Proton e.MAS 5 – first look and details

While the e.MAS 7 – Proton’s first EV – has been dominant in the EV market since the year started, the automaker is not taking success for granted nor taking a break from launching new models. After the new X50, it is now preparing to launch the e.MAS 5 which you would already know a bit about. This will be a ‘little brother’ to the e.MAS 7 and is likely to be priced below RM100,000 so it will attract many people to ‘electrify’ their life.

The media was given a briefing on the new model this week and we could take lots of pictures of the inside as well as the outside of the camouflaged car. Breaking from past practice, Proton has allowed us to tell you almost everything about the new SUV and to do so today. No more ‘part 1’, ‘part 2’ which is frustrating for us.

It’s no secret that the e.MAS 5 is adapted from a Geely EV called the Galaxy Xingyan/Star Wish and the design and appearance in the same. Perhaps PROTON Design will add some Malaysian elements to the e.MAS 5 but realistically, there are limitations in how much variation can be made. Altering too much will mean additional engineering work which adds to the cost.

Not a mere badge change
However, it would not be entirely correct to say that the e.MAS 5 is just a Xingyan with the steering wheel on the right side and a Proton badge. We learnt that there are notable structural differences, with stronger and more high-tensile steel being used for the body. This is to make it more suitable for Malaysian road conditions which are rougher than in China. It’s not something that an owner will be able to see, but it will mean that the e.MAS 5 can be more lasting in our conditions.

Size-wise, the e.MAS 5 is 4135 mm long, 1805 mm wide and 1580 mm tall. It’s close in size (marginally shorter) to the BYD ATTO 2 which would be an immediate rival but since that’s still new in the market, you might not see many yet. So using the more familiar Proton Iriz for comparison instead, the e.MAS 5 is a bigger car and with a generous wheelbase of 2650 mm (just 20 mm less than the X70).

Drivetrain
The e.MAS 5 has an 11-in-1 electric drive powertrain with energy efficiency of 89.2%. Power output from this compactly sized powertrain is 85 kW (115.6 ps)/150 Nm, which is rather like what you get from today’s 1.5-litre combustion engines. Moving off from standstill, the e.MAS 5 is claimed to take under 4 seconds to reach 50 km/h. That’s pretty zippy, though it is typical for an EV to have strong low-end acceleration as peak torque is available right away.

The lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack is from CATL (the world’s largest EV battery supplier) and has a capacity of 40.16 kWh, which is the larger of two that Geely offers with its version. It is said to be good for a range of up to 325 kms. Fast-charging can be done with a DC supply of up to 71 kW which will ‘fill’ the battery from 30% to 80% within 21 minutes, it is claimed. It is, of course, also possible to do AC charging which is slower. We’re not sure if the e.MAS 5 will come with V2L capability to allow for charging external equipment.

The e.MAS 5 uses Geely Group Global Modular Architecture (GMA) which can be scaled for use by EV models of different sizes. While many of today’s cars, especially EVs, have simple suspension systems, typically a torsion beam at the rear, the e.MAS 5 comes with a multi-link suspension.

The multi-link rear suspension would be a bit costlier but does offer benefits in handling, stability and ride comfort. The engineers have more ways to tune the suspension for optimized characteristics and especially on uneven roads, the wheels can have better contact with the road, enhancing grip.

So we might find the e.MAS 5 having a sporty character with driving dynamics that an enthusiast would appreciate. And that’s an area Proton engineers are very good at with the lessons learnt from Lotus Engineering which resulted in the Proton Ride & Handling that was much praised. We’re almost certain that they have used their 3 decades of experience in chassis tuning to give the e.MAS 5 that edge in driving character.

Inside the e.MAS 5
The doors open wide, up to 65 degrees, which may not mean anything until you open them. It’s easier to get in and out – but if you are parked between two cars, then it makes no difference how wide the opening angle can be. But there may be times when you will be glad it can open so wide. For instance, if you have someone in a wheelchair, being able to open the door wider will make it easier for them to get in. And being a SUV, with a higher hip angle, you also do not have to bend down much and can just slide your body in.

The generous wheelbase does provide plenty of space for seating comfort. The legroom for the 3 rear passengers is 890 mm with 0.61 sq. metres of flat floor space. The rear of the centre console box projects back a bit but there should still be comfortable space for the middle passenger (who doesn’t have a head restraint).

