The Toyota Innova has a long and storied history in the Philippine market, being a crowd favorite since its introduction nearly 20 years ago. It became one of the stalwarts of the Asian Utility Vehicle segment for its versatility and exceptional ability to meet the needs of the Filipino family. Now, however, the Innova is considered a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) and has carved a niche of its own, with very few rivals being able to match its success and renown in the segment. That said, we briefl

Honda Cars Philippines Inc. has made it very clear that it plans to reintroduce hybrids locally in 2023. Although the carmaker has remained mum on which of its e:HEV hybrid models it plans to bring in, one strong candidate is the all-new 2023 Honda CR-V. The crossover comes in two powertrains. One is a turbocharged 1.5-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve inline-4 gasoline engine producing 193 PS and 243 Nm of torque that is mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The other is a 2.0-liter, twi

When it comes to practical and affordable seven-seater MPVs, the most popular choices that come to mind are the all-new Honda BR-V and the soon-to-be-launched 2023 Mitsubishi Xpander Cross. This will surely make it difficult for buyers to choose which of the two they should get. But suppose the local spec 2023 Mitsubishi Xpander Cross is close to being kitted out like the one launched during last year’s 29th GAIKINDO Indonesia International Auto Show. In that case, there’s a lot to look forward

Although the rear-wheel-drive Mazda CX-60 and Mazda CX-90 have been hogging the headlines recently, Mazda has another sharp-looking crossover. The Mazda CX-50 isn’t poised to take on the likes of BMW and Mercedes-Benz unlike its larger stablemates. Instead, it uses a larger version of the excellent-handling, front-wheel-drive Mazda3 platform and is a bit larger than the Mazda CX-5 crossover. But the mere fact that Mazda has just introduced the CX-50 in China and has assigned local assembly to th

With diesel prices projected to go up by about PHP 4.00 per liter next week and once again breach the Php 70-mark, you wonder how SUVs and pickups with CRDI turbocharged diesel engines can be a sustainable choice. Even with skyrocketing fuel prices, Isuzu maintains that its two best-sellers, the D-MAX, and the mu-X, have fuel economy on their side. In a recent fuel efficiency run supervised by the Automobile Association Philippines (AAP), Isuzu sent off a D-MAX 3.0L 4x2 LS-A AT and a mu-X 3.0L 4

The recent Covid-19 lockdowns became the impetus for some companies to innovate and find creative ways to sell and promote their wares without face-to-face contact. The Covenant Car Company, Inc., the distributor of MG in the Philippines, first explored its collaboration with online retail giant Shopee at last year's 11.11 Sale event. And if there was an online event that would draw in crowds, it’s during those mega-sales promos when the day and month numbers coincide. Doing so gave MG Philippin