Proton e.MAS 5 Electric 40.16kWh Review: An Honest Little EV

The Proton e.MAS 5 is the Malaysian carmaker’s second EV in Singapore. This compact electric hatchback is surprisingly spacious, versatile and easy to live with — and, for those who drive north, there is a little extra peace of mind thrown in

Singapore — The Proton e.MAS 5 is the Malaysian carmaker’s second electric car to reach our shores. Unlike the larger Proton e.MAS 7, which is an SUV, the e.MAS 5 is a compact hatchback that is easy to drive and manageable around town.

Heavily based on the Geely Xingyuan, its Chinese sister car and a bestseller in its home market, the e.MAS 5 takes a relatively straightforward approach to electric motoring. It does not try to wow you with a hundred different party tricks. Instead, it offers a practical cabin, plenty of storage and a comfortable ride.

An inoffensive, slippery blobject

The little Proton’s rounded form is almost reminiscent of the tech “blobjects” you probably had sitting in a drawer back in the 1990s. Its organic shape is about as inoffensive as it gets.

Although marketed as a hatchback, the e.MAS 5 has SUV-like cladding around its wheel arches. Perhaps you could call it a crossover, too.

At 2,650mm, the e.MAS 5 has a rather long wheelbase for a car of this size, which translates into generous interior legroom. For comparison, the Aion UT adds another 100mm to that figure.

From the outside, it is also clear that the designers have held back on the gimmicks. There are no retractable door handles, which is particularly good in my books. Because that is one less set of electricals to worry about throughout your ownership journey.

Simple on the inside

The interior is simple, but not bare-boned. The dashboard features a wide, upright gloss-black panel with a 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen sitting proud in the middle.

Interestingly, instead of the Geely-Meizu-developed Flyme Auto operating system found in the e.MAS 7, the e.MAS 5 uses a Microsoft Windows-based Atlas Operating System.

There are some similarities in how the two systems function, but the Atlas system in the e.MAS 5 comes across as a smidge sluggish.

The Proton e.MAS Intelligent Voice Assistant can distinguish between the driver and front passenger when responding to commands, and interestingly, it understands both English and Bahasa Melayu. Perhaps the most useful function of the Voice Assistant — provided you remember to use it — is adjusting the regenerative braking. This is worth doing because the setting resets every time you restart the car.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available wirelessly or through a wired connection. There is, however, no wireless charging pad. This feels like a missed opportunity to “close the loop” between streaming your favourite tunes and keeping your phone charged.

Audio quality from the six-speaker system is in my books below average, but then again, this is meant to be an entry-level EV.

For the driver, an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster presents the important information clearly and is easy on the eyes.

Room for four, and then some

Thanks to its long wheelbase, the e.MAS 5 has little trouble accommodating four adults. Rear passengers get close to 900mm of legroom to stretch out in, while the relatively high rear-seat position provides decent thigh support.

Proton has also made good use of the space available. The 375-litre boot expands to 1,320 litres when the 60:40 split-folding rear seatbacks are lowered. Unfortunately, like the e.MAS 7, the e.MAS 5 does not come with a parcel shelf.

Up front, a 70-litre frunk can carry up to 50kg of cargo. It is around 20 litres larger than the one in the Dongfeng Vigo, giving you somewhere (else) to store that gym bag, and your dirty workout clothes.

There is more storage inside, too: a 20-litre glovebox, a 20-litre under-console compartment and various smaller cubbies. Proton claims a total of 32 storage compartments.

The most interesting party trick is a removable 28-litre storage container beneath the seat. You can use it to stow occasional items — anything from sporting gear to, perhaps, a pair of foldable picnic chairs.

Soft-riding, but okey-dokey good handling

There is currently just one variant of the e.MAS 5 available. It gets a rear-mounted electric motor producing 114hp (85kW) and 150Nm of torque.

Like most EVs, the e.MAS 5 has little trouble getting off the line ahead of the pack at the traffic lights. It reaches 50km/h in a claimed 3.9 seconds before going on to 100km/h in 10 seconds.

