Volkswagen Philippines has been quiet in the automotive market for some time, with its last launch being the Volkswagen Cross Santana and new colors for the Volkswagen T-Cross. However, something interesting happened with the launch of the Volkswagen Tharu as the newest crossover to join the brand’s local lineup. It is positioned above the T-Cross and where the Volkswagen Tiguan used to be in the lineup. Today, we will compare it against another new vehicle within the same price bracket with the
Oct 15, 2023
Pickups are practical as they are meant to carry heavy loads in the back and are lifestyle-oriented, thanks to their sleek designs and imposing looks. It strikes the happy medium of a car you can use for work and play. One of the pickups that certainly fits those descriptions is the 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor, the brand's off-road-ready truck that packs quite the punch. So, let's imagine for a bit that you're loaded. Is this the right vehicle to get as your first car? ALSO READ: Diesel only! All-ne
Oct 14, 2023
I had to check my calendar while writing this Spec Showdown. That’s because it’s a battle between the all-new Nissan Z and the Toyota GR Supra. I just had to make sure that it wasn’t the 1990s all over again (or else, my laptop should be running on Windows 98)! Indeed, the Z and the Supra have been at it for decades. And with rear-wheel-drive Japanese sports coupes becoming in vogue again, it’s no surprise that the latest iterations of these iconic nameplates get stout powertrains and eye-catchi
Sep 18, 2023
The refreshed 2024 Honda Brio was officially launched in the Philippines on July 13, 2023. Although the updates were largely cosmetic, such as new bumpers, there are also new colors available for all Brio variants. The prices of all the models have also gone up, which may make potential subcompact hatchback buyers look elsewhere. So we’ll do the obvious comparison now – is the 2024 Honda Brio V CVT a better buy than the venerable 2023 Mitsubishi Mirage GLX CVT, which is ₱55,000 cheaper? It’s the
Sep 17, 2023
Honda Philippines recently launched the 2024 Honda CR-V. The new generation of the crossover brings turbocharged power to its nameplate in the local market and a new hybrid variant. The new hybrid CR-V RS e:HEV now puts it in direct competition with the hybrid Toyota RAV4 LTD HEV, especially with the Japanese automaker revising the final pricing of the Honda crossover to make it more competitive. That said, we will compare the all-new 2024 Honda CR-V RS e:HEV versus the Toyota RAV4 LTD HEV Hybri
Sep 15, 2023
The Nissan Z series has formed part of the Nissan Philippines Inc. (NPI) lineup since the days of the 350Z. Even amid fluctuating fuel prices and economic loop-de-loops from the COVID-19 pandemic, NPI has always ensured that its iconic rear-wheel-drive sports car was available to Filipino enthusiasts. The Japanese carmaker launched the latest version of the Z (known elsewhere as the 400Z) locally on September 2, 2023, alongside the latest version of the venerable R35 Nissan GT-R. One notable asp
Sep 12, 2023
Electric vehicles (EVs) are slowly becoming mainstream in the Philippine market as more and more brands are bringing in their own examples. Following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s executive order, EVs have become easier to import thanks to zero duties that make these vehicles more affordable to prospective car buyers. Republic Act 11697 or the "Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act" also provides non-fiscal incentives for EV buyers, along with spurring investment into EV infrastructure, w
Sep 2, 2023
The all-new 2024 Honda CR-V will officially launch in the Philippines on Sept. 13, 2023. AutoFun Philippines was the first to report that the venerable crossover would arrive this year with an all-new hybrid engine. This marks the local return of an electrified model in the Honda Cars Philippines lineup. The previous-generation model made waves locally for two reasons – an available, economical turbodiesel engine and a third row of seats. The former has gone the way of the dodo, while the latter
Aug 29, 2023
The all-new 2024 Toyota Wigo made a huge splash when it was launched in the Philippines on July 14, 2023. Aside from the new chassis, transmission, and styling, the pricing really grabbed people’s attention. Starting at ₱609,000, the all-new Toyota Wigo undercuts its major rivals, such as the recently refreshed Honda Brio and the rather dated Mitsubishi Mirage hatchback. But the base-model 2024 Toyota Wigo J also takes on one of the biggest names in small cars – Suzuki. And at this price, its ri
Jul 23, 2023
The Toyota Wigo and Honda Brio have long been battling in the subcompact hatchback segment. These two represent what is often the first car for many drivers or an economical second car for small families. And on July 2023, the all-new Wigo and the updated Brio were launched just a day apart, with new features and promising even better value. Which of these little hatches is better? We find out in this edition of Spec Showdown! Brio has more mature styling The 2024 Toyota Wigo rides on an all-new
Jul 21, 2023