PROTON and Geely's first sedan project together is still the one to beat a year since its launch.

A B-segment sedan with offerings that put it closer to a C-segment model makes it a hard option to resist.

Then there's price that is sits just below a number of its competitors which further makes the S70 a steal.

Most unique of all is there is still nothing like it in the market. 

Segment Setter

The S70 comes in four variants that all share the same powertrain setup: Executive, Premium, Flagship and Flagship X.

Each adds additional offerings as the variants climb. The Executive variant comes with. among others, six SRS airbags, lane change assist, electric parking brake, 16-inch alloy wheels, fabric seats and an eight-inch infotainment head unit.

Premium adds on LED headlamps, rear tail light bar, leatherette seats and a reverse camera.

The Flagship is where the model gets the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS). It is also where it gets a tyre pressure monitoring system, 17-inch alloy wheels, a 10.3-inch LCD meter combination, driver power seat, 12.3-inch infotainment head unit, wireless charger, and a 360-degree camera with 3D display.

Only the Flagship X variant comes with a sunroof.

All of them share the same dimensions with a wheelbase of 2,627mm. It is 1,466mm in height, is 4,602mm long and has a width of 1,809mm. It has a boot capacity of 500 litres.

At the heart of the car is a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission to produce 150PS and 226Nm of torque. Three drive modes are available to the S70: Eco, Sport and Comfort.

The four variants of Executive, Premium, Flagship and Flagship X are priced at RM73,800, RM79,800, RM89,800 and RM94,800, respectively.

Prices also include a five-year unlimited mileage warranty, a five-year data package with 1GB per month available only for the Flagship and Flagship X variants, six times free labour service and financing rates from 2.34 per cent.

Depending on the variant the S70 has access to exterior colours such as Snow White, Armour Silver, Marine Blue, Quartz Black, Teal Bayou Green, Space Grey and/or Passion Red.

Quartz Black is exclusive to the Flagship X variant although it does lose the Space Grey and Passion Red options.

Benchmark Beast

The S70 may have launched a year ago but the model was only road-ready early this year.

So while technically the car hasn't been out for a year we still had multiple chances with it throughout 2024.

Which brings us to the better part of our experience with the sedan that has remained consistent with each drive. 

It is what we call as "Proton's 'P' package" - performance, premium and price. A year ago the hall went wild when Proton officially announced the S70's price during the launch.

Hard not to with what you're getting for the price you'll be paying.

Nothing has changed since and that goes for what makes the car the benchmark to beat.

Performance remains unchallenged. The S70 is currently the most powerful car in the B-segment market with its turbocharged engine. 

It is in fact still the only 1.5L turbocharged engine priced below the RM100,000 mark so there's hardly any competition in that department.

Proton could have stopped there but went on to one up its game with premium fittings and features that are just as hard to beat when compared to its competitors - again, heavily favoured given the S70's price.

The car's design finds a decent balanced between the executive look with its sporty silhouette, meaning it can appeal to anyone despite of any minor disagreements you may find with the car.

On the other front more time with the car also means giving added prominence to its inherent quirks. Granted these aren't exactly issues but nitpicks that boil down to what appeals to you.

Such as the omission of paddle shifters. While it is a budget decision on Proton's end (and also how surveys find most drivers barely use them to begin with) it still feels odd it wasn't included seeing how much the car leaned towards offering some degree of sports performance.

Then there's the divisive T-design gear knob and how it functions from side-to-side (left and right) instead of the conventional front and back. Still as functional but depending on your preference it may take getting use to.

On a more technical matter it is advised to be gentle on the accelerator pedal at low-gear launch to avoid a potential wheelspin - formed from the gear's transmission torque trying to level with the power output from the engine.

Again, in all fairness these aren't deal-breakers. Generally there's little to complain about with how the sedan is positioned in the market.

Verdict

Say you're looking for an affordable car, at least below RM100,000, with all the bells and whistles of what a modern premium sedan model should come with.

That includes power, comfort and features all rolled into one. Demanding, but if that's your requirement then the S70 is an easy recommendation.

Much like when it was first launched the S70's greatest selling proposition is its value and we don't see that changing anytime soon.

Just by looking at the market we won't be seeing any surprise B-segment models (at least for now) that will come down to the S70's price in at least a year or two.

That is even if there's another model in the works that was designed to take on the B-segment market by affordability and a truck load of offerings.

May as well since being unrivaled is also why the S70 has a massive advantage over the competition. Its closest equals are at least RM10,000 pricier and still aren't exactly comparable to the S70's package of premium finish, features and performance. 

Now before you get any ideas we'd prefer to classify the car as an affordable premium-comfort sedan with the performance side being a bonus.

It is a B-segment sedan with C-segment qualities but we wouldn't race it one segment above just to prove a point. 

Still, judged on its own merits the S70 is very impressive. After all for the time being you won't find another 1.5L turbocharged model in the market below RM80,000 that's for sure. 

Now if you're thinking about which variant to go for we'd say the optimum choice would be the Flagship as it gets ADAS and the top specs for the S70.

Give the Flagship X a skip unless you really want the sunroof or the specific colour options that are only available to the top variant.

But if budget is your concern then even the Executive and Premium does the job just fine. If it was never on your radar then you'll only be missing out on the ADAS, larger rims and a larger infotainment screen at most. The best parts of the car, which is the drive experience, remains the same throughout.