Disclosure: Nissan Philippines kindly lent me a 2023 Nissan Kicks e-POWER VL for seven days. It was delivered with a full tank of fuel and loaded RFID cars. AutoFun Philippines paid for a carwash. Prudence is a virtue that seems to be going the way of the dodo. With social media constantly bombarding us on how we should live (largely from so-called “influencers,” many of whom are able to do what they do because they are “stealth endorsers” who get freebies and perks), thinking things through can

One look at the landscape changes that have happened to our roads makes it clear that Chinese cars are here to stay, regardless of how many Filipinos try to resist. They’re affordable, powerful, well-equipped, and in many cases, quite stylish. But have you ever noticed how many seem so similar under the skin? Eagle-eyed buyers will note that many cars sourced from China have engines that rarely exceed 1500cc, whether in turbocharged or naturally aspirated guise. That’s not for convenience’s sake

Toyota has significantly contributed to the popularity and development of Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV) since it launched the original Toyota Prius in 1997. Over the last decade, the Japanese carmaker has also rolled out a wide range of hybrid cars in the Philippines that offer incredible fuel economy without the range anxiety that battery EVs still get because of insufficient charging stations. Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) announced in a January 2023 press statement that it is showcasing its

The last time we reported on Spanish-based car distributor Astara, it was finalizing its plans to enter the grueling 2023 Dakar Rally. But the company announced more relevant news in a December 1, 2022 press statement following its formal contract signing with Chinese carmaker GAC Motor in the Philippines. Astara began operations locally on January 2022 and distributes the French car brand Peugeot. The firm also distributes GAC Motor in Peru and Chile. “We are truly honored to continue GAC Motor

After the Mazda CX-5 scored the lone “Good” rating out of 20 SUVs tested by the US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety with its more stringent side-impact test published last year, another model from the Hiroshima brand was likewise given the only “Good” rating in the upgraded side-impact test conducted on small cars. The IIHS announced that only the Mazda 3 sedan and hatchback received the “Good” rating among 11 car models tested by the safety institution. The Nissan Sentra, Toyota Corolla s

The MG RX5 is one of the brand's entries in the Philippine compact sport utility vehicle (SUV) theater of operations. Even after four years of its presence, it still has a steep hill to climb to be on par with the more established nameplates. This is despite its relatively low admissions price (Php 1,058,888 to PHP1,228,888), two transmission options (a six-speed stick shift and a seven-speed dual-clutch slushbox), and Apple CarPlay-ready infotainment system. Not helping matters is its direct co