Largely wonderful weather this last week! As the holiday season draws near, it’s been clear skies with cool, refreshing breezes that can help us lay off the air-conditioning (and, consequently, bring our sky-high electric bills down). Despite the chilliness rolling in, it’s been a hot week for one Asian carmaker – and for once, it isn’t from China! Hyundai Philippines launched two new models last week and is mulling over bringing even more. The South Korean company is among your five favorite st

Disclaimer: Jetour Auto Philippines paid for my airfare, transportation and accommodation for a week-long trip with other media practitioners to China, including a visit to Auto Shanghai 2023. Everybody in the Philippines is familiar with the Chery QQ from the mid to late 2000s. The dinky urban hatchback became the symbol of everything that was wrong with China-made cars. With shabby workmanship, questionable aftersales (if there were any) and non-existent warranties, the QQ was China’s first ma

At some point or another, during your elementary and high school days, there was one student who always got a big chunk of the achievement awards. In a similar vein (albeit in the Philippine auto industry setting), that student is Toyota Motor Philippines. According to information gleaned from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines (CAMPI), which is the largest automotive group in the country, Toyota once again dominated in 2022 by having eight of the top 10 models and nine o

The Mazda CX-60 is currently sold in Australia, Japan, and Europe – and it heralds a new era in the Japanese carmaker’s history. It may look like a refreshed and lengthened Mazda CX-5, but it is a totally different animal underneath. Take a peek at the spec sheet, and this five-seat crossover looks more like a Japanese competitor to BMW and Mercedes-Benz, which plays along the purposeful move to premium that the company set itself on a few years ago. To reinforce its premium leanings, the CX-60

When we first saw the photos of the upcoming 2023 Honda Pilot, we had to double-check the badges. Viewed from the rear, you would not be faulted for thinking that it should have a “Blue Oval” because it is a dead ringer for the previous-generation Ford Everest. This is most apparent in the rear taillight design that is also connected by a large strip that carries the model name. And the shape of the rear window almost makes you think one would fit on the other. But even though the Pilot and the

As a Filipino, I am aware that hybrid vehicles like the 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid are already standard fare in other countries. They are, after all, more advanced in exploring ways to promote fuel efficiency and sustainability. The proliferation of hybrid vehicles is also helpful to car buyers concerned about the continuous fuel price hikes all over the globe. And perhaps it is high time for Filipinos to consider transportation alternatives like this. Automotive technology is surely takin