The upcoming Proton SUV will be based on the Geely Boyue and will surface in the final quarter of this year. The Boyue is one of Geely’s most important and best selling models in China, as SUVs of every kind gain favour among consumers. 

Fresh from a record year, Geely did not bask in the sun and refreshed the Boyue earlier this year, just less than two years after the C-segment SUV was launched. 


The most obvious change is in front, where the bumper is more elaborate and aggressive in design. The “side intakes” are much larger now while the LED fog lamps have been moved down to the lower edges of the face. The headlamp and grille mask appears unchanged at a glance, but look closely and you’ll see a slim opening that underlines the brand’s signature “expanding cosmos” grille.

At the rear, the tail lights with fork LED bars have been given darker lenses, while the bumper receives a wider skid plate, redesigned tailpipe finishers (there are actual pipes behind) and vertical reflectors. The new alloy wheels are also a size larger at 19 inches in diameter, although the 18-inch rims seen at our local preview would probably make more sense in our market. There’s a bit of Range Rover Evoque in the design, but the Peter Horbury-penned SUV is handsome to these eyes. I’m sure many would agree.


Inside, the biggest change is the new infotainment system, which ditches physical controls in favour of touch-sensitive buttons. The touchscreen, which now sits flush with the bezels, remains an eight-inch item, but the resolution has been bumped up to 1920×720 pixels. The user interface has also been redesigned, and the 360-degree camera now shows a 3D view of obstacles surrounding the car.

Other new items include four extra USB ports (two front, two rear), plus another port in the headlining near the rear-view mirror for easy installation of a dashcam – a thoughtful addition. Another useful feature is front passenger seat controls on the outer side of the backrest, allowing the driver (and rear passengers) to easily adjust the front passenger seat without stretching. 


The facelifted Boyue also welcomes a new tea brown leather upholstery colour, an illuminated P-R-N-D display next to the gearlever and a sound system by Morel, a specialist brand that audiophiles would know of. The speaker grilles have a unique interlocking G pattern that’s repeated on the lights/wiper stalks and door handle area – it’s a nice accent that adds character to the Boyue.

The cabin’s perceived quality is high, with soft plastics on the door caps and dash top, which all get stitching. The seats and the leather are soft, while the prevalent brushed metal trim is rather convincing, more so than in some Continental cars even.


It’s a neatly designed dashboard, livened by flourishes such as the grab handles on the centre console and the unique door handles, as well as the above-mentioned detailing. The Volvo-style digital instrument panel – which starts and ends with fancy animation, and has different graphics for each drive mode (see the video below) – adds a touch of high-tech. All very pleasant, premium even, which caught this pundit by surprise.

Safety-wise, the Boyue receives a blind spot monitor that also warns if a passenger is about to open the door into traffic. This joins the list of existing driver assists, including autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and auto high beam. Proton has touted these driver assist features in its SUV teaser campaign, and they will be firsts for both the brand and the Boyue’s expected price range.


Also mentioned by Proton are the “Smartphone Remote Control” and “Smart Air Purifier” features. The latter might refer to the “Air Cleaner” that can be found above the rear air con vent between the front seats. Other equipment that will be on the Proton SUV include a tyre pressure monitoring system and the Boyue FL’s eight-inch infotainment system with 4G connectivity. Of course, other than the features already mentioned by Proton, the rest of the equipment list is yet to be finalised.

The refreshed SUV carries on with the same engines. Chinese buyers get to choose from a 139 hp/178 Nm 2.0 litre naturally-aspirated engine or a 1.8 litre turbocharged unit. The latter makes either 161 hp/250 Nm with a six-speed manual transmission or 181 hp/285 Nm with a six-speed conventional automatic. Front- or all-wheel drive options are available in the Boyue’s home market.


Proton will be offering Malaysians the 1.8 TGDi engine, and we’re expecting the turbocharged motor to come with FWD and AWD options. According to the energy consumption label found on cars in China, combined fuel consumption for a TGDi front-wheel-drive Boyue weighing 1,690 kg is 7.8 litres per 100 km (12.8 km/l). On the topic of engines, check out the Boyue’s neatly sealed engine bay.