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Review: The New Honda CR-V Has Set a New Benchmark for Japanese SUV’s

Honda has been a prominent player in the SUV segment since 1995, which is when the first-generation CR-V was introduced. In 2002, the second generation debuted, 2007 the third, 2012 the fourth, 2017 the fifth and now, we have the sixth-generation CR-V.

We drove the sixth-generation CR-V in Thailand back in November 2023 before it was introduced here in Malaysia in December and were immediately blown away by its refinement and features. 

In Malaysia, the CR-V comes in four variants, the S, E, V and the top of the line e:HEV RS. It truly stands out in the C-segment of SUVs, rivalling models like the Volkswagen Tiguan and Mazda CX-5.

During a recent test drive to Penang, we got to drive the V variant and the e:HEV RS variant. The V variant, priced at RM181,900, features a 1.5 litre turbocharged inline-four petrol with direct injection that produces 193PS and 243Nm of torque. 

The e:HEV RS on the other hand is priced at RM195,900, and features a 2.0 litre naturally-aspirated Atkinson-cycle inline-four petrol with direct injection that has an output of 148PS and 190Nm of torque. Why is it so low? Well, because it has an electric motor which has an output of 184PS and 335Nm of torque. No, this is not a combined output. The engine simply acts as a generator that charges up the battery which sends power to the front-mounted electric motor. Through a lock-up clutch, the engine can drive the front wheels directly at higher speeds whenever it is more efficient to do so. So, efficiency is what the e:HEV model does best.

Visually, we find the CR-V to be stunning, especially with the new Canyon River Blue Metallic colour option. The hybrid variant even has an active grille shutter, which has been around since 2017 on models like the Odyssey. But the most eye-catching feature are the taillights. Yes, some might say it looks similar to the Volvo and so on, but that’s a debate for another day. On the CR-V however, it’s a nice finish to the ‘elegant’, yet sporty look. 

The standard rims look good, especially the black trim ones that are found on the e:HEV RS. So there is no need to do a rim change. Even if you wanted to, especially for the hybrid variant, you would be making a huge mistake. The hybrid variant comes with wheel resonators which we have actually talked about previously. To simplify it, the resonators assist with noise reduction in the cabin, suppressing annoying road noises, especially on long drives. 

Speaking of long drives, we drove the V variant from Kuala Lumpur to Penang and the hybrid variant from Penang back home. Immediately we noticed what a prominent role those resonators play. The road noise that we were hearing in the cabin from the V spec was very obvious but tolerable and in the hybrid variant, that noise was noticeably suppressed. So, kudos to Honda for taking these into consideration. 

We asked Honda Malaysia why the resonators were not fitted into the lower variants and Honda stated “The resonators were designed specifically for the hybrid variant for higher noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) performance, which is why the other variants do not have it.”

On the topic of noise in the cabin, the V spec has a screaming CVT gearbox that may annoy you, especially once you reach higher engine speeds. To some, that may not be an issue, or maybe it’s just us.. 

However, there is one feature that the V spec has on the inside that we wish the e:HEV had; the wood trim that can be found on the dashboard and door panels. 

The e:HEV comes with a silver metallic film trim that is not too bad but lacks the elegant finish that the V spec has. Maybe Honda was going with a more sporty feel that is portrayed by the ‘RS’ trim which features red stitching on the inside. 

The term ‘sporty’ is not only applied to the looks of the e:HEV RS, but also to the whole driving experience. There are three driving modes to choose from, which consists of Econ, Normal and Sport mode. It basically enhances the throttle feel and response, and in Sports mode, it is more eager to respond to any demand.

Besides that, the e:HEV RS also does not have a gearbox per say besides for a simpler box for reverse and forward drives. It just does not have ratios in the traditional sense. Honda calls this an e-CVT, perhaps because it would be too complicated to explain to its customers how it works. 

To add to the driving pleasure, Honda also included a neat little feature called Active Sound Control (ASC). What this does is that it provides amplified engine sounds and gear-shifting sounds piped back to the cabin through the audio system. 

According to Honda, this sound was built from scratch and was not based on the sound created by any internal combustion engine. It was built around what many may consider “sporty” and we were not disappointed at all. It sounds believable and does not have an annoying droning sound like some cars do. So we enjoyed hitting the throttle, adhering to speed limits, of course. 

This was a four-hour drive. So was it comfortable? Yes. We took turns driving and, bear in mind that we aren’t exactly the smallest of people, length and width. As mentioned earlier, Honda takes these small things into consideration because the CR-V features body-stabilising seats for front passengers. 

The enhanced structure in the back of the seat increases lumbar and pelvic support to create a body-stabilising effect. This helps to prevent fatigue, particularly in the hip and waist area of occupants on longer journeys.

On the way back to KL, we did not do a driver swap so we only had one driver, which is this writer and I drove all the way without making any stops. Not even to empty my tank or fill up the car’s tank. So yes, I can confirm that it is most definitely comfortable.

We even tested the stability of both variants and how they handled the winding roads of Batu Ferringhi. With the hybrid variant, it was smooth and easy, had enough power to shoot out of corners and felt a little bit more stable. The V spec, however, had a more heavier feel on the steering wheel which did not make the turns feel as smooth. But both variants kept the front passengers in place because of the seats. 

If you’re a family man with kids at the back, this will not matter because you aren’t supposed to be shooting out of corners anyway.

If you do have kids, the CR-V comes with rear ISOFIX child seat anchors and you will not have to worry about baggage space as it comes with 589-litre of boot space.

When it comes to prioritising the safety of both you and your family, the CR-V ensures peace of mind with an array of advanced safety features. These include eight airbags strategically positioned throughout the vehicle, encompassing front, side, side curtain, and knee protection. 

Additionally, the CR-V is equipped with enhanced stability provided by the Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) system, complemented by Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist for optimal braking performance. 

The Auto Brake Hold feature offers convenience in traffic, while Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Control bolster confidence in challenging terrain. Agile Handle Assist (AHA) contributes to responsive handling, and the Emergency Stop Signal alerts surrounding vehicles in sudden braking situations. 

Seat belt reminders for all seats ensure occupants’ restraint, while Auto Door Lock adds an extra layer of security. Active Noise Control fosters a serene cabin environment, while the Honda Connect telematics system keeps you connected on the go. 

The Honda Sensing driver assistance suite encompasses advanced features such as Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Autonomous Emergency Braking (CMBS), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow (LSF), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Keeping Assist (LKAS), and Automatic High Beams (AHD). Furthermore, the Lead Car Departure Notification feature enhances driving awareness, collectively ensuring a safer and more confident driving experience.

As for entertainment, the e:HEV RS features a 10.2-inch TFT fully digital instrument panel and a 12-speaker Bose Premium audio system which is the first time that Honda Malaysia is offering a premium sound system for its locally-assembled model.

However, there is one thing that we wish Honda would fix. The LaneWatch system. We get that it is helpful to watch out for vehicles nearby, but when you turn on the left indicator, the LaneWatch system just overrides the entire infotainment system which means, you won’t be able to see your GPS screen until you turn off the indicator. And this can be particularly annoying when you need to watch out for where to turn next.

Thankfully, we managed to drive this SUV around Penang without bumping into anything or anyone. We say this because the new body, compared to the previous generation, has an 80mm increase in length, 10mm in width, and a 40mm greater wheelbase. The enormity of the new CRV is hard to describe, but as soon as you see it, you will realise how big it is. 

Despite being bigger and heavier, which we thought might result in higher fuel consumption, we saw the opposite of that. After fuelling up in Penang, we had a total range of 778km in the hybrid variant. Upon arrival in KL, we had a total of 280km left. The V spec does not lack in this department too as we did not have to fuel up on the way to Penang. 

Overall, the CR-V presents itself as the ultimate SUV for the price, excelling in comfort, space, and driving experience. It is no surprise then that Honda Malaysia has already sold over 6000 units in just three months.

Specifications:

1.5 V AWD:

Engine: 1.5 litre DOHC VTEC Turbo engine

Power: 193PS @ 6000rpm

Torque: 243Nm from 1,700 to 5,000rpm

Gearbox: CVT

0-100km/h: 10.4 seconds

Top speed: 200km/h

Price: RM181,900

 

2.0 e:HEV RS:

 Engine: 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder, DOHC

Power: 184PS @ 5,000rpm

Torque: 335Nm @ 2000rpm

Gearbox: e-CVT

0-100km/h: 9.0 seconds

Top speed: 187km/h

Price: RM195,900

We like: Comfort, space and augmented sound

We don’t like: LaneWatch and its slow wireless charging

Review: BYD Seal Performance – Why This Should Be Your First EV!

Love them or loathe them, the electric vehicle (EV) revolution is real, and it will be here for a while. Perhaps even permanently and to the point where those who despise them may soon have to embrace them.

