Toyota Motor Philippines has added a new variant to its venerable Toyota Innova. A quick look at the brand’s official website reveals that the new model is called the Innova XE. It sits just below the Innova E model in terms of pricing and specifications. On the outside, the new XE variant looks similar to the J model as it ditches the 16-inch alloy wheels from the E variant and replaces them with steel wheels with plastic covers. However, despite the shift to steel wheels, the tire sizing remai

Local automakers got a big shot in the arm after the Philippine government extended the timeframe of its ₱27-billion program to boost domestic car manufacturing. The Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) announced in a May 2023 press statement that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved a five-year extension to the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) Program. PSAC is composed of business leaders and experts across six main sectoral groups: Agriculture, Digital Infrastructur

Let’s turn the clock back some five years ago. In 2018, I was 40 pounds lighter and working part-time as a motoring contributor to help me through graduate school. This was also the year that I started my racing career. 2018 was also when the cars in this list were showroom fresh. Even without the “new car smell,” which is actually a combination of chemicals from the manufacturing process, these models still have plenty of life left in them. Indeed, five years is typically the time when most com

Looking at the Mitsubishi Xpander (Specs | News) nameplate’s sales performance last year, one can conclude that the entry-level multipurpose vehicle (MPV) is a sought-after brand. The MPV sold some 16,309 units last year – including its top-end Xpander Cross variants - and was number five in the country's top ten selling vehicle models. That said, Mitsubishi felt that the top end of the Xpander line (namely, the ₱1.328 million to ₱1.353 million Xpander Cross) had to be updated to remain a top-of

The first-generation Nissan Livina was part of the initial Asian Utility Vehicle (AUV) boom in the country in the mid-2000s. It joined the likes of the Toyota Innova, Mitsubishi Adventure, and other vehicles that filled that niche. However, this first iteration didn’t last long. It was removed from the brand’s local lineup in the early 2010s, with its rivals advancing to a newer generation with better technology. Fast forward to 2023, and the Nissan Livina has returned with its second generation

Everyone picks affordable yet worthy stuff in a world where earning money and paying bills is not easy. Maybe not for all, but for most of us who wake up to burden ourselves in return for cash. Aside from paying mortgages, rent, food, clothing, electricity, water, and all other needs, we wish to save up for at least an affordable car. A car that would be beneficial for us and will be an answer primarily to our transportation needs. But how do we gauge whether we are on the right track in picking