IF you have been waiting for a reason to buy a new sedan in 2026, Proton may have just handed it to you.
The 2026 Proton S70 MC1 — the model’s first minor change update since its November 2023 debut — was officially launched on 11 February 2026, and the headline change is exactly what owners of the original car had been asking for since day one: a proper four-cylinder engine.
Out With the Three-Pot, In With the i-GT Four-Cylinder
The single most significant update on the 2026 S70 is what sits under the bonnet. Proton has retired the outgoing three-cylinder GEP3 turbocharged engine and replaced it across all four variants with the 1.5-litre BHE15-EFZ i-GT turbocharged direct-injection four-cylinder — the same unit now powering the updated X50 and new X70.
The numbers represent a meaningful step forward:
- Output: 181 PS at 5,500 rpm / 290 Nm between 2,000–3,500 rpm
- vs outgoing engine: +31 PS / +64 Nm over the old three-cylinder
- 0–100 km/h: 7.5 seconds (down from 9.6 seconds — a full 2.1 seconds quicker)
- Claimed fuel consumption: 5.7L/100km (17.5km/L) — 8.1% better than before
- Transmission: 7-speed wet dual-clutch (7-DCT), retained from previous model
Proton also recalibrated the DCT for smoother gearshifts, and the switch to a toothed timing chain — instead of the old belt — should lower long-term servicing costs for owners. The same three driving modes (Eco, Comfort, Sport) are available, though Proton has held off on adding an Adaptive mode, saying it is still evaluating customer feedback from the X50 facelift before committing.
For Malaysian rakyat doing their daily commute, the practical improvement is real — 181 PS with 290 Nm in a sub-RM100k family sedan is a genuinely strong package, and the 5.7L/100km fuel claim means running costs stay manageable even as RON95 prices face upward pressure.
What Has Changed on the Outside and Inside
The exterior updates are conservative rather than dramatic. Proton has borrowed design cues from the 2025 Geely Emgrand — the S70’s platform sibling — bringing revised LED headlights with a cleaner, less flashy signature (the previous start-up animation sequence is gone), repositioned turn signals now separate from the DRL strip, and new taillight startup animations. New alloy wheel designs and an optional Aerokit on the Flagship X round out the exterior refresh.
A new colour joins the palette: Ruby Red, making its S70 debut here after first appearing on the Saga. Total colour choices are now six: Quartz Black, Snow White, Armour Silver, Marine Blue, Space Grey, and Ruby Red.
On the inside, the story varies significantly by variant — something buyers need to understand clearly before walking into a showroom:
- Executive and Premium: 8.0-inch infotainment screen, analogue instrument cluster (no digital dash)
- Flagship and Flagship X: 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment + 10.25-inch TFT digital instrument display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 360-degree HD camera with 3D display, wireless mobile charger, six-way powered driver’s seat, security window film, and 17-inch alloy wheels
The wireless AACP upgrade is Flagship and above only — and Proton has confirmed it will not be retrofittable to older S70 models.
Safety: More Than the Basics
All variants come standard with six airbags, ESC, ABS, and TCS. The 2026 update also introduces three new ADAS features across the board: lane change assist, door opening warning, and rear cross traffic alert.
The two Flagship variants step up to the full Level 2 ADAS suite with 13 active safety features, including autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, blind spot monitoring, and intelligent cruise control.
Official Pricing — What You Actually Pay
The official OTR pricing (without insurance) for the 2026 Proton S70 MC1 is:
| Variant | OTR Price (Without Insurance) | With RM5,000 Launch Rebate* |
|---|---|---|
| S70 Executive | RM73,800 | RM68,800 |
| S70 Premium | RM79,800 | RM74,800 |
| S70 Flagship | RM89,800 | RM84,800 |
| S70 Flagship X | RM94,800 | RM89,800 |
*RM5,000 launch rebate applies to the first 2,000 customers who register before 31 March 2026. Act fast if you want that discount — those slots will not last.
Every S70 comes with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty, six complimentary service labour visits, and a five-year in-car data package with 2GB of data per month.
How It Stacks Up Against the Competition
This is where the S70’s value case becomes very hard to argue against. At RM73,800, you are getting a turbocharged four-cylinder producing 181 PS and 290 Nm — figures that simply do not exist in any rival at this price point.
Compare the S70’s competitors in the Malaysian sedan market:
- Honda City — from RM84,900 (121 PS, naturally aspirated)
- Toyota Vios — from RM89,600 (106 PS, naturally aspirated)
- Nissan Almera — from RM79,906 (100 PS, 1.0T three-cylinder)
The S70 undercuts all three on price while delivering significantly more power, more torque, and a larger body. For families who need a practical, spacious sedan — 500L boot, five seats, 1,809mm wide — without stretching the budget toward RM90k or beyond, the S70 makes a compelling argument.
What This Means for Malaysian Drivers and the Automotive Market
The 2026 S70 MC1 matters beyond just being a good deal on a sedan. It is a signal about where Proton — and by extension Malaysian car buyers — are heading.
The shift to the i-GT four-cylinder engine is the same powertrain strategy Proton is now deploying across the X50 and X70. It means parts commonality, better long-term parts availability, and a more consistent ownership experience across the Proton-Geely ecosystem. For a market as price-sensitive as Malaysia, that is a meaningful advantage.
It also creates real pressure on Honda, Toyota, and Nissan to respond. Their current B-segment offerings are built around naturally aspirated engines with modest power outputs — comfortable choices for brand-loyal buyers, but increasingly difficult to justify on a spec-for-spec basis against what Proton is now offering.
For rakyat weighing a new car purchase in 2026, the S70’s turbocharged four-cylinder, proper ADAS suite on the Flagship trim, and sub-RM90k pricing with the launch rebate makes it one of the most complete value propositions in the Malaysian new car market right now.
The question is no longer whether the S70 is good enough. It is whether the competition can keep up.