Good thing then that Malaysians have a good list of options to choose from, one that seems to be growing on a near weekly basis.

It was a busy year for EV makers last year, and 2024 may be just three months old, but it is already shaping up to be another stellar year for electric cars, and their fans.

BYD first made a splash in the Malaysian market towards the tail end of 2022 when it introduced the Atto 3. These days it is impossible to go anywhere without spotting a couple of them.

The success of the Atto 3 is not surprising though. It offers spaciousness, a range of up to 420km and takes just 45 minutes to charge up to 80% with an 80kW DC charger. With prices ranging from RM149,800 to RM167,800, the Atto 3 makes a lot of sense.

But BYD SD Motors Malaysia (BYD Malaysia), which is part of Sime Darby Motors, is not just about selling cars and forgetting about them. It has a masterplan that involves offering an EV for all budgets and preferences.

So, a couple of months after launching the Atto 3, BYD Malaysia unveiled the Dolphin. Unlike the Atto 3, the Dolphin is small, about the size of the Honda City hatchback, and it is considerably cheap, with prices starting from just RM99,900. It too was an immediate sales success and unlike the other cheap EV, the Neta V, the Dolphin has some serious features to offer.

For starters, the Dolphin has a range of between 310km to 427km depending on the variant. It also has some impressive output figures such as 204PS and 310Nm for the top of the range model while the entry level offers 95PS and 180Nm. As for charging, the Dolphin can take between 60kW to 80kW DC and 7kW AC charging.

For the price, the Dolphin made a lot of sense for those who would usually buy a Honda City or a Toyota Vios and did not spend a lot of time travelling outside of the city.

Now though, BYD Malaysia has started 2024 with a high note with the introduction of the Seal – a sleek, four-door sedan that is already upsetting Tesla fans.

Speaking of Tesla, BYD has been an annoying thorn on the side of the American brand that calls itself an artificial intelligence company rather than a car maker. While Tesla has prided itself with advanced assembly lines and tech that has put some legacy car makers to shame, BYD has chartered its own path and focused on creating batteries that offer the best balance of safety and efficiency.

BYD’s blade battery technology is widely considered to be the best in the business, and a few other carmakers including Tesla as well, which must be quite gratifying for the Chinese car maker since Elon Musk once laughed at the company and the design of its vehicles.

BYD recently outsold Tesla and is now the most popular electric car maker, and it is no surprise considering that its cars check pretty much all the boxes expected of an EV. Take the recently launched BYD Seal for example. It is currently the flagship BYD for the Malaysian market, and costs RM179,800 for the Premium model and RM199,800 for the Performance model.

The direct competitors to the Seal would be the BMW i4 which is priced from RM258,210 and the Tesla Model 3, which is priced from RM189,000 for the standard rear-wheel-drive model.

With such formidable competition, the Seal had better be good, but it is a lot more than just good. Its styling for one is probably its biggest alure. It is designed by former Audi designer Wolfgang Egger, who is responsible for some of the most jaw dropping designs of the modern era, such as the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, Audi R8 and even the Audi e-Tron concept.

But to put it simply, there’s no bad angle to the Seal. The front is sleek and low slung. The C-shaped headlamps look cool, but when the sun sets, the LED headlamps play second fiddle to those ultra-cool LED backlit strips at either end of the front bumper. They are not very obvious during the day, but are stunning at night.

The dramatic light play extends to the back as well where a LED light strip stretches across the length of the boot lid. But that’s nothing new and is quite common in today’s cars. But what is unique here though is the hundreds, if not thousands of little pixels that make the rear lights look organic in nature.

The Seal does not look very big though, its design does a brilliant job at hiding its bulk. But once you delve into the numbers, you will realise that it is actually quite a big car, bigger in fact than the Tesla 3 and the BMW i4.

Though this translates to a spacious interior, its 400-litre boot space is left wanting. It is undeniably deep, but the openings at either side make it quite narrow and it is also shallow as well. But there is a 50 litre “frunk” under the bonnet, which makes it one of the biggest available in any EV in Malaysia.

However, step inside and all is immediately well. The rear passengers will appreciate the flat floor and the recline of the rear seats and the suppleness of the leather clad seats is spot on.

The front though is where the real magic is, and nowhere does the Seal feel more expensive than what it is than from the driver’s seat. From there you are greeted by a mega 10.25-inch LCD instrument cluster. The leather clad steering wheel is thick and feels good in your hands with buttons that feel like they will last some time.

To the left of that is a massive 15.6-inch infotainment system complete with Apple CarPlay (wired) and Android Auto (wireless). Your favourite music is piped into the cabin through a 12-speaker DYNAUDIO system, and especially for Tesla fans, yes – the Seal has over the air updates as well. Though what updates those may be is still unclear as of writing.

And just like every other BYD, that massive centre screen rotates as well for a landspace or portrait style display. That does not serve much purpose other than impressing your passengers, but it does let you “freshen up” the cabin in case you start getting tired of it.

But the one thing you will never get tired of though is that crystal gear shifter. You could argue that a lot of cars have that same crystal feature, but having one at this price range is just unheard of.

Other than that, the interior feels well-built with high quality knobs and buttons. The ventilated seats are also a much-welcomed addition to help manage the blistering Malaysian heat.

The interior is undoubtedly brilliant in every sense of the word, but it is somewhat let down by the fact that the full panoramic roof does not come with a shade. BYD says the double-glazed glass on the roof is also UV resistant, which means it shouldn’t get hot, and the bald head of this writer did not get hot either, but perhaps a lengthier drive is needed rather than just 30 minutes with the car. To be fair though, it was a familiarisation drive.

Now onto the best part, the performance, and we were in the best variant to feel that – the flagship Performance model.

The entry level Premium variant is powered by a single motor that drives the rear wheels. It offers 313PS and 360Nm of torque which allows it to sprint to 100km/h in just 5.9 seconds. It has a range of 570km (WLTP) while charging takes a little over 15 hours from a dead battery to 100% with a 7kW AC charger. A 150kW DC charger will do 10-80% in just 37 minutes.

The Performance variant on the other hand has twin motors, one on each axle, effectively making it an all-wheel-drive model. It has a combined 530PS and 670Nm of torque, and takes 3.8 seconds to reach 100km/h. It will do 520km on the WLTP cycle while charging time is the same as the Premium variant.

The Performance variant offers supercar like performance with acceleration that threatens to rearrange your face every time you floor the accelerator. It is seriously fast and it feels planted too, which is unsurprising since it weighs in at a hefty 2,185kg.

Even the suspension is a good balance between comfort and sports. The one thing that could be better though are the brakes. The brakes could do with a little bit more feel and initial bite to them since the car accelerates so hard, but then again, these brakes don’t just stop the car but are also regenerative and help to recharge the batteries whenever possible. So there needs to be some trade off, and the lack of initial bite and spongy feel is quite normal of such braking systems.

So, should the BYD Seal be your first electric vehicle? Judging by everything it has to offer, and if money is not an issue, then the real question is – why not? Especially when you consider than when compared to the competition, the Seal is the one that offers the most value for your money.

But if you had to choose between the Premium and the Performance though, the latter should be your pick because there simply is no argument against performance levels that were once the territory of legends from Ferrari and Porsche. And with a range of over 500km’s, that is more than what some petrol-powered cars can offer.

And if you are wondering about warranties, the Seal comes with a 5-year or 150,000km warranty on the car, a further 8-year or 160,000km warranty for the battery, and a 8-year or 150,000km warranty on the drive unit. And if that last part sounded confusing, the drive unit (according to BYD’s brochure) is made up of the motor, motor controller, DC assembly, high voltage and the electric control assembly.

Specifications:
Motors: Squirrel cage induction asynchronous motor (Front) Permanent magnet synchronous motor (Rear)
Battery: 82.56kWh BYD Blade
Power: 530PS
Torque: 670Nm
Charging: 7kW AC (15.2 hours) 150kW DC (37 minutes)
Range: 520km
0-100km/h: 3.8 seconds

We like: Styling, features, performance
We don’t like: Brakes take some getting used to

Review: Honda Civic Type R FL5 – How Much Better Is It Than The FK8?

The year 2024 is not a good time to be a car fan. Sure, you have some mega cars from the likes of Bugatti, Ferrari, Porsche and Aston Martin, but you have to have some deep pockets to be able to indulge in those.

The advent of technology has made it possible to create stratospheric power and aerospace levels of aerodynamics to ensure a car never leaves the ground. But all of this comes at a price, figures that would leave some rich folks short of breath.

On the other hand, the 90s and the noughties were probably the best times for car fans. Technologies from the 80s such as turbochargers and all-wheel-drive systems had been perfected and came together to create such monstrosities as the Nissan GT-R, the Lancia Delta Integrale and even Audi’s RS series of power-mobiles.

