High-riding crossovers and SUVs currently dominate the Philippine market. However, some buyers still want to get their hands on a sedan that offers a more compact and comfortable mode of transportation.
With that in mind, we have created a list of sedans under ₱1 million you can buy today. Note that some entries are just variants, while others include the entire model range. The list is also not in any particular order.
Also read: The Top 10 Cheapest Cars in the Philippines in 2022
A famous nameplate in the Philippine market for sedans is the Toyota Vios. It offers reliability with decent features and a wide range of variants. Covered under the 1 million peso range are the Base 1.3 MT to 1.5 G MT variants.
Thanks to Toyota’s excellent parts network, finding parts for the Vios is easy. It also helps that the Japanese automaker has already sold multiple units of the nameplate, as many are used in taxi fleets, and some are even used as racecars in the Toyota Vios Cup series. We did not include the G CVT and the GR-S variants as they exceed the ₱1 million price point.
A great rival to the Vios is the Honda City which recently got a model update. The update brought tweaks to the sedan's exterior design and the Honda SENSING safety suite, which is now standard for all variants, including the new E CVT model, which is part of this list.
The Honda City E CVT might be the entry-level model, but it does bring a lot to the table as it still has an infotainment system that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also packs the most powerful naturally aspirated engine in its segment, pushing out 121PS and 145 Nm of torque mated to a CVT. We did not include the other variants of the Honda City as they exceed the ₱1 million price point.
If you are looking for a sedan under ₱800,000, you might want to consider the Changan Alsvin. It's relatively new to the market but packs a great value-for-money proposition thanks to its frugal 1.4 (99 PS and 135 NM) and 1.5-liter gasoline (106 PS and 145 Nm) engines and is one of two vehicles on this list that comes with a sunroof. It is available with either a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed DCT.
It also covers the basics regarding technology features, as it has a 7-inch infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity and an automatic start-stop system to help you save on fuel.
If a bigger car is what you are after, then consider the MG 5. It's not only big but is also big on features, as all variants of the sedan get a 1.5-liter gasoline engine that produces 112 PS and 150 Nm of torque. Depending on the variant, it can be available with a 5-speed manual or a CVT.
It comes with the advantage of having a large infotainment system that ranges in size from an 8-inch screen for entry-level models to a 10-inch screen for the top-spec variant. Aside from this, it also gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities. It also has a 360-degree camera, a standout feature for its segment.
If you prefer a Korean sedan, the Kia Soluto answers that call. It packs a naturally aspirated 1.4-liter gasoline engine with 94 PS and 132 Nm of torque, mated to either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission.
It also checks the right boxes as a great commuter car, as it carries a 7-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Another crowd favorite is the Mitsubishi Mirage G4, known for its fuel-efficient 1.2-liter gasoline engine. The small sedan checks all the right boxes for Filipinos looking for an excellent commuter car with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard.
Despite lower power figures of 76 PS and 100 Nm of torque, its fuel-efficient nature makes it an ideal city car you can even take out of town.
The Suzuki Dzire is another excellent pick for a reliable, fuel-efficient commuter vehicle. Suzuki has updated the sedan giving it a revised fascia and a new gauge cluster.
Like the Mirage G4, the Dzire packs a 1.2-liter naturally aspirated gasoline engine that produces 86 PS and 113 Nm of torque. It can be had with either a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed AGS.
An affordable gateway into the German automotive experience is the Volkswagen Santana. It can be had with a manual or automatic transmission, with two engine options. Only the entry-level model gets a 1.4-liter gasoline engine, while the top-spec variant gets a bigger 1.5-liter motor.
Should we make another top list of sedans at a higher price point? Let us know in the comment section.
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