The Proton e.MAS 7 is Malaysia’s first homegrown electric vehicle. Now, that’s a big deal. And because we’ve had a blast with the X50 and X70 before, especially their solid performance, we had high hopes. So, when Proton decided to enter the EV game, we expected something serious. And honestly? They’ve done a good job.

That said… the name e.MAS 7 is a bit of a mouthful. Feels like you’re saying a Wi-Fi password. Maybe Proton could’ve just called it the e7 or MAS7 and made life easier for everyone.

But naming aside, the car itself? Surprisingly impressive.

EXTERIOR

One look at the e.MAS 7 and you know this isn’t trying to scream “Look at me! I’m an EV!” — and that’s refreshing. It’s not chasing the hyper-aggressive, origami-folded trend that’s popular with a lot of new EVs these days. Instead, you get smooth curves, a mature silhouette, and a design that feels like it knows what it’s doing.

We especially liked how understated the whole thing feels. It doesn’t demand attention, but if you take a second look, there’s some class in the detailing: the clean body lines, the neat LED lighting, and those 19-inch wheels (on the Premium variant) that give it some presence without going full try-hard.

Also, and this might sound silly, it’s easier to wash. No sharp creases or overly stylized bodywork means fewer water droplets getting stuck in weird places. Practical win. But yeah, the front grille area could use a little more character; it looks a bit... empty. Maybe a larger logo or some texture would’ve helped.

INTERIOR & FEATURES

Hop inside, and it’s clear Proton went all out here. The interior punches above its weight class. Right from the tactile buttons to the premium leatherette upholstery, it feels far more expensive than you'd expect at this price point.

The seats are incredibly comfortable, with ventilation, memory settings, and electronic adjustment up front. Long drives? Easy. The center rotary knob on the console is a brilliant touch too — you can use it for volume, shortcut functions, or AC fan control, and it feels solid and satisfying to use. It’s just nice when carmakers think about the little things.

Rear seat space is also excellent. There’s generous legroom, and the seat recline angle actually makes it comfortable to chill in the back, something a lot of EVs forget about. It almost feels like Proton designed this for real families who actually use the back seats.

And then there's the tech: 13.2-inch infotainment screen, a slick 10.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and even speakers in the headrests. At first, we thought that was a gimmick, but it’s actually smart. It sends you system notifications without disturbing the whole cabin. You also get ambient lighting, a panoramic sunroof, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The boot is another win. The flat lip makes loading things easy, and underneath, there’s a deep storage compartment that can hold up to 35kg — perfect for groceries or hiding away charging cables.

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Only real gripe here is that there’s no tonneau cover, which would’ve been useful for keeping things out of sight. Oh, and safety? Fully loaded. You get Level 2 ADAS, blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise, lane keep assist, traffic sign recognition, and even leading vehicle departure alerts that serve as a handy reminder when the car in front moves while you're distracted, fiddling with the AC or Spotify.

PERFORMANCE

For something that looks so calm, the e.MAS 7 moves. Under the hood (or floor, really), you get a 160kW PMS motor making 330Nm of torque — and while it's front-wheel drive, it puts the power down nicely. It never feels like it’s struggling or straining.

There are three drive modes. Eco is sensible and perfect for city driving: not lazy, just efficient. Comfort is where we spent most of our time: it’s balanced, responsive, and doesn’t drain your battery too fast. Sport? It’s shockingly quick. Like, “wait, what just happened?” quick. Not tire-shredding, but it will put a grin on your face.

What’s cool is how the brake regen kicks in with just the right delay. You get that moment to decide whether to lift off, let the regen take over, or step back on the accelerator. It makes the drive feel more natural and less jerky.

We even tackled some rougher roads, and the 173mm ground clearance handled them without fuss. It’s no off-roader, but you won’t be scraping every time you leave a mall parking lot either. Body roll is well-controlled too, unless you’re absolutely chucking it into corners, which, let’s be honest, most buyers won’t be doing.

VERDICT

The Proton e.MAS 7 is not trying to be the fastest, flashiest EV out there, and that’s exactly why it works. It’s well-rounded, thoughtfully put together, and feels like a car designed by people who actually thought about how it would be used five years down the line.

It’s not a hardcore driver’s car, but it delivers when you want it to. And more importantly, it’s comfortable, practical, and just a nice place to be. The fact that it starts at Rs. 56.99 Lakh for the Prime variant and Rs. 67.99 Lakh for the Premium makes it feel like good value, especially when you stack it up against rivals that are either underpowered or overpriced.

Proton’s first EV feels properly ready — not just for today, but for a few years to come.