2024 Proton X50

Proton X50

Proton’s X50 wants a slice of the same compact SUV pie the Haval H6 and Chery Tiggo 7 Pro have already started carving up in South Africa. It’s for buyers who want a turbocharged petrol engine, decent cabin tech, and a price tag that doesn’t tip over R400k. There’s only one engine in the mix—a 1.5-litre turbo petrol—matched to either a conventional auto or a dual-clutch, depending on trim. Here’s the catch: with just two used examples up for grabs nationally, priced at R219,990 and R262,900, you’re not exactly spoiled for choice. Those prices make it clear the X50 is gunning for value in a segment where Chinese competition is fierce and well-established. Both listings are 2023 or 2024 models, showing an average of 56,790 km, which tells you these weren’t garage queens—they’ve seen real Gauteng traffic and school runs. The Standard asks R219,990, while the Luxury trim commands a full R43,000 more. That gap deserves a hard look, because spec creep can get expensive quickly if you’re not careful. Buyers were drawn to the Geely underpinnings, which lend a bit more credibility than the Proton badge suggests on paper at least. Still, the big problem is supply. There are no new units—if you want one, it’s secondhand or bust. With just two cars listed across the whole country, your options are basically binary, not helped by Proton’s tiny dealer network. Meanwhile, Haval and Chery are everywhere, which means confidence in resale is only going one way.