The suspension comprises MacPherson struts up front and a multi-link arrangement at the rear. It is among the softer setups I have driven, and the e.MAS 5 does wallow a little through bends. Push on, however, and there comes a point where the suspension settles enough for the hatchback to handle surprisingly well.

With the driven wheels at the rear, understeer is less of a concern when turning into and out of corners, particularly in the wet. The Chinese-made 16-inch LingLong tyres offer acceptable grip and roll relatively quietly.

Therefore, you’d probably need not Lelong your LingLongs for something grippier.

Dad joke! You’re welcome!

Because we are neighbours

The 40.16kWh battery in this test car provides a claimed range of around 325km. Conservatively speaking, that should be enough to get you from Singapore to Malacca on a single charge, with some buffer to spare.

For Singapore owners who occasionally head north, Proton has another useful selling point. Proton Singapore has included five years of data roaming in both Singapore and Malaysia for the e.MAS 5, along with roadside assistance for owners driving in Peninsular Malaysia.

An honest little EV

I like how honest the Proton e.MAS 5 is. At a time when electric cars are increasingly trying to outdo one another with bigger screens, more gimmicks and features that sound impressive but only in a showroom, the e.MAS 5 comes across as a straightforward offering. It has a comfortable ride, a surprisingly spacious cabin and clever storage solutions. Most of all, it has handling that is better than its soft suspension might suggest.

It is not perfect. The infotainment system could be snappier, the audio system could be better, and the absence of a wireless charging pad and parcel shelf feels like a couple of small misses. But none of these takes away from its basic appeal as an approachable entry-level electric hatchback.

For Singapore drivers looking for a practical EV that is easy to manoeuvre, comfortable enough for daily use and versatile enough for their every day and every other day, the e.MAS 5 makes a convincing case for itself.

And if you occasionally drive up to Malaysia, the added data roaming and roadside assistance are useful bonuses. Not bad for a little car that does not feel the need to shout about itself.

Photos & Text: Clifford Chow

Proton e.MAS 5: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Proton e.MAS 5?
The Proton e.MAS 5 is a compact, rear-wheel-drive electric hatchback based heavily on the Geely Xingyuan. It is Proton’s second electric model offered in Singapore, alongside the larger e.MAS 7.

What is the Proton e.MAS 5’s driving range?
The supplied specifications state a range of around 325km from its battery. Actual driving range will vary depending on driving style, traffic and operating conditions.

How much boot space does the Proton e.MAS 5 have?
The e.MAS 5 has a 375-litre boot, which expands to 1,320 litres with the 60:40 split-folding rear seatbacks lowered. It also has a 70-litre front storage compartment.

Is the Proton e.MAS 5 suitable for driving to Malaysia?
Proton’s stated package includes five years of data roaming in Singapore and Malaysia, as well as roadside assistance for owners driving in Peninsular Malaysia. Owners should check the applicable terms and plan charging stops before travelling.

What are the Proton e.MAS 5’s motor specifications?
The supplied specifications list a rear-mounted electric motor producing 114hp (85kW) and 150Nm of torque, with a claimed 0–100km/h time of 10 seconds.

Pros	Cons
Spacious for its size, fairly good build quality	No wireless charging pad
Soft-riding suspension but handles well	No cargo cover
Decent features	Infotainment has too many menus

Proton e.MAS 5 Electric 40.16kWh

Drivetrain	Full Electric
Layout	Single Motor, Rear-wheel Drive
Motor power / torque	114hp / 150Nm
Battery capacity	40.16Wh
Efficiency	6.6lm/kWh
Electric Range	325km
0-100km/h	10 seconds
Top Speed	140km/h
VES Band	A1
Dealer	Proton e.MAS Singapore
Price	S$173,100 with COE and VES
Verdict	An honest entry electric SUV, with roadside support if you plan to drive up north. Handles decently well too!