Driving Experience Proton e.MAS 7 – Malaysia's First EV Full of Potential



It's been a few months since Proton announced their electric vehicle brand, Proton e.MAS. With the end of the year approaching, the sale of the e.MAS7 will take place soon and today at the Setia Alam Auto Car Expo event, visitors have the opportunity to see the exterior and interior of the first electric car from Proton.



This is the highlight of the Malaysia-wide e.MAS7 tour that brings this electric car closer to all the local people and I am proud to participate in this tour and drive the Proton e.MAS7 myself. I had driven from Shah Alam to Seremban, stopped overnight in Melaka and continued to Johor Bahru, before heading back to Shah Alam. In this 894km I also learned a little bit about the Proton e.MAS7 although the version I rode may be the test version, not the final version that will meet users.



Properties of the Physical Appearance of Protons e.MAS7

The test version I drove was wrapped in a camouflage layer that was used as a vehicle for the Independence Day parade on August 31. What can be clearly seen is the design of the front and rear lights that look aggressive and stand out. In terms of size, it is not wrong to say that the e.MAS7 belongs to the same class as the Proton X70 with almost the same height so the Proton e.MAS7 can be classified as an SUV.



As an SUV, luggage space is one of the main aspects and this Proton e.MAS7 has a luggage capacity of 461L which can be increased to 1877L when the passenger seat is folded. The rear boot can also be unlocked automatically, however this is only available for the Premium version.




When opening the driver compartment door, the seat will move, making it easier for the driver to get in. Right when sitting, the driver can set the desired position, and this can be remembered (Memory Seat) to make it easier for you to get in and out of this vehicle. The driver will continue to be served with a 10.2-inch driving cluster display that is very responsive in providing information. The smoothness of the display is as if it is displayed at a speed of 60fps, and does not show any sign of time lag.



Then in the middle there is a 15.4-inch inforia display at a resolution of 2.5K. This screen also houses various controls and settings for both the driver and the passenger. Through this screen, the driver can also change the temperature, activate the ventilation for the seats, direct the air conditioning, install enough music with various audio settings to suit the mood, and many more.


Even adding to the synergy between the Geely group and the auto company under its umbrella, the mapping system for the e.MAS7 also has the integration of charging data throughout Malaysia. So it makes it easier for drivers to find charging locations, charging availability status, and even the travel distance that can be reached with the existing battery level. However, I did not record this picture because the application is still in the experimental stage.



In the middle there is a dual-function smart knob that can be used to change the audio level, and if you press, and twist, there is a second setting option that you can choose from 5 options. I think this is one of the good function controls, and one can change two things through the same knob.




The comfort of the rear passengers is also emphasized, and Proton puts a drawer that can hold items weighing 3.5kg and is also quite spacious and sufficient inside. Rear passengers also still have a spacious and comfortable legroom and there are air conditioning ducts and a USB charging cable slot.



However, one of the things that I think can be improved is the selection of language/keywords that may be slightly different from the local context. For example, 'Air Volume' which is used as a label for fan speed, may be changed to 'Fan Speed'. And the setting to change the 'Standard / Dynamic Mileage' count is in the 'Display' menu, instead of being in 'Energy'. This is actually easy to fix through a system update.


Driving Performance


Since the Proton e.MAS7 I'm driving has a translucent roof that can be opened, I believe I'm driving the Premium version. During the 3 days of driving this car, I felt that the acceleration produced was very responsive and able to provide high power. It can even be said that in terms of suspension and control, Proton has provided data tuning making the control of this car very suitable for local use. A lot of time on the highway I drive and accelerate fast, and this electric tiger shows no signs of slowing down and is always able to deliver the desired power and acceleration.


In terms of battery range, it has a range of 410km with a full battery. The driving cluster display is seen as having the same layout as the display found on the Smart but with some differences, especially the 'Ready' label which is not placed below the speed value, but placed on the left side, close to the driving option label.



When on the highway, I activate the Intelligent Cruise Control function and the display that is also displayed through the HUD is full of color. This is a new thing for me, and large detected objects like trucks are also colored orange to make the driver pay more attention.


One thing synonymous with my previous experience driving a Smart is the rather sensitive driver monitoring system. For me this is not a big issue because when Smart #3 was launched, I found the issue I commented on Smart #1 regarding the sensitive level of the system has been updated. That's one of the benefits of smart vehicles, when they can all be fixed using software updates.


Arriving back in Shah Alam I felt like driving for longer, especially the final version of the Proton e.MAS7. With attractive and comfortable equipment for the driver and passengers, as well as unbeatable performance, I am confident that this first electric car of the Malaysian brand will give a very strong competition to all other electric cars that are already on the market.



You can now order the Proton e.MAS7 which comes in two versions, namely the Prime version with a travel distance of 350KM WLTP, or the Premium version that can go up to 410KM WLTP. Reservations can be made online, or through their authorized distributors throughout Malaysia.

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