The Hyundai Stargazer is undoubtedly one of the most eye-catching multi-purpose vehicles (MPV) on sale today. Launched in the Philippines on November 2022, its futuristic styling and crisp, seven-seat interior make it a prime candidate to be one of Hyundai Motor Philippines’ best-sellers. But for those who want a Stargazer with a more off-road appearance, there’s always the Stargazer X that’s launching on Aug. 10, 2023 at the GAIKINDO Indonesia International Auto Show. And even before the offici

Mitsubishi will launch a hybrid version of the Mitsubishi Xpander, as mentioned during the 2024 Mitsubishi Triton launch. The mention of the Xpander hybrid was seen earlier on during the launch program for the Triton as Mitsubishi President Takao Kato quickly glossed over the brand’s plans for upcoming vehicles in the ASEAN region. He mentioned that aside from the Triton, Mitsubishi would launch a new compact SUV, which will likely be the Mitsubishi XForce, and that the automaker will also launc

The affordable 7-seater segment in the Philippines is still going strong, with multiple entries available to answer the call of families looking for a vehicle that can meet their needs while on a budget. The likes of the Mitsubishi Xpander, Toyota Veloz, and Honda BR-V all fit in this segment, all vying for a spot in the very lucrative market. That said, we will look at the Mitsubishi Xpander and figure out why it's still a family and fan favorite and why many still buy the affordable 7-seater.

Since its introduction in 2018, the Mitsubishi Xpander has been synonymous with entry-level utility vehicles. With the Xpander Cross providing an SUV-like version of the same platform, Mitsubishi hit two birds with one stone. Its sub-one million prices at initial launch, seven-seater configuration, Apple CarPlay-Android Auto-ready in-car infotainment, a slew of safety features typically found in higher priced four-wheelers, and a naturally aspirated 1.5-liter straight-four (with a manual transmi

The first time the Nissan Grand Livina entered the Philippine market in 2008, it was a three-row hatchback based on the Nissan Tiida platform. It was ahead of its time in many ways, as it offered car-like handling and seating for seven. Typical of what crossovers provide today. As head of the marketing team of Nissan Motor Philippines, Inc (NMPI) at that time, I was tasked to find ways to slot such a strange vehicle concept into the MPV-crazy consciousness of Filipino car buyers. The 2008 Nissan

Toothpaste! Most of you will instantly have the red and white colours of Colgate pop in your head. Likewise when I say rally! Your mind snaps to the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. It's hard to blame anyone for that. It's just heuristics. The Lancer Evo has become synonymous with rallying - flying through forests, exhaust going off like a machine gun - and it's no surprise they won the World Rally Championship (WRC) with Tommi Makinnen four times consecutively from 1996 to 1999. For all its history