Farewell for good? Cars we'll miss in 2023!

2022 was an excellent year for the Philippine car industry, with new cars making their mark. 

We saw new crossovers, sedans, pick-up trucks, and sport-utility vehicles enter the market. As we welcome a new year for the local automotive industry, we have compiled a list of cars that you will miss in 2023.

Honda Civic 1.5 Turbo S CVT

We have gotten confirmation from the public relations team of Honda Cars Philippines Inc. that the Honda Civic 1.5 Turbo S variant will no longer be around this year. 

While it is still up on their website as of press time, it will remain until supplies last. We asked Honda why it dropped the most affordable Civic variant. 

Their reply was, “It was done to streamline the Civic lineup.”  

With hybrid vehicles slowly becoming popular in the Philippine market and the new Civic RS model in Thailand being a hybrid, we suspect that this “streamlining” will lead to this hybrid model entering the local Honda lineup sometime in 2023.

Regardless, this car will be missed as one of the better equipped entry-level models in the segment. After all, it did come with Honda SENSING active-safety technology as standard. 

Hyundai Reina

Hyundai Philippines recently changed its leadership and name. 

Now called Hyundai Motor Philippines Inc. (HMPI), it brought a new lineup of vehicles. This meant that the old models had to be phased out. 

This included the Hyundai Reina, the South Korean automaker’s entry into the subcompact sedan segment. It battled the likes of the Toyota Vios and found a niche with buyers seeking affordable mobility. 

With no replacement yet confirmed, this is the end for this nameplate in the Philippines.

Hyundai Accent

Another famous nameplate that disappeared with the entry of HMPI is the Hyundai Accent. 

It was known for its excellent fuel economy and durability, particularly the powerful turbodiesel model. Hyundai has yet to announce its successor.

This car will be missed as it was a crowd favorite of both regular Filipino car buyers and transport service providers. 

Hyundai Venue

The Hyundai Venue’s stay in the Philippine market was short-lived. 

It made its name in the affordable crossover segment, presenting itself as an alternative to the Kia Stonic and the Toyota Raize.

With the change in leadership, this model has been phased out in favor of the new Hyundai Creta. 

Hyundai Veloster

It was Hyundai’s silent hatchback in the Philippines. 

While most were crowding around the Honda Civic Type-R, the Hyundai Veloster was still available until the brand’s change in leadership.

It offered a unique body style, asymmetric design, and a 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline engine.

Honda Civic Type-R (FK8)

Out with the old and in with the new as we say goodbye to the FK8 Honda Civic Type-R and say hello to its more recent version. 

While the previous model came with aggressive styling, the new model is now a bit tamer in its appearance. 

They both have the same 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine, but the new FL5 Type-R is tuned differently from the old model, with Honda claiming that it's also faster than its predecessor.

Ford Territory Trend

The Ford Territory Trend served as the nameplate’s entry-level variant in the Philippines. 

It was later removed in October 2022 as more buyers gravitated towards the top-of-the-line Titanium+ model, which has a slightly higher price point. 

Another reason is that Ford Philippines simply ran out of units in the country and decided to optimize the lineup instead. 

Kia Forte

The Kia Forte was Kia’s answer to the Honda Civic, featuring a naturally aspirated or turbocharged 1.6-liter gasoline engine. 

This current model has gotten long in the tooth and is due for a replacement. Kia Philippines has not yet announced a successor, so we assume this sedan is out, especially with the recent promos finishing the leftover stocks in the country. 

Which of these models will you miss?