Just a few days after making its local debut, it appears that the newly updated 2026 Proton X90 has just lost its ASEAN NCAP 5-star safety rating status.
According to the body’s official statement, the revoking is due to the “removal of essential Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) in the updated model,” which has downgraded its safety rating to just 1-star.
No ADAS, No 5-Star
Aside from its now more attainable price tag and the new 1.5TD i-GT engine, another eye-opening fact about the updated X90 is that it does not feature any ADAS functions across all three variants. As per ASEAN NCAP’s official statement, the body found that a majority of the ADAS technologies present on the original 2023 model have been removed, including:
- Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
- Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
- Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
- Lane Keep Assist (LKA)
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
- Blind Spot Technology (BST)
With this removal, ASEAN NCAP noted that the Safety Assist (SA) score for the updated 2026 model has been dropped to 4-star, while the Motorcyclist Safety (MS) category—which heavily relies on the ADAS functions like BST—has plummeted to 1-star.
All in all, this removal has resulted in the new 2026 Proton X90 to only score an overall 1-star rating after the adjustments were made based on the latest findings.
2023-2025 X90 Models Unaffected
Given that only the 2026 models get the ADAS removal, ASEAN NCAP says this latest de-scoring will not affect the models manufactured between 2023 and 2025, as these specific models were verified to include the ADAS function mandated by the body’s 2021-2025 assessment protocol.
“We deeply regret Proton’s decision to remove life-saving ADAS technologies from the new facelift model (X90). To protect consumers and maintain the integrity of safety standards, we have no choice but to revoke the 2023 5-star rating.
“This serves as a reminder to all manufacturers: safety is not a trade-off. Do not sacrifice proven safety technology for ‘face-value’ luxuries like infotainment systems and leatherette upholstery,” said Assoc. Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Siti Zaharah Ishak, Director General of the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS).
Meanwhile, Ts. Yahaya Ahmad, Technical Leader of ASEAN NCAP, said, “Blind Spot Detection (BSD) is a critical weighted factor in our Motorcyclist Safety category. Its removal, alongside other advanced safety assists, has stripped the X90 of the points that previously earned it a top-tier rating.”
“Safety must be a priority accessible to all, not a luxury. ASEAN NCAP will continue to monitor all rated manufacturers; we will not hesitate to revoke the ratings of any brand that compromises vehicle safety post-assessment,” he continued.