And car companies thought of the regular man as well. Ford created the Focus RS, Renault had the mighty Clio, Peugeot with its 308, Mazda its MX-5 and Honda had its Type R. Closer to home, even Proton had something that just about anyone could appreciate – the beloved Satria GTi.

And then something changed somewhere.

In the ever-evolving world of automotive tech, cars needed to produce more power, be faster, look better and stick to the road like a lizard to the wall. And unfortunately, this meant that cars that were once fun and affordable had become more expensive because evolution requires tech and tech is not cheap.

We wouldn’t go so far as to say that electric car’s stole all the fun, but there does lie some blame there. But that’s a debate for another time.

Back tracking to the time when cars were cheap and cheerful, the Civic Type R (CTR) was introduced in 1997 and was based on the EK9 Civic. While some of its competitors relied on force induction to create massive power, Honda went a different route and refined its popular VTEC technology.

The B16B engine of the EK9 Civic is still one of the finest small displacements, naturally-aspirated engines ever made and is still highly sought after by enthusiasts. It created most of its power at the upper end of the 8000rpm redline, which meant that you had to keep the engine on the boil to extract every bit of horsepower. That combined with a livewire chassis and grippy tyres provided a driving experience that is extinct in today’s cars.

Then came the evolution of Type R models such as the Integra Type R models with legends such as the DC2 and DC5. Arguably one of the most memorable of the Civic Type R’s is the 2007 FD2 which was very much a race car for the road with its ultra-stiff suspension, specially developed tyres and once again, an engine that screamed so loud that it would put your former lover to shame.

The subsequent iterations were softened a little as European legislations creeped in. Things like carbon and noise emissions began to threaten the purity of the Type R brand, but fortunately we Asians got none of those models except for in the parallel import market.

Then came the Civic Type R FK8R. It was the second CTR model that came with a turbo engine after the FK2. And despite being developed in Europe, it was heavenly.

But it was unlike older CTR’s, it was heavy, came with adaptive suspension and drive modes, and it was comfortable, a word that could never be used in the same sentence as a Honda Type R.

It did not forget the driver though, for the initiated, it offered one of the greatest manual gearboxes ever made and the turbocharger complemented Honda’s VTEC system perfectly.

Fans of Honda’s naturally-aspirated engines had a hard time faulting it. It also became the fastest front-wheel-drive car to lap the legendary Nurburgring-Nordschleiffe in Germany.

And just when fans and enthusiasts thought that it could not get any better, Honda took the wraps off the Civic Type R FL5 – arguably the greatest Type R, ever.

The new CTR FL5 shares a lot with its predecessors, particularly the powertrain and suspension components.

But while the older model had aggressive styling such as the double spoilers, fins and wings that just looked rude, the newer model is refined and socially acceptable. It looks more matured with its styling, which is every bit as functional. In fact, at 200km/h, the design of the CTR FL5 generates 100kg of downforce to further push the car down to maximise grip.

Just like before, there are several vents and fins that channel air in and around the car to also keep things like the engine and brakes cool.

The real spectacle though is inside the car and in the way it drives.

Current Honda Civic owners will find the interior to be quite familiar, but that is to be expected considering that all Type R’s are built upon the base Civics. So, your Civic Hybrid has the same dashboard as the Type R, except that the Type R has and only comes with a six-speed manual gearbox. So, you could spend RM80,000 on a body kit for your Civic, but it will never be a Type R.

On the topic of manual transmissions, the gear knob in the old FK8 is circular and made of aluminium. The one in the FL5 is also made of aluminium but is shaped like a teardrop and it weighs 230 grammes more.

The reason behind the heavier gearknob is that Honda apparently figured that by adding more weight to the knob, it makes the shifts feel more natural, sleeker even. And after jumping into the FL5 after hours behind the wheel of the FK8, the shifts are buttery and precise.

The steering column too has been reworked and this makes it feel lighter, faster and more communicative at the same time. The Alcantara wrapped steering wheel is always twitching and chatting with your palms, sending little nuggets of information back to your brain about what is happening with the tyres.

In comparison, the steering of the FK8 feels heavy and dull.

The real show begins when you drive. Both cars have drive modes – Comfort, Sport and R. But the newer CTR has an individual mode that lets you customise how you want the car to feel, you can have the suspension set to comfortable, the steering set to sport and the engine set for maximum response.

The new car also feels more eager to get off the line. Both are powered by the same 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-VTEC engine, except that the new CTR produces 319 and 420Nm while the previous one offered 310PS and 400Nm.

That’s not a lot of power difference but the FL5 has other tricks up its sleeves. The turbocharger for one has been re-engineered and now responds quicker. The flywheel is also 18% lighter and this helps to reduce inertia by 25%, which ultimately results in a car that feels more eager and accelerates harder.

In terms of numbers, the new model reaches 100km/h from a dead stop in just 5.5 seconds, while its predecessor took 5.7. You may think that 0.2 seconds can barely be felt, but the FL5 just feels wilder from the moment you take your foot off the clutch.

The FL5 is a bigger car too, much bigger than a Golf R or a Mercedes-Benz A45S AMG, and perhaps closer in size to a BMW 3-Series. But in Sport or R mode, it dances at the edge of grip and rarely feels like it is about to edge into an understeer.

Some describe the FL5 as a grip gorilla; we can understand why as it can charge into corners with the rear neatly tucked in and slingshot out where previous models would just slide into the barriers when you overload the tyres.

But you can also take it easy with the new CTR, and that makes us think that Honda has made a sports car for those 90s kid that are growing old but never want to grow up. These people need space for the family, so Honda fitted a huge booth with foldable rear seats.

These people also need space for the family, so the rear seats come with ISOFIX mounts and cupholders. They need to keep the family comfortable, so the suspension does a great job at keep the occupants comfortable, though the very audible tyre roar is a clear indication of what this car really is underneath.

And on Sundays when the kids and the wife are asleep, these people wake up at 6am to go barrelling down their favourite roads with the rev-match function making them feel like driving gods as they carve corner after corner, appreciating the decades of engineering that has gone into making one of the finest driver’s cars this decade has seen.

By 11am, they are back with the family, and the car has mellowed down and is ready for Sunday lunch with the family at the local banana leaf shop. On the way, the wireless Apple Carplay or wired Android Auto keeps the occupants entertained. There are safety systems to keep the family secure while features like adaptive cruise control and ultra-comfortable sport bucket seats make long journeys bearable.

It is a pity that the world has evolved into a place where such cars may soon go the way of the Dodo, but we can all be thankful that there are manufacturers like Honda who still care about driving pleasure. The only thing that stands in the way is the RM399,900 asking price.

Specifications:
Engine: 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder, VTEC, Turbo
Power: 319PS @ 6500rpm
Torque: 420Nm @ 2600rpm
0-100: 5.5 seconds
Top speed: 272km/h (Limited)
Price (As Tested): RM399,900

We like: Everything
We don’t like: Might be the last of the fun Honda cars

Review: Malaysian Made Porsche Cayenne Is A Sports Car For The Family

The automotive world stood still when Porsche took the covers off the first Cayenne at the Geneva Motor Show in 2002. Mouths agape, the world’s automotive media would later go into a frenzy calling it everything from ugly to outright blasphemous.

Porsche would lose many of its loyal fans who thought the company had lost its direction with the Cayenne. Most of them would later return when the Cayenne turned out to be Porsche’s savior.

The Cayenne would go on to be Porsche’s best-selling model for many years, until the Macan arrived but that’s a different story. A lot has been written about the Cayenne since then, but crucially the success of the Cayenne provided much needed cash flow for Porsche to continue building cars it was well known for, like the Turbo, the GT3 and the GT2. Not to mention all the RS variants that have since come along.

“I first saw the first-generation Cayenne testing around the streets of Stuttgart before the launch as I was there for a meeting,” said a former dealer recently in an exclusive but private interview.

“Just like everyone else, I didn’t think much of the design, but then I drove the car and was blown away. I have had the good fortune to own several Porsches and even race them, and the Cayenne is still very much a Porsche at heart. And I have owned every generation since the launch and still drive a Cayenne today,” said the person who we must keep anonymous due to a watertight non-disclosure agreement.

And therein lies the appeal of the Cayenne. Despite its size, its clumsy looks and weight, it is still very much a Porsche underneath. Call it a wolf in sheep’s clothing but the Cayenne probably single-handedly put the word Sport in Sport Utility Vehicle. And almost every automaker who builds a high-performance SUV must thank Porsche for the major risk it took when introducing the Cayenne.

We can go on and on about how successful the Cayenne is and how it has won several races and even explored roads where a SUV is not meant to go. But there is so much out there already that all it takes is a simple Google search.

We are here though to talk about how proud Malaysians should be for the fact that Malaysia is the only country outside of Europe where a Cayenne is built.

Since 2019, the Cayenne has been assembled in Kulim, Kedah through a joint venture between Sime Darby and Porsche AG. This has not only made the Cayenne more accessible to more Malaysians but it has also created high-skill jobs for Malaysians.

