I am a big fan of the Honda Jazz. Consider that when it was introduced in 2001, the first-generation Jazz (GD-series) or Fit, as it is labelled in other markets, immediately achieved international recognition by winning Japan Car of the Year for 2001-2002 and Japan Car of the Year 30th Anniversary Special Award “Best 3rd Decade Car“; RJC Car of the Year Award 2002; Top ...

While driving the 2019 Volkswagen Santana 1.4 MPI Trendline for our recent Driven story, we realized that there’s a 45 year gap between it and the other volks (people’s) wagen (car) in our garage – our recently-acquired 1974 Volkswagen Super Beetle 1303 S. Our test Santana is the base model with the 1.5 MPI Automatic Trendline and the 1.5 MPI Automatic ...

“Volkswagen” is an amalgamated German word that combines “volks” (people) and “wagen” (car) to describe the originator’s goal to create the people’s car or a German car that can be afforded by the masses. The original people’s car was the 1938 Volkswagen Type 1, which could be purchased through a special savings scheme called Kraft durch Freude (Strength through Joy) or ...

While digging through the Power Wheels Magazine archives, we found a Driven article about the 2011 Mazda MX-5 with the PRHT or power retractable hard top. Former Power Wheels Magazine Editor-in-Chief Dino Directo III, who’s now the Motoring Editor of Manila Times and Editorial Director of Autocar Philippines, wrote about his time behind the wheel of Mazda’s phenomenal roadster that put a smile on his ...

After successfully penetrating the local market for affordable three-row subcompact multi-purpose vehicles (MPV) with their BAIC M40/M45 series, Bayan Automotive Industries Corporation, the Philippine distributor of BAIC automobiles, is setting its sights on a loftier goal – the Asian utility vehicle (AUV) market. This pseudo-sport utility vehicle (SUV) cum MPV cum mini-van segment of the automotive industry is currently being dominated ...

Here’s a fun fact: “Prius” is a Latin word meaning “first”, “original”, “superior” or “to go before”, which is quite apt because the Toyota Motor Corporation was the “first” major car manufacturer to offer a mass-production hybrid electric vehicle (HEV). The “original” body style of the first-generation Toyota Prius (NHW10), which was introduced in 1997, was a 4-door sedan, while ...

The Suzuki Vitara has been winning hearts and minds across the globe since 1988. The original Vitara became popular as a “lifestyle vehicle” – a compact sport utility vehicle (SUV) designed to fill the slot above the subcompact Suzuki Jimny. The Vitara became so popular that General Motors sold it as the Geo Tracker in the United States and as ...

When the FOTON Toano high-roof passenger van was first introduced to the Philippine market, we heard some talk about it being an “imitation” of the second generation Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van. In spite of the fact that the Sprinter has been sold under various nameplates aside from Mercedes-Benz like Dodge, Freightliner, and Volkswagen (as the VW LT and VW Crafter), some ...

While driving the latest iteration of the Honda CR-V, I was reminded of my long association with Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) as a motoring journalist. You see, one of my first test drives was that of a first generation CR-V, which was introduced in 1995. The second generation CR-V was introduced in 2002 and I was one of the ...

A month ago (March 28-29, 2019), Suzuki Philippines, Inc. (SPH) invited us to drive the all-new third-generation Suzuki Swift from their Suzuki Auto Kalookan dealership to Bagac, Bataan, spend the night at the Las Casas Filipinas De Acuzar resort, and then drive back to Metro Manila the next day. During the drive, we observed that the “… Suzuki Swift has ...