This is the Proton eMas 5, the national car maker’s first affordable EV for the country. Priced between RM 56,800 to RM 69,800, the Proton eMas 5 not just complements the larger eMas 7 in Pro-Net’s line-up, but also challenges some well-established B-segment hatchbacks within this price bracket.
Kicking the line-up off is the eMas 5 Prime, which gets a 30.12-kWh CATL-sourced LFP battery pack, juicing a 58-kW (79 PS) / 130 Nm rear-mounted electric motor. The quoted WLTP range is 225 km.
Then there’s the one we sampled, the eMas 5 Premium, powered by a larger 40.16-kWh CATL-sourced LFP battery pack. Here, the electric motor does 85 kW (116 PS) and 150 Nm. The larger capacity battery also allows the eMas 5 Premium to return a WLTP-quoted range of 325 km – 100 km more than the Prime variant.
Read Also: 2026 Proton eMas 5 launched: Malaysia’s first affordable EV priced from RM 56,800*
The recent media drive that Pro-Net organised gave us the opportunity to sample and put this little EV through its paces, including a hill climb up Genting Highlands.
After spending some quality time with the eMas 5 Premium, here’s 5 reasons why you should consider the eMas 5 as your first EV.
Excellent ride comfort for Malaysian roads
First things first – the Proton eMas 5 does not feature the Proton Ride and Handling feature that was found on older Proton models.
But, despite not having the famed Proton Ride and Handling feature, the eMas 5 still manages to soak up road irregularities and bumps with confidence, without nauseating the occupants. That’s largely due to the thick sidewalls of the stock tyres which measure 205/60R16, and coupled with its front MacPherson struts and rear multi-link suspension – the latter is unheard of for a car at this segment and price point.
Tons of storage space, including a frunk
Pro-Net touts 32 storage compartments scattered throughout the cabin of the eMas 5, including a nifty space under the rear seats for shoes, under console storage, and impressively, a 70-litre frunk.
The latter is made possible by the eMas 5’s rear-mounted electric motor, which then frees up space up front for said frunk.
We even loaded up the frunk with durians, which impressively kept the durian smells isolated from the cabin. Good job Proton.
eMas 5 is surprisingly power efficient
We took the eMas 5 from Bentong down to Petaling Jaya before returning it back at Proton’s Shah Alam office.
During the almost-100 km journey, the eMas 5’s on-board trip computer recorded an average energy consumption figure of 5.7 kWh/100 km – an impressive figure given that we had uphill sections through Karak and rush hour traffic to deal with.
Pro-Net quotes a range of 325 km under the WLTP test cycle, and we reckon that is sufficient enough for those driving the eMas 5 around town.
To charge from 30% to 80% state-of-charge is pretty quick too, taking about 20 minutes to achieve that, thanks to its 71 kW DC fast charging (The Prime variant does up to 53 kW, 30% to 80% SoC same time).
Tight spaces? eMas 5 doesn’t flinch
Being an urban EV, drivability around tight spots is crucial and the eMas 5 aces that aspect with ease. The eMas 5’s compact dimensions, coupled with its rear-wheel drive layout and tight turning radius make for a very easy little urban EV to navigate around town, even in very tight spots. Its 4.95-meter turning radius is also best in its class.
Moreover, the eMas 5’s light steering makes it a doddle to drive around town, which fits the needs of city dwellers.
For those who needs more assistance, the Premium variant of the eMas 5 also includes a 360-degree camera.
That price is definitely a factor
At its current RM 56,800 to RM 69,800 price point, the eMas 5 is priced within the ballpark of other B-segment hatchbacks, making it a compelling option for those wanting to give EV a try, but without breaking the bank.
The eMas 5 also offers a rear-wheel drive (RWD) layout with rear multi-link suspension geometry, something unheard of in this price segment. For those who values such features should definitely give the eMas 5 a second look.
Conclusion
The Proton eMas 5 focuses on getting the fundamentals right. It prioritises comfort, efficiency, practicality, and ease of use – qualities that matter most to Malaysian buyers considering their first EV. And our first impressions of it further solidifies that notion.
Sure, we would have loved to see a wireless charger or powered seats, but given its price point and current feature set, there’s little room to complain about what’s missing. We would also have loved to see a tonneau cover included, which is especially useful for those who would like to keep things in the boot away from prying eyes.
Icing on this cake has to be its value for money aspect. The eMas 5, we believe, makes for an excellent entry-level EV for those looking to dip their toes into the world of cleaner and sustainable mobility, all without breaking the bank.
Proton eMas 5 Media Drive Photo Gallery
