Vans have always been part of the elite lifestyle, with V8-powered conversion vans once ruling the roost for celebrities and politicians alike. But that all changed when the Toyota Alphard rolled into town, offering super-smooth and relatively fuel-efficient powerplants, along with a road presence that was truly a class of its own. Just a month after the launch of the all-new Alphard, GAC Motor Philippines is getting into the game with its eye-catching M8. The Chinese carmaker announced in a Sep

Disclosure: Hyundai Motor Philippines accepted our request to have the Hyundai Stargazer (Specs | News) GLS Premium reviewed. It came with a full gas tank and an RFID car which we did not use. I paid for the carwash and other operating expenses during the seven-day lending period. Photos were taken at Parklinks C5 Pasig. Yays Easy to drive Adequate interior space Responsive powertrain Relaxing ride Nays Unfinished interior look Lane-centering disengages during tight bends Mixed-up design languag

Aside from the pending launch of the Toyota Yaris Cross, Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) may have another vehicle waiting in the wings for its time in the spotlight. A 2024 Toyota Alphard unit was spotted in a parking complex in the southern part of Luzon, presumably in the Bauan port in Batangas. It indicates that the Japanese automaker wants to launch the all-new version of the luxury MPV soon but has yet to reveal any official launch dates. With that said, we can look to other markets where th

More and more local carmakers are jumping onto the smartphone-integration bandwagon after Ford Philippines recently unveiled its FordPass app. This time, Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) announced in a November 2022 press statement that it is rolling out its myTOYOTA Connect app, initially for the GL Grandia, Grandia Tourer, and Super Grandia variants of the Toyota Hiace van. The app lets Toyota owners instantly get information on their vehicles, such as driving information, trip summaries, and ma

Can a typical man on the street afford a Toyota Alphard? Starting at Php 4,095,000, and you have to add about Php 15,000 if you like the pearl white color, the Alphard is priced like a suburban house for a typical middle-income family. This is not an insult to the man on the street though. This is a reality check. And reality says the Toyota Alphard's clientele can be on the affluent side. Or as those who live in Pasay would say, "in the POGO business." Regardless of the background, you have to

(Images from Toyota PH) The Toyota Alphard is Toyota's most luxurious vehicle in the country. Perhaps you might not have heard its name yet or haven't seen one. Named like a fictitious creature like Pokémon, the Alphard is somewhat a rare kind on the busy streets of the metro. It is so rare that some people do not even know they have seen one, as the typical Toyota badge is replaced by a lot of chrome that is supposed to say "alpha". Nothings says luxury and comfort like the Alphard, starting at