Disclosure: Astara Philippines, the official importer and distributor of GAC Motor Philippines, kindly lent me a 2023 GAC GS4 for eight days. It arrived with a full tank of fuel and loaded RFID cards. They always say, “Never judge a book by its cover.” But experience has taught me (and perhaps many of us) that carrying preconceived notions about people or things can actually be useful. In my work as a reporter, I generally talk to high-level officials when I want to discuss the intricacies and n

The all-new 2024 Honda CR-V marks the introduction of two important technologies for the Japanese carmaker. One is the return of the Honda hybrid-electric powertrain in the CR-V RS e:HEV. And the other is the official rollout of the app-based Honda CONNECT system. Honda Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI) vice president Louie Soriano said at a press conference following the launch of the all-new CR-V that all variants will come with a free three-year Honda CONNECT subscription. Talk to your CR-V The Ho

Chinese cars have flooded the Philippine market and many other countries around the globe. It is because Chinese automakers have found ways to undercut the competition by offering quality vehicles that are more affordable but have features comparable to or even better than their Japanese, European, and American counterparts. But the question is, how has China evolved so quickly to produce quality, feature-rich, and, most importantly, cheap vehicles so customers can afford them? Lower production

Simulator racing (sim racing for short) has grown immensely in popularity, especially when the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020 meant trackdays and races were temporarily shuttered. Among the biggest sim racing organizers is Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP), which has extended the success of its long-running Toyota GAZOO Racing Vios Cup one-make series into the digital world. TMP announced in a June 2023 press statement that it will broadcast Round 1 of the Toyota GAZOO Racing Gran Turismo (TGR GT) Cup

Ever since the all-new Toyota Vios launched on August 2022, everybody else in ASEAN has had the chance to try it out. While the previous-generation Toyota Vios is still a solid subcompact sedan, the Daihatsu-based AC100 Vios apparently sets the bar even higher. That’s based on feedback from our colleague Wilson from our sister publication WapCar Malaysia. He got to try out the all-new Vios in Langkawi, around 410 km north of Kuala Lumpur. Stiffer, more agile The most significant change to the 20

The deciding factor goes for a long list, especially if a large amount of money is involved in the decision-making. Aside from real estate and business, vehicle costs are above the necessary spending of every individual. A typical sedan costs around Php700,000 to more than two million pesos, depending on the model. But what would you expect from the most affordable vehicle – the 2022 Suzuki S-Presso, in the local automotive market today? The 2022 Suzuki S-Presso has some traits that will make yo