Not only that, Porsche has ensured that the Cayenne looks and feels exactly the same as its European made siblings. Step inside a locally-made Cayenne and it does not only look and feel the same but it also smells the same. It makes one wonder, if Audi has its legendary nose team that ensures all Audis smell the same, does Porsche have its own nose team as well? That is a question for a separate interview.

Now in its third-generation, the Cayenne is as popular as ever with Porsche selling 100,000 units worldwide in 2022 alone. With 2023 coming to a close soon, we are expecting the Cayenne to have found even more homes. Why? Because Porsche introduced the facelifted version of the third-generation Cayenne earlier this year, and it builds on the strengths of the already very capable model it is based upon.

Porsche Malaysia introduced the facelifted Cayenne for the Malaysian market in early October of this year, becoming the second locally assembled Cayenne. And just like the first one, it too looks and feels like it was made in Europe. And Porsche deserves credit for that since consistency in the automotive business is always difficult to emulate.

While the underpinnings may be the same, the face-lifted Cayenne is distinguished by an updated design. The front features arches at the side of the new bonnet that is also taller by a few millimeters, giving the new Cayenne a more commanding presence.

The front is also distinguished by new Matrix LED headlights that now only look great but are also quite smart. The headlights determine illumination levels by analysing data from the SUV’s speed, camera and navigation systems to ensure the driver has maximum visibility in low light conditions.

The side of the Cayenne is largely the same but the rear gets a new three-dimension taillights as well as a new light strip that runs across the width of the car and connects both the taillights. It gives the rear of the car a cleaner design.

Porsche Malaysia also provides customisation options for those who want their Cayenne to stand out. Take the wheels for example, the standard wheels measure in at 20-inches and feature quite a lot of rubber that is great to maximise comfort but look somewhat boring. For the adventurous (and with deep pockets), there’s also the choice of 21-inch wheels that look great but will set you back RM45,000. Or if that is still too small for you, there are 22-inch wheels that look amazing and cost an eye-watering RM49,000.

Powering the Cayenne is the same 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 engine found in the previous model. However, power has been hiked by 13PS and 50Nm for a total of 353PS and 500Nm of torque. Power is sent to all four wheels through an 8-speed Tiptronic S gearbox while top speed is rated at 248km/h. Acceleration from zero to 100km/h on the other hand is marked at impressive 5.7-seconds.

The interior of the Cayenne is where the new truly distinguishes itself from the old. The new Cayenne receives a full digital instrumentation cluster, which is a first for the Cayenne. This revolves around the new digital instrument cluster that measures in at 12.6-inches. In true Porsche fashion, an RPM dial still dominates the centre of the panel, just like it always has since the first Porsche back in 1949.

The centre of the dashboard is dominated by a 12.3-inch infotainment screen that offers Spotify and Apple Music as native apps. That means you do not need to plug in your phone to listen to either applications, but there is also Apple Carplay and Android Auto for those who need more.

The overall design of the interior is cleaner than before with fewer buttons and discreet air-conditioning vents that look like they have been merged into the dashboard. Even the traditional gear lever that used to be at the centre console has been repositioned to the left side of the steering wheel and is now a toggle-like switch rather than a lever, which we first saw in the Taycan.

However, Porsche didn’t go full Tesla with the digitalization of the interior. There still are some buttons and knobs such as the volume dial and tactile buttons for the climate control system.

And Porsche has also retained the grip handles located on the centre console, just as they always have been since the first-generation Cayenne. Most importantly, unlike a Volvo XC90 nothing rattles or buzzes when in motion.

The overall size of the interior remains the same with enough room for five people to get more than comfortable. And in case the rear passengers need to be entertained, you can opt for the Porsche Tequipment option that gives you two 10.1-inch touchscreen displays placed at the back of the front seats. This gives access to a variety of options such as Youtube and Netflix.

From behind the driver’s seat, the new Cayenne is still very much a Porsche at heart, just like it always has. The air-suspension does a brilliant job at isolating the cabin from the rumble and tumble of the road underneath. But when you want to have some fun, the suspension stiffens and gives you maximum control of the two-ton SUV.

The best part of the new Cayenne is its jekyll and hyde like character – soft and supple for maximum comfort at one moment, and it all changes at the press of the steering mounted button. Select Sport and the powertrain immediately comes alive and responds to every twitch of the accelerator pedal. The suspension stiffens to reduce body roll, but not to the point of being trashy. The passengers may not even feel the suspension stiffening if you do not mention it, such is its compliance.

At RM599,999 (RM662,499 with all the options), there really is little doubt why the new Porsche Cayenne is as popular as it is. While its competitors like the Volvo XC90, BMW X5 and the Mercedes-Benz GLE focus on being efficient and comfortable, the Cayenne takes a different approach.

The Cayenne focuses on driving pleasure without compromising on comfort. It is still very much a Porsche at heart, and that can only mean one thing – uncompromised performance. Except in the Cayenne, you can share the joy of driving with five other people.

Specifications:
Engine: 3.0-litre, Turbocharged, V6
Power: 353PS @ 5,300rpm
Torque: 500Nm @ 1,340rpm
Transmission, 8-speed Tiptronic S
Top speed: 248km/h
Acceleration (0-100kmh): 5.7 seconds

We like: Performance, Comfort
We don’t like: We prefer the previous design

Review: The Proton S70 Is Going To Make Life Difficult For The Honda City And Toyota Vios!

Introduced towards the end of 2023, the S70 was one of the most highly anticipated new Protons simply because it is the first B-segment sedan the company has introduced in a few years. We shall debate whether it is a B or C-Segment model shortly, but every new Proton introduced in the past few years has been an SUV, and the S70 is a refreshing addition.

The S70 can be viewed as the successor to previous Proton sedans such as the Inspira and the Preve, but it does not share any technical similarities. In fact, the S70 is based on the Geely Emgrand which is a left-hand drive model in markets such as in China and the Philippines.

But it is not a simple rebadge, though the new Proton shares a number of commonalities with the Geely and is largely the same in terms of design except for a new grille and updated bumpers.

Proton did localise the S70 and says that it has been “tuned for Malaysian roads”. According to a powerpoint slide shared by Proton before a recent media drive, Proton spent 75,000 man-hours on testing the new car, 260,000 man-hours was also spent for R&D for Design Engineering, Proton’s engineers drove the car for a total of 1.2 million kilometres during road testing, and 453 new parts were developed to turn the Geely Emgrand into the Proton S70.

So, no. It is definitely not a simple rebadge.

The flagship variant, which is what we reviewed is officially known as the Flagship X and sits above three other variants. Prices for the S70 start at RM73,800 and goes up to RM94,800 for the top-of-the line variant.

During the launch, Proton said the S70 is a C-Segment model with B-Segment prices. Though we think that is far-fetched because the S70 is smaller than its C-Segment competitors, but the more for less marketing strategy is something Proton has used before and is in fact ingenious.

The reality is, the Proton S70 is closer to the Honda City and the Toyota Vios than it is to the Honda Civic and the Toyota Corolla Altis. Even so, it has the competition beat in almost everything, but pricing in particular.

The Honda City ranges in prices from RM84,900 to RM99,900. There’s also the most expensive City which is the hybrid variant that costs RM111,900, but because there’s no S70 hybrid, we shall leave that out of this.

Then there is the Toyota Vios which ranges in price from RM89,600 to RM95,500. So the Proton S70 is definitely the most obvious choice.

But the S70 is not only cheaper, but it also has an interior that is hugely impressive as well. The minimalist interior is similar to that of the Proton X50 and offers clean lines without the clutter of buttons and dials to distract you. It is also remarkably well built. Short of getting it stuck in mud and the beach, we drove it over all types of roads, and there was nothing that buzzed or rattled.

A few makers have tried the minimalist design approach and failed because the important buttons such as the air-conditioning controls and even audio controls are located deep inside in the infotainment system, which can be distracting.

But the S70 has physical buttons for the air-conditioning, while audio controls are located on the steering wheel. We would have preferred physical buttons for the audio as well so that the passenger can get to it easily, but we can live with the current set up.

The seats too are impressive with just the right amount of back support; however, thigh support could be better. It is difficult to beat the Honda City when it comes to seats, and the Honda still has plusher, more comfortable seats all around.

Though the interior is about the same as the X50, the S70 uses the same gear selector as the Proton X90, which means operating it needs some getting used to. You need to flick (not shift) the selector down twice to move from park to drive, and then up once if you want to select reverse.

There is also the option to shift manually, but even that requires a rewiring of the brain. Usually, manual shifting entail moving the selector down for upshifts, and up for downshifts. However, with the S70, you need to shift left for downshifts, and right for upshifts. Proton says this is a similar system to Volvo, but that does not mean it is good. Thankfully though, you simply need to press the P button to select park.

