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If life is a highway ... we want to be driving the all new Proton X70<br />
It’s not the destination, it’s the journey.<br />
Does that still stand if the destination is a first class,<br />
luxurious, been-dying-to-visit spot? To be honest, we didn’t<br />
think so. But then we jumped into the Proton X70 and my<br />
heaven ... we could have driven for days!<br />
Massive, comfy, soft Nappa leather power seats, which went<br />
waaaay back for passengers needing a snooze (those early<br />
morning departures are a bugger). Loads and loads of leg<br />
room and space for coolers and coffee and padkos (we’re<br />
all for too-many-snacks on any journey). A really impressive,<br />
six speaker sound system for the 70s Road Tripping playlist.<br />
Add the voice command (“Hi Proton - roll down the<br />
windows”) and touch screen monitor infotainment system<br />
which has smart phone and Bluetooth connectivity, and<br />
USB ports ... so all those necessary boxes are firmly ticked.<br />
Our route included a freeway (so a chance to open up<br />
and feel the power, and to test the cruise control), detours<br />
through rural towns with pothole-strewn roads (and here<br />
we use the word roads in the loosest possible way) as well<br />
as a short stretch of gravel and dust ... so we could really<br />
experience the car every which way. Add to that drizzle and<br />
downpours (hello auto-sensing wipers) followed by the<br />
sweltering heat and dust of the Kruger area (so a massive<br />
welcome to the Proton Intelligent Air Purification System<br />
– a combination of N95 cabin filter which is incorporated<br />
into the air-conditioning, and air purifier system ... combined<br />
these work twice as efficiently to improve the air quality<br />
inside the cabin).<br />
A big plus on a long trip is the excellent fuel consumption<br />
- 7.8l per 100km in the Proton X70 (and 6.5l in the smaller<br />
Proton X50) ... certainly a lot more impressive than some<br />
of the other SUVs on the market. In fact, affordability was<br />
a major influence in the decision by Combined Motor<br />
Holdings and Geely when bringing Proton back into<br />
the country from Malaysia. With so many luxury brands<br />
launching SUVs, there was a massive gap, they felt, for a<br />
quality SUV within an affordable price bracket.<br />
Another long-distance journey plus is the five-year roadside<br />
assistance which comes standard - as, by the way, does the<br />
five-year, unlimited mileage (yay to many long road trips)<br />
and transferrable warranty, the five year/80 000 km service<br />
plan and the five-star ratings in financial packages ... so a bit<br />
of a high-five all round, here, too.<br />
Talking about the safety of knowing road-side assistance is<br />
just a call away, other safety and security benefits are the<br />
six airbags and the advanced driver assist system, which<br />
includes blind spot info, lane departure warning, adaptive<br />
cruise control and forward collision warning (jolly helpful<br />
when the driver ahead of you suddenly reduces speed).<br />
Add to that the traction control, hill hold assist and hill<br />
descent control, electronic and anti-lock braking systems<br />
with brake assist and auto brake hold. There are also<br />
daytime running lamps, which means greater visibility in all<br />
weather conditions.<br />
We’re not, we admit, the best reverse-parkers in the<br />
forecourt, so the 360 degree camera and parking sensors<br />
were a jolly useful addition for us (and no doubt for others<br />
in the area!).<br />
Stops at padstals along the way drew loads of envious<br />
glances from fellow travellers ... and stepping back to<br />
admire our ride, we knew why. From the chrome finishing<br />
on the front and rear bumpers to the rear diffuser with dual<br />
exhaust outlets to the alloy wheels to the power tailgate<br />
with foot sensor (oh my, how we loved that ... bought extra<br />
goodies just so we had an excuse to open (and fill) the<br />
enormously spacious boot).<br />
The Proton comes in six rather dashing colour choices -<br />
Snow White and Armour Silver, a dark and dashing Jet Gray<br />
and look-at-me Ruby Red, Space Grey and our favourite<br />
Cinnamon Brown.<br />
There are, obviously, kilometre-long technical specifications<br />
... none of which mean a single thing to us (we’re all for<br />
the ride, not the deets) ... so best you download the Digital<br />
Brochure on proton.cars, navigate your way around that,<br />
and then once you’re revved up, it’s all ready, steady, go and<br />
book a test drive.<br />
Compiled by: KYM ARGO<br />
<strong>Feb</strong>ruary 20<strong>23</strong> Get It Magazine 27