LIKE a mystery box packed with hidden goodies, we found that driving our nation’s most affordable electric vehicle (EV) is full of surprises.
Everything unfolded during the Proton e.MAS Tour Misi 5 Media Edition.
It began with a simple enough premise as with all drive excursions to reach a destination.
The twist was that we were not aware of our goal beforehand.
To top it off we were participating in a range efficiency competition with a time limit to boot.
Our ultimate destination would only be revealed after completing mini challenges at each checkpoint site - some of them lead to multiple areas before funneling to a single gather zone.
It is as complicated as it sounds. And since we’re going in blind from the start there’s the difficult matter of choosing the most optimal route and speed to ensure we don’t burn through our reserves and lose the treasure hunt.
The competitive drive was a bit of a mayhem, but I would argue it was necessary if only to find out the true value of the e.MAS 5 Premium variant.
On two occasions, we needed to push the limits of the compact EV’s storage prowess.
Not so surprising for EVs but still commendable for a car its size.
You’re looking at a 70-litre frunk, 28 litres of under-seat, and a 375-litre rear trunk that is expandable to 1,320 litres.
In all, the e.MAS 5 has 32 smart storage compartments primed for gadgets, daily essentials, and groceries.
While we’re on the matter of space, it may come as a surprise to you that the B-segment compact e.MAS 5 has a rather roomy C-segment interior cabin.
It is 4,135mm long, 1,580mm tall and 1,805mm wide. Its wheelbase is 2,650mm.
Maximising the use of its cabin dimensions is a flat rear floor, foldable 60:40 rear seats and a wide 65-degree rear door opening that allows for easy entry to really drive home that sense of spaciousness.
For its size, the practicality and comfort of the e.MAS 5 was definitely much more appreciated when we were on the move.
Before long, the conveniences the car afforded made our urban exploration experience vastly smoother as the going got tough.
It helps that it has a lounge-style interior, complete with a two-tone leatherette steering, a 14.6-inch FHD display head unit and an 8.8-inch full-colour digital instrument monitor.
Running on ATLAS Auto OS, the system supports English and Malay languages as well as wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.
It also comes with Proton e.MAS’ signature Integrated Live Charging Map that allows users to search, navigate and pay for charging at over 90% of EV chargers in Malaysia.
This means owners are linked to over 4,000 charging points across the nation.
As with most modern models, the compact is packed with smart everyday features like a powered tailgate, pneumatic rods, keyless entry, and Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality.
Drivers can also remotely monitor and control vehicle functions with the Proton e.MAS App - from checking battery level to pre-cooling the cabin.
While standard to your modern day EV, having the access to these features at this price is always a delight.
Still, the best part of the e.MAS 5 is driving it around the city.
Amongst the stops we had to go through were Petaling Jaya (PJ) Art Lane and Dunian Durian @Backspace Jalan Alor - places under normal circumstances not somewhere you usually drive into.
The Art Lane itself is usually cordoned off but the true challenge for both areas are their tight space.
We mostly managed because our activity was mid-day on a weekday, but credit must be given to the e.MAS 5’s size and best-in-class turning radius of 4.95 metres.
These qualities when paired with a 360-degree camera and 3D display come to the fore when navigating tight city roads and parking spaces.
After running around Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur (Shah Alam for those who chose those routes) we were finally let in on our endpoint which was going up Genting to Wyndham Ion Majestic Hotel.
Around this point, we headed to Bamboo Hills to get charged up for our final leg up the highlands.
A single full charge on the e.MAS 5 Premium can net you a practical WLTP range of 325km.
We stayed for a little over 21 minutes to DC fast charge our car from 30% to 80%.
We could probably make the stretch if we didn’t run around the Klang Valley before the trip up, and we probably didn’t need to charge either if we drove conservatively.
But since we were rushing for time and wanted a proper drive experience then it was simply necessary that we weren’t running at low range capacity.
For a little fun, the EV’s 85kW motor that delivers 150Nm of torque to the rear wheels allows the e.MAS 5 to achieve 0–50kph in just 3.9 seconds.
Alongside its road-nimble assets the journey up Genting was quite the rush.
Having our convoy reach the hotel safely, we have to say the e.MAS 5 is gold.
It is quite the fun and complete package we never expected it to be.
Passenger space is ample in spite of its slightly smaller B-segment frame and its performance is just enough to get your around the city and for a short getaway.
You could say you’ll be getting more than what you would anticipate from a car at this price.
A real steal if you ask us, especially if all you want is an EV that won’t break your bank.
Available in two variants it is priced on-the-road without insurance at RM59,800 for the Prime variant, while the Premium goes for RM72,800.
