Proton S70 Versus MG5: Some Key Comparisons

The Proton S70 will have competition from the MG5 sedan by the end of the year, so how do they compare?

Malaysian car buyers have more options today than ever before as Chinese car manufacturers enter the market with a mandate from their government to export, export, export. Our national carmaker, Proton is now secure in its partnership with Geely and has gone beyond its original arrangement of just 3 donor cars with the S70. The S70 also happens to be Proton’s first sedan model since the Persona in 2016. They’re talking big game about how the S70 is a ‘C-segment’ vehicle with the kind of pricing typically seen in the B-segment. Well, now MG is about to drop a rival with a similar claim and quite possibly at a similar price.

The MG5 will arrive fully-imported from Thailand with a sub-RM100,000 price tag in one specification which means the full-spec Flagship X is in its crosshairs. So how will the Proton S70 compare against the MG5? To be honest, without a solid spec sheet and price tag, it’s impossible to know. But just based on dimensions, powertrain figures and standard equipment we can make a comparison.

Powertrain

The Proton S70 comes with a turbocharged 3-cylinder petrol engine putting out 150PS and 226Nm of torque, which are quite impressive numbers. Many are not convinced that 3-cylinder engines are worth considering at this price point, but aside from some judder at start up, this Geely-based unit is fairly refined in motion even in this port injected guise. Sending power to the front wheels is a 7-speed dual clutch transmission. Dual clutch transmissions tend to not be the smoothest on take-off, but have quite a natural and quick shift feel, which makes them both fuel efficient and quite engaging.

With the MG5, we’re being promised a naturally-aspirated 4-cylinder petrol engine with 114PS and 150Nm of torque, which are noticeably lower numbers than what’s offered with the S70. 24% less power and 33% less torque will certainly be felt behind the wheel. This engine does have two advantages over the Proton motor in that it features direct injection and a fourth cylinder, which should make it more fuel efficient and smoother too. Another difference is the transmission. On the MG5 it’s a CVT with 8 virtual forward gear ratios. CVTs tend to be smoothest during take-off, but have an unnatural feel especially with a heavy throttle. They tend to help with fuel efficiency and to achieve optimum power at all times though.

In this category, we think the Proton will have a slight edge thanks to the more dynamic combination of a turbocharged engine and a dual-clutch transmission. Those opting for a more fuel-efficiency focused car MIGHT get more out of the MG5, but the most important thing would be to test drive both vehicles to see how their driving behavior suits you. We should also note that the Proton rides on 205/50 R17 tyres, which have a smaller contact patch than the MG5’s 215/50 R17s. This may have a slight effect on fuel efficiency and handling.

Dimensions

When it comes to this price point, size really matters. Customers tend to want to get the most car for their money and here’s where the Chinese-engineered sedans have a slight advantage over their Japanese counterparts due to pricing. The real question is how does the Proton S70 stack up against the MG5? Here’s how they stack up.

As you can see, the MG5 is very slightly larger than the Proton S70 in every way. The differences are minor though, ranging from 1% to 2% which may not even be perceivable to the naked eye. That being said, it does kind of nullify Proton’s one trump card of being the largest sedan in that price bracket. The MG5 also seems to be lighter than the S70 at 1260kg vs 1319kg.

Some Features And Equipment

Both these cars are filled to the brim with equipment including a full ADAS suite but the Proton seems to have the leg up thanks to Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go. It also has a larger 12.3″ infotainment system that still lacks Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as of writing this article.

The MG5 makes do with a smaller 10.25″ infotainment system that actually has those two key smartphone mirroring functions. Also the MG5 boasts an Electronic Differential System. Besides that, the two vehicles seem to be closely matched in terms of specifications and equipment but we’ll have to wait for the MG5’s launch to see exactly how tight the match up is.

Concluding Remarks

It’s always better to wait until the launch to make a proper comparison of two cars and best to wait until both cars are test driven to deliver a final verdict. For now, we’re just excited to see that Proton’s getting some competition for the first time in years.