But that is about it as far as complaints about the interior goes. In fact, that’s as far as complaints about the S70 goes.

Tech wise, the interior of the flagship model offers a 10.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch infotainment system with music played back through six speakers. There’s still no Apple CarPlay and Android Auto but the good news is that Proton acknowledges that its customers want those features so is actively working on it. And once it is offered, those features will also be offered in some older models, if the hardware of the car is able to support it.

The Flagship X model also offers a sunroof which is something that we appreciate as there is nothing like opening the roof on a cool morning or sunset.

What is also quite impressive is the way the interior refinement. When driving around town, the interior is quiet and does well at keeping noise and vibrations down to a minimum. However, tyre and wind noise is quite apparent at highway speed past 110km/h.

The S70 runs on 17-inch Goodyear Assurance Triplemax tyres which are designed for longevity and durability, as such it uses a harder compound, and a by-product of such compounds is that road noise gets transferred back to the cabin.

The suspension is a combination of MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion beam at the rear. The set-up is similar to its competitors but is a nice balance of comfort and sportiness. When chucked into corners at high speed, the S70 obliges with little body roll and near neutral handling (no understeer or risk of the rear snapping out of line).

And when you have your family or friends in the car, it does a brilliant job at soaking and isolating dips and road ruts. Some netizens have criticised Proton for using a torsion beam, saying that it is uncomfortable. But a properly set up torsion beam suspension is just as good if not better than a multi-link suspension, and Proton deserves credit for the impressive ride and handling.

The powertrain on the other hand consists of a 1.5-litre, three-cylinder, turbocharged engine producing 150PS and 226Nm. Power is sent to the front wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox and the S70 needs nine seconds to reach 100km/h from a standstill. We saw a fuel consumption rating of 9.6-litres per 100km but that is after flooring it on the highway and getting stuck in Penang traffic. The official fuel consumption figure from Proton though puts it at 6.2-litres per 100km.

The engine has been reworked by Proton. It is the same engine that powers the Geely Emgrand but Proton added a turbocharger which in turn added performance. Power is decent and delivery is just shy of instantaneous with just half a second of turbo lag before a wall of torque meets the demands of your right foot.

However, Proton is still working on refining the turbo lag issue, particularly from a standstill. The moment of nothingness and the sudden surge of power often results in a wheelspin which can catch some drivers off guard, particularly when turning into a junction or getting off from a traffic light. This was felt by other members of the Malaysian motoring media fraternity who were unanimous in their feedback regarding the turbo lag.

But besides that, the Proton S70 is very nearly a perfect B-Segment car and will take the fight to the Honda City and the Toyota Vios. Particularly with its spaciousness, quality, pricing and powertrain.

While the competition makes do with whinny CVT gearboxes, the S70 stands out by offering a quick and smooth shifting dual-clutch transmission, just like the one in the X50 and X70. And the dual-clutch will always trump the CVT when it comes to refinement and response.

All-in-all, the Proton S70 seems like it is going to create some sleepless nights for the teams at Honda and Toyota. Proton is hell bent on offering a good product and has even resorted to delaying some deliveries to ensure that quality is not sacrificed.

But from what we experienced during our drive, Proton has a clear winner in the S70, but in a market that prefers SUV’s over sedans, time will tell how well it sells.

Specifications:
Engine: 1.5-litre, 3-cylinder, turbocharged
Power: 150PS@5500rpm
Torque: 226Nm@1750rpm
Transmission: 7-speed, dual-clutch
Suspension: MacPherson (front) / Torsion beam (Rear)
Price (As tested): RM94,800 (Flagship X)

We like: Design, quality
We don’t like: Gear shifter

Review: Smart #1 – Long Drive Worthy?

The post-pandemic automotive market has seen a significant stir in the electric vehicle (EV) industry with many automotive giants trying to make a mark in Malaysia. From affordable prices to eye-watering ones, but do any of them stand out from the crowd?

There are models from Europe and China, with the latter having made significant inroads with models that don’t only impress with their tech but also design. 

In fact, we have had some opportunities to test drive a specific model and jumped at every chance we had. The model in topic is none other than the smart #1 (hashtag one). A collaboration between Geely and Mercedes-Benz that was launched in Malaysia by Pro-Net, a subsidiary of Proton. 

We were in love from the moment we laid eyes on it. It has a funky-looking body that caters to every audience. No matter how old you may be, when you step inside it, you will feel a lot younger. Why do we say this? Because the smart #1 has many unique features and a very youthful personality. It has an amazing sound system with speakers by Beats, a grille that lights up which definitely stands out at night, a responsive voice command system and there is an array of body colours to choose from, including an outlandish yellow. 

Apart from that, the smart #1 is also offered in a Brabus trim. Yes, the German high-performance automotive aftermarket tuning company. Besides that trim, there is the Pro and Premium variants for those who prefer to take things slow with minimal charging times. Not to say that the 286hp, 343Nm of torque Premium variant is slow, but for a more thrilling drive and heart-stopping 0-100km/h time, the 422hp, 543Nm of torque Brabus is the way to go. 

Speaking of 0-100km/h time, we had the chance to test it out at the Pinnacle Kart USJ track. The Premium did it in 6.8 seconds but the Brabus on the other hand, did it in 3.9 seconds. The instant torque and launch are the best this writer has experienced in an EV (yet). We also got to test the handling, auto park feature, and evasive manoeuvre assist. 

The handling was exceptional for the Brabus, we felt confident when tackling corners and launching out of corners thanks to its sportier suspension setting. The Premium, however, has a little oversteer to it, making it feel a little hesitant to take corners at high speeds. 

The evasive manoeuvre assist on the other hand was responsive as it gave the driver an amplified push to the steering wheel when avoiding a collision.

The auto park feature, however, was a little challenging as it takes time for the car to detect an empty parking space, but we could speed this by manually choosing a spot by dragging a green box on the touchscreen. After this, the car attempts to park autonomously in that pre-specified green box, and we must say, is pretty impressive but can be time-consuming.

 

It would be faster to park the car on your own. However, we understand that this feature is still being improved and will take time to make it perfect. 

Now, with all that power, what is the driving range like? The Premium has a range of 440km while the Brabus has a range of 400km. So, to test if the smart #1 is “Long Drive” worthy, we were invited to do so during a media drive from Kuala Lumpur to Penang. 

After a short briefing, the smart team announced that there would be an optional challenge and the winner would get a prize. It was an energy efficiency challenge. The team that reaches Penang with the lowest battery consumption of kWh/100km will be crowned the winner. There were two categories, one for the Premium variant and one for the Brabus variant. 

To start the journey, we were all put in teams of three and our team was given the Brabus variant. This variant was not meant to be driven slowly. So, we decided to have our little challenge instead, to see who would reach Penang the fastest, just for giggles.

Some teams made only one stop to recharge but because we were flooring it half the time, following speed limits of course, we had to charge up twice. The smart app and integrated navigation system played a huge role in this journey. It was easy to use, and it assisted us in planning routes that had charging stations. 

We of course tried our best to choose the ones with a higher kW to reduce our charging time. We made our first stop at Behrang for a quick 25-minute charge with a 75kW which brought our car from 50% to 80%. 

During the drive, we were entertained by the sound system and enjoyed the instant torque. The Brabus trim allows the driver to turn on the virtual engine sound. It was fun for a while, but it is not recommended for long drives as it gets a little annoying due to the fact that it has a constant note playing on loop, unlike the sound of an ICE engine where it changes according to the flex of the right foot.

We were messing around with the infotainment system and voice commands and learnt that if you are not tech savvy, it might take some time to figure out how things work. The infotainment system is a learning curve and as the saying goes, you learn something new every day. 

Our second stop was at Sg Perak and we managed to charge the car from 14% to 80% in 30 minutes thanks to the 180kW charger. From there on, it was a straight road to Penang. 

Now, we have also heard many people say that the battery percentage decreases when an EV is stuck in traffic and that the range might drop. We are here to deny that because we were stuck in Penang traffic, Georgetown to be exact, and we managed to reach our destination at Hotel Angsana with a remaining travel range of 111km. While we were stuck in a standstill jam, we noticed that the battery percentage and range did not reduce. The range only reduces when the car is moving. 

We were the first ones to reach the destination with a 25kWh/100km energy usage. Not exactly energy efficient, but it managed to get us there just in time to take a quick nap and head down for dinner. The team with the lowest energy usage for the Brabus category had 16kWh/100km and for the Premium category, 14kWh/100km. They however, arrived just in time for dinner. 

Before we headed back to Kuala Lumpur, we made a stop at the smart Penang showroom for lunch and the prize-giving ceremony for the winners. 

We had the Brabus for the first day, and then hopped into the Premium for the drive back. We started off with only 127km of travel range because we were sightseeing and enjoying a drive around town with the car, which meant we had to make a stop at Gantang for a charge. 

