What Is The Fastest B-Segment SUV In Malaysia?

What is the fastest B-Segment SUV you can buy in Malaysia currently off the showroom floor?

When Proton introduced the X50 to the Malaysian market back in October 2020, it made huge waves due to its many impressive features.

The Proton SUV impressed the Malaysian public in many different ways, including its premium-feeling interior, its extensive amount of safety kit, as well as its good level of connectivity.

But being typical petrolheads, we obviously got most excited about its powertrain above all else, as its 1.5-litre direct-injection (TGDI) engine is capable of producing 177 PS and 255 Nm of torque. 

This potent powertrain instantly made the Proton SUV the fastest B-Segment SUV in the market at the time of its introduction, which really did bump it up a notch in many people's books. This was further proven when members of the media put the X50 up against the X1 and HR-V in a drag race on the Sepang circuit. 

That fastest vehicle label lasted for many months, but now there is a faster B-Segment SUV in the market which has kicked the X50 off its throne.

So which one of these B-Segment SUVs has managed to strip the X50's label of fastest B-Segment SUV? Let's take a look at the table down below.

As you can see from the table, the fastest B-Segment SUV is now the Hyundai Kona 1.6 Turbo. 

Equipped with a turbocharged four-cylinder, the higher-tier Kona variant has a 21 PS power advantage over X50 Flagship’s 177 PS. Peak torque is also in the Hyundai’s favour, though only slightly, by 10 Nm.

However marginal or seemingly massive, the performance gap between Proton’s 1.5-litre 3-cylinder engine and the Hyundai’s 1.6-litre four-cylinder mill may be, both these direct-injected turbocharged petrol engines will no doubt provide ample speed and acceleration in normal driving situations, which is how these SUVs will most probably be used as. 

While true that the X50 is no longer the most powerful B-segment SUV contender, you will be paying a significant premium to step up to the Hyundai and its all-mighty power, as it is about RM40k more expensive than the top-spec X50, the Flagship.

Whether this RM40k bump in price is worth the extra 21 PS is totally down to preference, but it is difficult for the Kona to beat the Proton X50 as a value proposition, even if it is the fastest B-Segment SUV in the market.