Behind the backrests is 375 litres of space for cargo and folding the backrests down can expand this space by 3.5 times to 1.320 litres. The boot space is one of 31 storage compartments (including cupholders) you will find around the cabin.

There is also one more space that is unique to many EVs and that is in what has been regarded as the ‘engine bay’. With no drivetrain in that compartment, the designers have turned it into a storage bay. The industry term for this space is ‘frunk’- a combination of ‘FRont’ and ‘trUNK’ (what the Americans call the boot). In the e.MAS 5, it has a volume of 70 litres, which can take shoes, a small bag or other stuff that you may want to take on a trip. It’s like a bucket so you could even throw wet items in after a swim.

Moving to the front of the cabin, the presentation is minimalist and typical of many modern EVs. There’s an almost total absence of physical switches except for a cluster of pushbuttons on the centre console for switching the blower/air-conditioner on and off, demister, hazard warning light and the parking brake. The drive mode shifter (don’t know why it is called a ‘Crystal Gear Selector’) is a small stubby lever which switches between R, N and D.

The steering wheel (2-tone) area looks rather ‘conventional’ with stalks having familiar functions for the wipers, signals and lights. There are also buttons on either side of the centre boss which allow for fingertip management of some systems without taking the hands off the steering wheel.

There are two digi-graphic displays – ahead of the driver is a slim one that is 8.8 inches wide that serves as the instrument panel with operating information shown, and a 14.6-inch touchscreen in tablet format in the middle.

The ATLAS Auto infotainment system for the e.MAS 5 is a Malaysian development carried out mainly by ACO Tech, a subsidiary of PROTON. It uses an automotive-grade processor chip for speedy performance and like the latest X50, ‘Aisyah’ resides in it and accepts voice commands in Bahasa Melayu and English. This is one of the truly Malaysian features in the car.

With the e.MAS 5, customers won’t be grumbling that there is no Android Auto/Apple CarPlay to connect their smartphone with. Proton has learnt the lessons of the past when it omitted these must-have connectivity features and required some time to address the omission. The e.MAS 5 comes with wired Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto as standard so you won’t have to wait for any OTA (Over-The-Air) update 1 year later.

The touchscreen is the ‘command centre’ where all the functions are managed. The user interface seems to be better nowadays and while there are improvements in certain actions, it could also be that we’re becoming more familiar with this approach. One thing for sure is that with EVs, you have to spend time setting many areas to your preference – just like what you do when you get a new smartphone.

As with the e.MAS 7 and also the smart #1 and #3, there is the Integrated Live Charging Map. This is an exclusive feature that Proton has worked hard with Charge Point Operators to develop for the convenience and peace of mind of owners. Not only does the map displayed on the touchscreen  show the locations of over 85% of charging stations (almost 2,000 charging points) around the country but also whether they are operating and available.

The Integrated Live Charging Map can also be viewed on the Proton e.MAS app for smartphones. This app will also show the vehicle’s status and keep the driver informed of the charging process.

Click here for preliminary specifications and features

Safety
The e.MAS 5’s safety systems are fairly standard which is understandable as this will be an entry-level model. Nevertheless, unlike the old days when entry-level cars had the bare minimum, the e.MAS 5 has an extensive list of passive and active safety features so you will be well protected. The Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) consist of all the important active systems with cruise control being adaptive. There’s also Traffic Sign Recognition which reads the speed limit and notifies the driver on the screen.

MISI 5 Tour
It will be at least two months before the e.MAS 5 is launched and before then, Proton is having its MISI 5 Tour around the country (including East Malaysia) to introduce the new EV. The public will be able to get a close look at the e.MAS 5 and learn more about it. Going by past practice, we’ll probably be invited to try the car at some point before the launch and tell you about that experience.

Stay connected with the MISI 5 Tour through the official Proton social media channels for the latest updates, venue details, behind-the-scenes moments, and exciting interactions with your favourite influencers as they journey across Malaysia.

Proton e.MAS social media channels

Facebook (Proton e.MAS Cars)

TikTok (@protonemasofficial)

Instagram (@protonemasofficial)

Xiaohongshu (Proton e.MAS Cars)