It took 25 minutes for the 50kW charger to charge up from 40% to 80%. Since there was no challenge, we decided to indulge in the performance of the Premium variant as well. The instant torque in this was not disappointing and it has more than enough power to get you from point A to point B fast. Just that the Brabus does it faster. 

With all that fun we were having, the smart system actually notified us via a voice notification, that we had to charge up. Again, with the help of the Hello smart app, we were directed to the nearest charging station which was at Petronas Ulu Bernam which had a 150kW charger. In 25 minutes, we were at 80% and it was more than enough to bring us back to Kuala Lumpur with 110km remaining when we arrived at our final destination. 

We stopped to charge the cars four times and each charging session only cost us RM70 to RM80. So, is the smart #1 a worthy car for long travelling distances? Yes, it is. The car is fun to drive, it notifies you when it needs to be charged, and it detects if the driver is fatigued, which is helpful during long drives. The Hello smart app is extremely useful for route planning, which reduces range anxiety. 

The single-motor Premium variant goes for RM219,000 and the dual-motor Brabus variant goes for RM249,000. The pricing is decent when you consider everything that you get and we understand why it is as such. For a car that was styled by Mercedes and developed by Geely, and one that offers outstanding performance, we think the smart #1 is worth considering for those in the market for an EV. 

Premium Variant Specifications

Motor: Single motor

Power: 268hp

Torque: 343Nm

Range: 440km

AC Charging: 22kW; 10-80% in 3 hours

DC Charging: 150kW, 10-80% in 30 minutes

 

Brabus Variant Specifications

Motor: Dual motor

Power: 422hp

Torque: 543Nm

Range: 400km

AC Charging: 22kW; 10-80% in 3 hours

DC Charging: 150kW, 10-80% in 30 minutes

 

We like: Voice command, performance, looks and ventilated front seats

We don’t like: Steep learning curve for the infotainment system

Review: BMW iX xDrive50 Sport – The Best Premium EV? Maybe!

Somethings are best left to the experts, so the saying goes. As context, would you allow an electrician to do your plumbing? Or a plumber to do your gardening? Or would you buy char koey teow from a pisang goreng seller? You should get the gist by now.

When it comes to buying cars, it would probably be wise to buy a car from the experts as well. Arguable I know but stay with me.

Elon Musk was recently asked for a response after BYD dethroned Tesla as the world’s largest maker of EV cars, to which he responded, “Tesla is an AI/robotics company that appears to many to be a car company.”

That may be fine by some, but it did not go down very well with me, it seemed like PR fluff to deflect the facts. But I respect that Tesla may recognize itself as more than just a car company. Call me a traditionalist, or a purist, but when it comes to buying or recommending cars, I am still inclined to acknowledge the old guard, and in the case of this article – BMW.

This may trigger some of the modern, younger readers because there are newer car makers that are quite good at what they do. BYD for example has taken the world by storm, and Geely too has done a stellar job, though a lot of that was achieved by outright buying or partnering with some carmakers and then relying on their tech, e.g. Volvo, Lotus and Mercedes-Benz.

But BMW has taken its own approach, one that it has long been known for, good old engineering and technology. It has long built some of the nicest cars to drive and no one can deny that. In the modern world of electrification, BMW has delivered once again.

That is no surprise though, about a decade ago, BMW stunned the world with the i3 and the intrepid i8. Both fantastic cars in their own right that have developed their own cult like following these days.

Those cars provided the foundation, both in terms of design and technology for today’s electric BMW’s. On that note, BMW Malaysia has been on a crusade of sorts to introduce as many electric models as it can, probably to capitalize on the governments incentives that encourage the adoption of electric vehicles.

And the iX is one of its most popular models.

As a backgrounder, the iX was the second purpose-built all-electric BMW after the i3, and is the fourth model under BMW’s i sub-brand.

In terms of sizing, it is similar to the X5, but it has its own unique design, which I must admit to thinking it was hideous at first but has turned out to quite handsome over time. It does not try very hard to be something unique and the simplistic design elements have worked in its favour.

The design though is not just visually pleasing, but it is also functional. The design of the iX is completely bespoke and is not shared with any other BMW model, and its aerodynamic elements such as the front, rear, the sealed underbody, and wheel areas are said to add over 65km to the car’s overall range.

Up front the gigantic faux grilles which were once criticized for being too large and ugly have also been charmed by time.

The plastic grilles are flanked by BMW’s Laserlight headlamps that are widely regarded as some of the finest in the business. These laserlights require 30 percent less energy than LED lights and are able to illuminate up to 800 metres ahead, providing maximum visibility in the dark.

The model we drove is the iX50, which is now the middle-child of the entire iX range in Malaysia. Though largely the same in terms of aesthetics and trimming, it has some distinguishing features such as the beautiful 22-inch aero wheels that hide 17-inch brake callipers that are finished in blue colour.

There is also a gold coloured feature that hugs the shoulder line of the car and is reminiscent of the monstrous XM model. This is how you can visually tell the iX50 apart from its lesser siblings.

There’s plenty about the iX that is unique, even the door handles, or rather a lack of them. The doors are not opened by tugging on to handles in the traditional sense, in fact the handles are replaced by recesses in the door. The doors are opened using electronic openers which operate at the touch of a button located inside that recess.

Once you open the door you will notice that the doors are frameless, a feature only seen in coupes not too long ago, and still look stunning.

Then before you step in, the other thing you may notice is the exposed carbon-fibre that makes up the passenger cell.

The body structure of the iX is made of aluminium, but there are parts of the body that are made of carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) and continuous fibre-reinforced thermoplastics (CFRTP). Parts such as the side frame, rain channels, roof frame, cowl plane and the rear window frame are all made of these two exotic materials.

Together this form something BMW calls the ‘Carbon Cage’. Using this instead of conventional steel shaves five kilograms off the overall weight of the car and adds stiffness and also improves range.

Inside, a spacious, minimalistic interior greets you. It does not do much to take your breath away, in fact you might be underwhelmed at first. But then you notice that the gear knob, iDrive controller and seat controls are made of real crystal glass, the same material that some chandeliers are made of.

The centre panel on the other hand has an elegant piece of open-pore walnut wood trim that reminds you that this is a car made with environmental conservation in mind. There is a bit of contradiction here though – shouldn’t environmental conservation mean that trees should not be cut down to be made into automotive trimming? Of course! That is why BMW only works with FSC-certified wood to ensure that forests are protected the way they should be.

Up ahead of you is BMW’s latest generation Live Cockpit Professional system that includes a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch central touchscreen system that houses all the controls, navigation and entertainment. These screens are not only massive but are also impressively slim, and they curve according to the curvature of the dashboard.

The iX is also the first BMW to be fitted with a hexagonal steering wheel. The reasoning behind it is that the polygonal geometry makes it easy to switch between automated and active driving. It is not only designed for convenience but also practicality, the flat top makes it easy for the driver to look past the screens as well for the all-important eyes-on-road driving.

Even the rear passengers will find the interior to be a special place. The iX offers a lounge-style ambiance at the back and the omission of the centre tunnel offers plenty of legroom. The sense of space is further complemented by the skylounge panoramic glass roof that boasts electrochromic shading functionality.

The panoramic roof is not only the largest glass roof fitted in a BMW, but it can shield the interior from direct sunlight at the touch of a button. If you want some light, the roof becomes translucent at the touch of a button, and if you want some privacy, you can simply press that same button and it blocks out everything in under a second. It felt great for the four days that we had the car, but some owners complain that it can be quite warm, saying that a physical shade would work better.

The most important thing about the iX50 is what it offers in terms of performance and range. And though it costs about RM143,000 more than the base iX40, the interiors of both cars are largely the same. The real difference is what powers the car.

Differentiating the iX50 is a bigger 111.5kWh battery and more powerful motors. It has a total system output of 523hp and 765Nm of torque. And despite weighing over two and a half tons, it is capable of some blistering performance – seeing off the 0-100kmh sprint in just 4.6 seconds and tops out at an electronically limited 200km/h.

And though it has more power and performance, it also has better range than the base model. The iX50 has a WLTP range of 630km while the base only has 425km.

The way the iX drives is also an occasion by itself, you are mostly cocooned in silence at regular speeds but as soon as you put your foot down, BMW’s Iconic Sounds takes over and makes you feel like you are driving a hugely powerful four-wheeled banshee.

It also handles impossibly well, which is quite a feat considering that Malaysian iX models do not have the dual-axle air suspension feature that is available in other markets. But you won’t miss it as the standard suspension already does a brilliant job at absorbing everything that Malaysian roads can muster.

And when it comes to charging the iX50, you can do that in just 35 minutes using a DC fast charger or 10 hours and 45 minutes with a 11kW AC wallbox charger.

