The weather has largely been very pleasant this past week – sunny days with only occasional rain showers. This nice climate is also what’s been going around in the automotive industry, with exciting new models coming out last week. We give you your five favorite stories from September 4 to 10, 2023 in this edition of the AutoFun Philippines Rearview Roundup! What’s cooking at Hyundai Philippines? Hyundai Motor Philippines has had a resurgence since it became a full subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co

When you see a typical passenger van, you will probably think of the Toyota Hiace and the Nissan NV350 Urvan, but not necessarily the Hyundai Staria. The South Korean van doesn’t fit our perceived notions of what a passenger van is, a boxy rectangularly shaped vehicle with a rounded nose and sliding doors. The Hyundai Staria gives off something more futuristic with its softer curves and cleaner look. That being said, here is how the Hyundai Staria breaks passenger van stereotypes and norms and e

Sunday morning – chill out at home, do some errands and prepare for our Monday shoot. Well, that was supposed to be the plan. Instead, I’m facing a red velvet cupcake, feeling the fresh daytime breeze brush against my face. The petite pastry is one of the best-sellers at Naro, which is located on the Binmaley Baywalk in Pangasinan. Its rich buttercream complements the crumbly, auburn dough. “In Pangasinense, naro ta ka means ‘I love you,’” said my dear friend and Pangasinan native Zeb Jimenez. T

Buying an electrified vehicle is going to be a whole lot easier, at least in Indonesia. Our friends from AutoFun Indonesia reported that the Indonesian government is finalizing a host of financial incentives for people looking to buy a hybrid-electric or fully electric vehicle (EV). As of press time, an estimated 80 million rupiah (₱283,000) discount may be given to full EV buyers, while hybrid owners may get 40 million (₱141,000) rupiah off. However, these will only be offered to models that ar

Mazda's booth at the Philippine International Auto Show (PIMS) had the MX-5 Miata as its centerpiece, but its CX-8 all-wheel-drive Exclusive six-seater crossover stablemate piqued some curiosities. This was because the family crossover has had minor changes to its exterior. The front grille (precisely the space behind the telltale wing-shaped Mazda logo) had redesigned slats resembling interlocked zippers. Additional chrome adorned the front bumper. A somewhat shiny silver (Mazda calls it Bright

Car manufacturers do their best to provide innovatively developed vehicles now and then to help people make the right choices. Also to top the competition. Some models stand out, and some are still in the process of developing their products. The reality is that even those car models that stand out from the rest have downsides, too. As Chinese car manufacturer Changan introduced the 2022 CS35 Plus in the Philippine automotive market, it initially gained popularity because of its affordability. I