We get behind the wheel of the new Proton X50 in South Africa. Join Ciro De Siena as he walks us through this new SUV from a brand new badge on South African roads…well, it’s more of a comeback story!
Many South Africa’s may remember the Proton name and badge from our roads, before the brand pulled out of South Africa in 2012.
While those cars left much to be desired, we were pleasantly surprised to find that Proton has grown and matured considerably in the decade since their disappearance.
With an initial lineup comprised of two SUVs, namely the X50 reviewed here and the larger X70, local importers, the large CMH group, are confident that these new products have what it takes to compete in what has become a fiercely competitive market, made even more so by strong offerings from Chinese brands Chery and Haval.
While it is difficult not to compare the new Proton to offerings from the aforementioned Chinese brands, the X50 is more closely priced with more established rivals such as Kia and Hyundai.
However, will South Africans be convinced that there is significant value on offer from Proton to stump up the extra cash? We’ll let Ciro try and answer that question for you.
Further Reading
Want to buy a new or used Proton? Browse stock for sale here.
