philcarreview-blog

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With a strong design, good performance and competitive price, it can be confirmed that the 2017 Isuzu D-max is not inferior to other competitors in the same segment.

Why should people buy the 2017 Isuzu D-Max?

One thing to be sure of is that with great off-road capability thanks to the powerful engine, strong four-wheel drive transmission and plenty of pulling power from its 3.0-liter turbo diesel four-cylinder that produces 130kW and 430Nm. Although there are still newer options with many of the latest features and technologies, the D-Max still handles well thanks to streamlined suspension, light steering and standard brakes.

The cabin of the car is modest but spacious enough accompanied by 8.0-inch color touch screen and Bluetooth connectivity. Isuzu also offers an extensive array of factory options letting customers customize the D-Max to suit various needs, and our test car was fitted with a nicely integrated bull bar and snorkel while the tray had a tub liner, sports bar and soft tonneau cover.

What’s missing from the features?

At PhP 1,140,000 (plus on-roads) before you tick an alternatives box, the 2017 D-max isn't the most affordable car similar rivals such as the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux. The cabin is somewhat boring, the large circular air conditioning control in the center of the dash looks odd and the multimedia screen designs are old-school. The materials are generally hard plastics and the leather-like seat trim isn't as plush as some others.

The six-speed automatic, while smooth in the manner in which it shifts, chases through the gears while driving up hills at cruising speeds and the engine is noisy when the revs build.

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Top 4 durable and cool best-selling cars in the Philippines in 2019

Toyota Vios, Toyota Camry, and Honda CR-V are 3 among the most durable and cool car models that are currently best-sellers in the Philippines.

1. Toyota Vios

The Toyota Vios deserves its title as a "no-throne king" of the Philippine automobile market when it almost always tops the rankings in the list of the bestselling cars in the market. This also partially demonstrates the strong appeal of the Vios to Philippine consumers.

The Toyota Vios is a "no-throne king" of the Philippine automobile market

According to the opinion of many people, the Toyota Vios still runs smoothly after many years, and sometimes still passes as a newly-bought car. Of course, although this is definitely an exaggeration, the durability of this car is undeniable.

The Toyota Vios features a 1.5-liter I4 DOHC engine for a maximum power of 107 hp and a maximum torque of 141 Nm with a 4-speed WTT-I automatic transmission. This engine helps the car reach the maximum speed while traveling on the highway and creates strong traction when traveling on rugged hillsides.

2. Toyota Camry

Japanese products being regarded as durable has been deeply rooted in the Filipino consciousness for a long time. It is assumed to be reasonable in the automobile industry. The Toyota brand has well inherited this Japanese tradition due to the incredible durability of its cars.

Toyota Camry models

In the Philippine market, it is considered to be the top-ranked durable car model, bringing the tranquil, spacious and comfortable feeling to users. The Camry features a 4-cylinder engine and still runs well after 300,000 km.

3. Mazda 6

The Mazda 6 first debuted in 2012 and is cited as the pioneer in the next generation of Japanese automakers.

The Mazda 6 features the latest KODO design language of the Mazda

In the majority of the world's markets, the Mazda 6 is widely acclaimed. In the Philippines, the Mazda 6 is one of the worthy competitors of the Toyota Camry. Therefore, it is undeniable that this is one of the best rugged cars. The car features the latest KODO design language of the Mazda and is equipped with state-of-the-art technology such as the new Skyactiv engine. There is an improvement in fuel efficiency of the car meanwhile its reliability also reaches 57%, which is a quite high rating.

4. Honda CR-V

The Honda CR-V is a choice of many customers. This is proved by its long competition for top spot with the Mazda CX-5 in the list of the best-selling CUV models in the Philippines. Despite its slightly-compact exterior design, the interior Honda CR-V is reasonably arranged to increase the space for passengers.

The Honda CR-V is a choice of many customers

The 2.0-liter and 2.4-liter four-cylinder engines generate respectively 114 horsepower and 140 horsepower with 4-wheel drive system and 5-speed automatic transmission. The car is evaluated with a good durability and excellent fuel efficiency.

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Honda Brio Amaze 2018 Pros & Cons

The Honda Brio Amaze 2018 (simply named Amaze) is the second-generation model in the small sedan section of Honda Brio, which first launched in 2014. Let’s have a quick look at its review. With a starting price of only ₱651,000 and a range of diesel-CVT features and engines, the model promises to become a familiar name for car lovers in the Philippines.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

Design: The 2018 Honda Amaze looks sporty and attractive

CVT gearbox: Honda offered a CVT gearbox with the diesel engine. The petrol variant gets a CVT as well, with optional paddle shifters

Safety system comes standard across all variants of the model

Features a system 7-inch infotainment with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and navigation

Responsive 99 bhp diesel motor combined to a manual 5-speed gearbox

This model of Honda has a lot of strengths compared to the price

Cons

The CVT version diesel is underpowered compared to the manual gearbox version (diesel) as it has 20 bhp less (it produces 79 bhp and 160 Nm of torque)

The petrol CVT version has a rubber band effect, thus killing the joy of high-spirited driving  

No paddle shifters on the diesel CVT variant

The CVT variant misses out on the 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system and instead gets a basic music system, with white illumination radio, USB, Bluetooth, and AUX

Verdict: Why should you buy 2018 Honda Amaze?

The Honda Brio Amaze 2018 has no big difference compared to the old models. However, with the entirely new interior and exterior design and the addition of a CVT automatic in the diesel variant, this model will promise to bring a great driving experience at its price.

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Toyota Grandia 2019 Philippines Review: Pros & Cons

2019 Toyota Hiace Grandia Overview

The Toyota Hiace is a modern evolution of Toyota's legendary van, it offers more style, comfort and is as adaptable as could be. The most evident change is its front end has grown a hood. This not only makes it look more modern and refined but also improve crash protection.

The Toyota Hiace 2019 is available in three variants: Commuter Deluxe with 15-seater, GL Grandia with 12-seater, and the GL Grandia Tourer with 14-seater.

Toyota Hiace Grandia 2019 Price in the Philippines

Pricing for the 2019 Toyota Hiace is as follows:

2019 Toyota Hiace GL Grandia 6-MT - PhP 1,973,000

2019 Toyota Hiace GL Grandia 6-AT -  PhP 2,048,000

2019 Toyota Hiace GL Grandia Tourer 6-MT -  PhP 2,145,000

2019 Toyota Hiace GL Grandia Tourer 6-AT - PhP 2,220,000

Pros & Cons of new Toyota Grandia

Pros

Modern and compact design

Comfortable interior space

Strong engine

Energy saving

Cons

Normal interior material

Simple interior design, not too much impression

Noise when driving

Toyota Grandia 2019 Verdict

In general, in order to compete better with rivals in the segment, the Japanese car manufacturer has had to improve a lot from the design and operation of the Hiace Grandia to be able to compete with neither Ford Transit or Hyundai Solati.