rear) | GR Sport tuned MacPherson Strut (Front) GR Sport tuned Double wishbone (Rear) |
Length/Width/Height (mm) | 4,602 / 1,809 / 1,466 | 4,681 / 1,802 / 1,415 | 4,635 / 1,780 / 1,435 |
Wheelbase (mm) | 2,627 | 2,735 | 2,700 |
Kerb Weight (kg) | 1,330 | 1,445 | 1,370 |
As expected by looking at the table below, the Toyota Corolla lacks power as it is only equipped with a naturally aspirated 1.8-litre engine compared to the other two. Both the Proton S70 and the Honda Civic, on the other hand has similar engine displacement and are turbocharged, producing almost identical max power output. The Honda Civic loses in terms of torque produced compared to the Proton S70.
Proton S70 Flagship X | Honda Civic 1.5L RS | Toyota Corolla GR Sport | |
Engine | 1.5-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder DOHC DVVT i-GT | 1.5-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder DOHC VTEC L15C | 1.8-litre 4-cylinder DOHC Dual VVT-I 2ZR-FE |
Displacement | 1,499 cc | 1,498 cc | 1,798 cc |
Max. Power | 181 PS | 182 PS | 139 PS |
Max. Torque | 290 Nm | 240 Nm | 172 Nm |
Transmission | 7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) | Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT) | 10-speed Sport Sequential Shiftmatic CVT |
Drivetrain | Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) | Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) | Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) |
Proton S70 Flagship X | Honda Civic 1.5L RS | Toyota Corolla GR Sport | |
Driver seat | 6-way power adjustable | 8-way power adjustable | 8-way power adjustable |
Steering wheel material | Leatherette | Leather | Leather |
Upholstery | Leatherette | Half Leather with red stitching | Leather and suede with red stitching |
Headliner | Black | Black | Black |
Air conditioning | Auto air-conditioning with rear air vents | Dual auto air-conditioning with rear air vents | Dual auto air-conditioning with rear air vents |
Sunroof | Available | Not Available | Not Available |
Wireless charger | Available | Available | Available |
Centre console display | 12.3-inch | 9-inch | 10-inch |
Phone connectivity | Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto | Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto | Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto |
Audio system | 6 Proton standard speakers | 8 Honda standard speakers | 6 Toyota standard speakers |
Instrument cluster | 10.3-inch colour TFT | 10.2-inch colour TFT | 12.3-inch colour TFT |
All three vehicles offer a complete, comfortable, and sporty interior with an all-black interior and black headliner. The Proton S70 has the largest centre console display, but is beaten by the Toyota Corolla in terms of meter cluster display. All three do offer wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity and a wireless charging pad. Overall, the Proton S70 is a step behind compared to the other two when it comes to the rest of the interior features. On the plus side, the Proton S70 Flagship X has a sunroof, or maybe some might find it a disadvantage; to each their own.
Proton S70 Flagship X | Honda Civic 1.5L RS | Toyota Corolla GR Sport | |
ADAS | ADAS Level 2 | Honda SENSING | Toyota Safety Sense |
Front Assist |
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Cruise Control |
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Lane Assist |
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High Beam Assist |
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Blind Spot Assist |
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Emergency Stop Assist |
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Rear Assist |
| Not Available |
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Hill Assist |
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Other Assist |
| Not Available | Not Available |
Camera | 360º HD with 3D display | Multi angle rear camera | 3D Panoramic View Monitor |
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System | Available | Available | Available |
SRS Airbag | 6 | 6 | 7 |
In terms of safety, all three vehicles come equipped with a multitude of important Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) features, no stone left unturned on that part. However, the Proton S70 has the upper hand in terms of the Door Opening Warning (DOW), useful when opening a door beside an open road with traffic.
So, how does the Proton S70 fare against the Japanese C-segment saloon models of the Honda Civic and the Toyota Corolla? The elephant in the room is obviously the price difference, the amount of exterior and interior features, the performance and safety features offered with the Proton S70; it is by far the best value for money. However, looking at the finer details, both the Honda Civic and the Toyota Corolla have a slight edge in terms of interior upholstery, as well as in the suspension, notably in the rear suspension setup.
If you’re looking to upgrade from a smaller A-segment or B-segment hatchback, the Proton S70 would be the best introduction to the C-segment saloons. If you’re looking to upgrade to a Japanese car, coming from national car brands, the Honda Civic or the Toyota Corolla is the better choice. Now you might be wondering why not include the Mazda 3 2.0L High +? For context, the Mazda 3 2.0L High + costs RM 165,500 on the road, excluding insurance, which is above RM 150k. We could include the Mazda 3 1.5L High +, which is priced at RM 118,900, but it didn’t feel right to compare a low-spec variant for our top-spec C-segment comparisons. Fret not, we will include it in another comparison in the future.
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