The BMW iX50 is undoubtedly one of the finest electric cars there is in the market right now, but at RM528,430 (without the extended warranty option), it is also not cheap. But it has a lot to offer for that price in terms of tech and performance that it almost seems worth paying for.

So, considering that a full spec Tesla can nudge RM300,000 and some of the better EV’s are in the RM200,000 region, you just have to wonder if it is perhaps worth saving up to put down a heftier downpayment, so that you can drive around in what is one of the best electric cars to date rather than others that offer a lot but don’t particularly excel at anything.

Specifications:
Motors: Dual Electric
Power: 523hp
Torque: 765Nm
Range: 630km (WLTP)
Charging: 0-80% in 35 mins with DC / 0-100% in 10 hours 45 mins with11kW AC charger
Price (as tested): RM528,430 (without extended warranty program)

Reviewed: Proton X90 Flagship – Great Value For Money For Your Family!

The Proton X90 created quite a storm when it was introduced last year. Not only was it Proton’s first D-segment SUV, but it was also its first seven-seater SUV.

There were lots of expectations, especially in terms of price, and truth be told, we were quite surprised when Proton announced the price of the X90. Not because it was expensive, but because it was surprisingly affordable.

The starting price for the X90 is just RM123,800, which is the exact same price as the flagship X70. There is an overlap in pricing there, but it makes perfect sense for those seeking more space and a bigger car.

But is it worth it? After being loaned one for a week, attending a wedding with it with eight people in the car and all the accompanying ceremonies throughout the course of a few days, we are surprised that we don’t see more X90’s on the road.

The X90 sits in the same segment as the Kia Sorento, Toyota Fortuner, Chery Tiggo 8 Pro and the Hyundai Santa Fe, among others of course. It does everything that the others can do, and it is a lot cheaper as well.

The X90 is based on the Geely Haoyue (also known as the Okavango in some markets) but it is not a simple rebadge job. Proton updated the design particularly around the bumpers and the grille to keep it in line with the overall Proton design language.

Besides the restyling, Proton said that it also updated the suspension of the X90 to ensure that it is better suited to Malaysian roads. During the launch of the X90, Proton said that its engineers tested the multi-link suspension over a course of a million kilometers on various roads in Malaysia.

You can be forgiven if you think that the suspension is a little bit on the softer side, but drive it for a few days and you will notice that it actually does really well at soaking up all the horrible things that Malaysian roads tend to have; pot holes, sudden inundations, overly aggressive speed bumps, etc.

In terms of design, the X90 is a big, long SUV that from certain angles has the proportions and even the silhouette of an MPV. In fact, there have been some fiery debates online about what the X90 actually is. But Proton refers to it as an SUV so that should end that unnecessary argument.

Inside, the X90 is mighty impressive. Quality is surprisingly good, in fact, we will go so far as to say that quality of the X90 is the best amongst any Protons, past and present.

We drove the Flagship variant, which is one of four variants on offer. The standard is priced at RM123,800, the Executive at RM130,800, the Premium has a RM144,800 price tag while the top-of-the-line variant you see here is priced at RM152,800.

Just for reference, the cheapest Kia Sorento is priced at just under RM212,000 while the entry-level Toyota Fortuner costs RM195,880. In fact, the only competitor that remotely gets close to the X90 in terms of pricing is the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro that costs RM159,800.

The X90 Flagship model is also the only model that comes as a six-seater, the rest are seven-seaters. The Flagship model offers two individual seats in the second row, which some call captain seats, and just about everything is wrapped in fine Nappa leather.

Now depending on how many people you ferry around or even if you like being driven around, the six-seater variant is not a bad deal despite lacking sitting space. As we found out, children appreciate their individual space as much as older people do. And if you don’t have too many people to ferry, this is a great way to go around.

There is also a full panoramic roof that adds to the sense of occasion as well as separate climate control for the second-row passengers. This is great but quite normal, what is not normal though is that the air-conditioning vents are located on the roof of the car rather than at the bottom of the centre console. This is ingenious as it blows cool air directly to your face rather than to your knee. If that still does not cut it, the X90 even offers ventilated seats for the first and second row seats. Several car makers, who charge a lot more for their cars, should take a cue from the X90.

The third-row passengers too will appreciate having their own vents as well as their own USB ports and cup holders, making the X90 perfectly suited for family escapades.

There is plenty of tech too, for starters the X90 runs on a mild-hybrid powertrain. The core is a 1.5-litre, three-cylinder turbocharged GDI engine that is similar to the X50 Flagship as well as the new X70 models. It is mated to Proton’s regular seven-speed wet dual-clutch gearbox that sends power exclusively to the front wheels.

But that’s not all, being a “mild-hybrid”, there is a battery and a converter that works to provide more power while improving overall efficiency. It does this by utilizing six components that form the entire hybrid system – a DC-DC converter, a belt-starter generator (BSG), a lithium-ion battery, a battery management system, energy recovering braking system and a hybrid module control system.

Working in unison with the standard powertrain, the X90 offers 190PS and 300Nm of torque. Just for reference, that is 13PS and 45Nm more than other cars that run on the same powertrain but without the hybrid system. Aside from more power, the X90 also has 10% better acceleration and 13% lower emissions.

The X90 may be comfortable to drive or to be driven in, but when it is fully loaded, it does tend to feel a little underpowered. Despite it being up on power as compared to its siblings with same engine, it is also heavier and sits more people, so when all seats are occupied, it feels like it needs about 20PS and 50Nm more.

The trick though is to use one of the three driving modes (Sport, Normal and Comfort), particularly Sport mode. This is when the SUV feels more nippy and eager to downshift, giving you quicker access to power when you need it the most.

Despite that, the powertrain is undoubtedly smooth, but we have a gripe, not with the engine nor the gearbox or the hybrid system, but the gear selector. In regular selectors, you either move the lever once to move from P to D or vice versa.

However, in the X90, you have to pull the lever down twice. First to move from P to N and then again to D, which is quite weird. But to select P, you only have to press the P button. This is not something that will put buyers off, but it is quite awkward.

Continuing with the topic of tech, the meter panel is fully digitalized with a 10-inch LCD panel offering all the essentials such as speed, rpm and gear position.

At the centre of the rather large dashboard is a 12.3-inch infotainment screen that gives you access to music and navigation. However, we still loathe the fact that the X90 does not come with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

Great news though, some Protons executives have said that the carmaker will soon be offering those two systems, and even existing owners will be able to access it through a hardware update.

It also offers a host of features such as adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, intelligent high beam control, 360 camera and one system that we were particularly impressed by – the door opening warning system. This lets you know when there is a cyclist or a motorcyclist that is approaching the car and warns you so you don’t accidentally open the door. The downside to this is it also works in traffic, and in Malaysia where motorcyclists are incessantly zooming past a car, the system is constantly beeping. And that can be annoying.

But then again, tech is not always perfect but the Proton X90 still has a lot to offer, such as impressive refinement, quality and tech that can put more expensive cars to shame. And at its price, there is simply no arguing against it.

Specifications
Engine: 1.5-litre, 3-cylinder, turbocharged, mild-hybrid
Power: 190PS @ 5500rpm
Torque: 255Nm @ 1500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual clutch with manual mode
Suspension: MacPherson Strut (Front) / Multi-link with Stabiliser (Rear)
Price as tested: RM152,800

We like: Refinement, quality, price
We don’t like: Safety systems can be intrusive

Review: Smart #1 Brabus – This Is Why It Could Be A Better Buy Than A Tesla

The world of electric vehicle has been thriving in the past couple of years, with new models being introduced every other month from well-known brands. Even all-new brands have been sprouting up like mushrooms after rain as well.

A lot of the all-new brands are from China, but some are also coming out of Europe and the good old USA as well. While that has been a common theme, some car makers are reviving well-known, legendary brands but as pure EV’s.

Take Lotus for example, the iconic British brand was bought over by the Zhejiang Geely group, and save for just one model, it makes only electric vehicles while once upon a time it made nothing but ultra-light high-performance cars. Colin Chapman, founder of Lotus, may be rolling in his grave but the company is now making big bucks, which should stop his twirl.

And we also have Smart, which is usually stylised in lower case. Though not as iconic as Lotus, Smart has been around since the 80s and has made quite a name for itself over the years.

Many associate Smart with Mercedes-Benz and they are not wrong about that. However, Smart’s story goes further than that. Smart’s foundations lays with Swatch watches when the latter’s CEO wanted to create a car with the same manufacturing technologies and personalization options as the watches.

But rather than going at it alone, Swatch began looking for automotive partners. Volkswagen had initially agreed to support the brand but that changed when a new CEO took up the mantle.

Smart and Daimler-Benz AG then reached an agreement in 1994 and a number of eye-catching cars such as the ForTwo and ForFour soon came around, but sales were abysmal.

Mercedes-Benz and Geely then formed the Smart Automobile Co. Ltd in 2019 and began building Smart cars in China. The German brand handled design and marketing while Geely would focused on architecture and engineering.

Fast forward a couple of years and Smart is officially in Malaysia with Proton thanks to Geely, except that this time there is a new company that manages the brand.

Proton New Energy Technology (Pro-Net) was formed in 2022 and handles sales of Smart cars in Malaysia and in Thailand. The first point of business was to establish the Smart brand in Malaysia, and thus, after a series of teasers, Smart was officially launched in Malaysia in November of last year.

Rather awkwardly called the #1 (pronounced as the hashtag one), the first model comes in three variants – the entry level Pro model, Premium, and the flagship model seen here, the Brabus.

Priced at RM249,000, this is officially the cheapest Brabus model that has ever gone on sale. And those that know Brabus will understand that Brabus cars are not your regular run of the mill models. Any car that has the Brabus logo is something remarkably special, and the #1 Brabus is no different.

While the lesser variants can be described as regular EV’s, the Brabus adds performance and good looks to it, particularly in this matte grey colour with its contrasting radiant red roof.

True to the original plan, the #1 was designed by Mercedes-Benz while Geely focused on the engineering. It is built on Geely’s Sustainable Electric Architecture (SEA) platform that also underpins other Geely brands like the Lotus Eletre, Zeekr 01 and Polestar models.

But the #1 runs on the SEA2 version to be exact, which is the same platform that is found on the Zeekr X and the Volvo EX30.

In terms of size, the #1 Brabus is 4270mm long, 1822mm wide and has a 2750mm wheelbase. At first glance, it looks similar in size to a MINI Countryman, but once you research the numbers, you will notice that it is in fact slightly longer than a Honda Civic. This should not come as a surprise though as the #1 is technically Smart’s first SUV.

Despite being quite large, which is something Smart cars were never meant to be, there is no mistaking its design. Somehow, Mercedes-Benz has managed to make it bigger, yet still retain its design DNA. The LED lights at the front and the back are connected by a light strip that runs across the length of the car. This looks good and accentuates the width of the car.

Take a seat in the captain’s chair and you are greeted by a minimalist interior. Directly ahead of you is a small 9.2-inch meter cluster that gives you all the essential readings such as the speed, battery charge and range of the car. Up ahead there is a 10-inch heads-up display that can be adjusted according to your height.

Dominating the interior though is a massive 12.8-inch infotainment screen that houses all the controls of the car. From here you adjust everything from the position of the side view mirrors to the safety systems, the entertainment, navigation and even look for the closest charging station.

One nifty feature that it has is a built-in navigation system with local info on charging stations. This shows you all the charging stations that are located near you, the status of the station (operational or not) and its charging performance.

The one feature we particularly like is that you can key in your destination into the map, let the car do the calculations for you and it will tell you whether you have enough juice to get there.

If you don’t, the car will show you where to charge and how long it will take you. It basically does all the hard work for you, and that is something that makes owning an EV more pleasant since there aren’t as many charging stations as petrol stations.

Once you have that out of the way, you can sit back and indulge in one of the finest sound systems found in an automobile. Entertainment is provided by Beats with 13-speakers placed all around the interior to ensure you don’t only hear your favourite music the way the artist intended you to, but also feel it deep in your organs.

But in case you are not an audiophile like us, you will be happy to know that the Brabus has its own augment engine sounds as well. There are two different engine sound options called the Smart original sounds and classic, which sounds too fake as compared to the former.

These sounds match the character of the Brabus, with 428PS and 543Nm at its disposal, this #1 is capable of some serious performance. The acceleration to 100km/h is seen off in 3.9 seconds and it has a top speed of 180kmh. This is blisteringly quick considering that it weighs in at a hefty 1900kg.

Even charging it up is quite impressive. The #1 is capable of 22kW AC charging which allows it to recharge from 10 to 80% in just three hours. That is seriously fast and rare. Most EV cars in Malaysia are only capable of 11kW or 7kW AC charging, and only expensive EV’s like Audi’s e-Tron’s or the Porsche Taycan are capable of 22kW AC charging.

But of course, it is also capable of some seriously fast DC charging. With 150kW capability, it can spruce up from 10 to 80% in just 30 minutes. The only problem? There are not that many 150kW DC chargers available that allow you to do that. As for range, the #1 Brabus has a 400km range as compared to the 440km of the Premium variant, but that is still better than the 315km of the entry-level Pro variant.

Besides its obvious performance talents, there is much to love about the #1 Brabus, such as its spaciousness that allows a family of five to get fairly comfortable with luggage space for a weekend at the beach. Build quality is great too and features such as the vehicle to load function lets you power up appliances like a fan or a coffee machine if you like to spend time outdoors.

Even driving it is super fun as the suspension has been stiffened to match its performance, meaning you can throw it into corners and slingshot out in stitches of laughter. But when you want to take it slow, just press a button to open the full panoramic roof and turn off the radio, sink into the ultrasuede leather seats and bask in its silent ambiance.

But it is not all praises for the #1 Brabus. The Gunmetal trim around the centre console tends to glare in the afternoon sun and this blinds you when driving. There are no audio buttons so you are left with the steering buttons or have to dive into that centre screen to adjust simple things like the volume.

Then there is the annoying Lane Keep Assist function that forces you to fight the car which wants to stay in its lane when all you want to do is swerve out of the way of a suicidal motorcyclist. These are simple things that can be irritating, but they are not deal breakers as there is plenty to love about the #1 Brabus.

In fact, and at the risk of being crucified by Teslaholics, we would go so far as to say that it is perhaps a better buy than a Tesla. We dived into Tesla Malaysia’s website and specified our very own Model 3. We chose the Long-Range version with 19-inch wheels and full self-driving capability. And that would set us back RM262,500. But its glass roof does not have a shade, nor can a tint keep it cool enough for a bald man to drive comfortably, so that is out.

Then we chose the Model Y and opted for the Long-Range variant with 20-inch wheels with self-driving capabilities and that would set us back RM293,000, which is substantially more than the #1 Brabus.

And besides, the real flex is owning a Brabus, how many people can say that? Also, if you buy a Smart over a Tesla, the friendly salespeople will even help you apply for a loan, where else with a Tesla, you must do everything yourself, very much like assembling Ikea furniture.

Specifications
Motor: Dual Electric Motors
Power: 428PS
Torque: 543Nm
Range: 400km
AC Charging: 22kW; 10-80% in 3 hours
DC Charging: 150kW; 10-80% in 30 mins

We like: Performance, Features, Handling
We don’t like: Simple controls can be hard to access

Reviewed: New Honda CRV 1.5 Turbo – For Those Who Don’t Want a Hybrid!

A recent survey by a global consumer think tank placed Honda as one of the top five most reliable brands in the world. And among all the models under the Japanese marque’s wing, the CRV was hailed as one of the most practical on a global level.

There is no surprise there though as the CRV is one of the most popular Honda’s not only on Malaysian roads, but around the world as well.

The Honda CRV has been locally assembled since 2003 and close to 130,000 units have found a home. And with the launch of the sixth-generation model just around the corner, we think more homes will be welcoming the CRV.

We recently drove the new model prior to its highly anticipated local launch and can say that owners of the current model will not recognize the new CRV except for the badge. Nothing except its practicality has been carried over to the new model.

(more…)

Review: The New Honda CR-V Has Set a New Benchmark for Japanese SUV’s

  • 03/03/2024
  • English, Reviews
  • Timothy Prakash

Review: BYD Seal Performance – Why This Should Be Your First EV!

  • 26/02/2024
  • English, Reviews
  • Keshy Dhillon

Review: Honda Civic Type R FL5 – How Much Better Is It Than The FK8?

  • 25/02/2024
  • English, Reviews
  • Keshy Dhillon

Review: Malaysian Made Porsche Cayenne Is A Sports Car For The Family

  • 18/02/2024
  • English, Reviews
  • Keshy Dhillon

Review: The Proton S70 Is Going To Make Life Difficult For The Honda City And Toyota Vios!

  • 09/02/2024
  • English, Reviews
  • Keshy Dhillon

Review: Smart #1 – Long Drive Worthy?

  • 01/02/2024
  • English, Reviews
  • Timothy Prakash

Review: BMW iX xDrive50 Sport – The Best Premium EV? Maybe!

  • 27/01/2024
  • English, Reviews
  • Keshy Dhillon

Reviewed: Proton X90 Flagship – Great Value For Money For Your Family!

  • 12/01/2024
  • English, Reviews
  • Keshy Dhillon

Review: Smart #1 Brabus – This Is Why It Could Be A Better Buy Than A Tesla

  • 04/01/2024
  • English, Reviews
  • Keshy Dhillon

Reviewed: New Honda CRV 1.5 Turbo – For Those Who Don’t Want a Hybrid!

  • 27/12/2023
  • English, Reviews
  • Keshy Dhillon
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