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Showing posts with label Driver's Seat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Driver's Seat. Show all posts

June 19, 2023

Review: 2023 GAC GN6 270T GE


There’s something amiss that you sense the moment you enter the GAC GN6. Mind you, it has nothing to do with ergonomics or any of that. It has to do with the smell. At first, you pin the blame on the plastics; it is, after all, a common complaint among Chinese vehicles. But then it occurs to you: it doesn’t smell like plastics or adhesives or a dead rat. It smells like rubber—like someone put a bunch of tires in the cabin and had it bake there for some time. A minute later, you find the culprit: the t-type spare is located between the first two rows of seats, covered by a rather flimsy cloth-lined particle board cover.

June 12, 2023

Review: 2023 Nissan Patrol Royale LE


The Nissan Patrol’s been around in its current shape and form for quite a long time; 13 years in fact, if you stretch it to when the Y62 model designation was first introduced. During its tenure, it’s managed to outlive Nissan’s original commercial vehicle distributor (Universal Motors Corporation) and the addition, then deletion, and subsequent re-addition of its model suffix (Patrol Royale). Through all this and the three refreshes that followed, the flagship SUV merely existed. It seems Nissan was happy with the handful of sales it got.

June 4, 2023

Review: 2023 Honda Civic Type R


The newest Honda Civic Type R is something else. Around the racetrack, it’s guaranteed to have more talent than most drivers out there, thereby cementing itself as a venerable track day hero. It’s so good (no disclaimer needed), that there’s little need to touch any of the FL5’s track credentials anymore. Instead, let’s focus on just how easy (or hard) it is to live with on a daily basis.

May 22, 2023

2023 Mazda MX-5 RF: Long-Term Test Introduction


Remember that owner who gave me access to a 2023 Snowflake White Mazda MX-5 RF late last year? You know, the one with the Terracota interior? Well, I’ve got a confession to make: I’m that bastard. At the time, I felt prudent not to announce it all over the internet primarily because there was a supply shortage of MX-5s. But now that supplies have stabilized (more or less) and wait lists have shortened (more or less), it’s time for me to discuss ownership of the two-seater sportscar.

May 18, 2023

Review: 2023 GAC EMPOW 1.5T GE


Chinese carmakers often rely on two playbooks when marketing their cars in the Philippines. The first is to claim that you’re the custodian of a storied European brand, even if the cars you’re selling have nothing to do with said European brand. Second is to leverage all the technical partnerships you’ve gained throughout the years, down to whoever supplies the carpet. Either way, they make for good soundbites, but sadly, don’t often translate to cars which are actually respectable to drive.

May 11, 2023

Review: 2023 MG GT Sport


The term, “GT” is one of the most misused automotive terms out there. In the simplest sense, a Grand Tourer, or if you prefer Italian, Gran Turismo, refers to a type of car designed for high speed and long-distance driving. And because they have to combine both performance and luxury attributes, they’re often a coupe derived from a sedan counterpart. A quick glance at the MG GT tells you it’s none of these things. But don’t let that turn you off, because at the end of the day, this compact sedan still has something good to offer.

May 7, 2023

Review: 2023 Ford Everest 2.0 Turbo Sport 4x2


When carmakers lend out vehicles, often, it’s the top-of-the-line trim. This is their way of putting their best foot forward. Occasionally, however, they’d do something different. Spurred by various reasons—the two ones I could think of being the way the segment’s shaped (mid- and entry-level models, after all, typically make up a chunk of sales); or perhaps, they know they’ve got a new story to tell, they let us have a go at something other than the most expensive variant. After some seat time with the Ford Everest Sport, I could say that this is the best bang-for-the-buck variant in the line-up, and as an added bonus, it’s the best driving Everest variant too.

April 30, 2023

Review: 2023 Ford Everest 2.0 Bi-Turbo Titanium+ 4x4


The pickup-based mid-sized SUV is a completely different animal compared to what it was two decades ago. From a no-frills, humble 7-seater with go-anywhere ability, they’re now regarded as a status symbol—one that combines any terrain capability with a long list of comfort and convenience features. Among all the nameplates out there, only one has continued to ride the wave, and that’s the Ford Everest.

April 25, 2023

Review: 2023 Honda BR-V 1.5 VX Honda SENSING


From a purely enthusiast’s standpoint, it’s hard to get excited about these small 7-seater MPVs/SUVs. With their compact proportions and fuel-efficient powertrains, they serve the purpose of ferrying the Filipino family. Excitement isn’t its middle name; heck, excitement can’t even be mentioned in the same sentence. Once in a while, there’s one that’ll manage to stand out in a good way. And the Honda BR-V is sort-of one of those times.

April 16, 2023

Review: 2023 Volvo XC40 B5 R-Design


There’s plenty to like with the Volvo XC40. Compared to other premium SUVs out there, it just gets things right. It’s stylish, spacious, well-kitted, and most important of all, safe. However, as the automotive world turns, the Swedish carmaker has given it a nip-and-tuck, and that’s the very vehicle you see here. While the revised design could be the most obvious reason to consider one, it also happens to pack an electrified powertrain in the Philippines for the very first time. Gamechanger? Read on.

April 10, 2023

The Hyundai Creta Offers A Fresh Perspective In Subcompact Driving


In the Philippines, there’s no doubt that the Japanese reign supreme when it comes to motoring. Not only do Japanese carmakers carry some of the most iconic automotive brands, their products have also offered top-notch quality and value for over decades. If there’s one thing to be said about Filipinos, it is the loyalty that they have toward brands that have served them—and continue to—for generations. But that hasn’t deterred others from trying their hand at getting a piece of the pie in the Philippine automotive industry.

March 26, 2023

Review: 2023 Honda HR-V RS Turbo Honda SENSING


You are looking at the best variant of the current-generation Honda HR-V. Having driven the base HR-V S (and even pitting it against the Hyundai Creta) and the mid-grade HR-V V Turbo, I can now, with absolute certainty, say that those variants simply pale in comparison to the HR-V RS Turbo. Generally, I’m allergic to recommending a variant that’s been dolled up by a body kit and a few extra features, but Honda’s actually dug deep to make this not just the best iteration of the HR-V yet, but one of the best compact crossovers around.

March 18, 2023

Review: 2023 Hyundai Stargazer 1.5 GLS Premium IVT


The compact MPV segment is probably going to be the most hotly contested segment from now on. With sub-compact or B-segment cars, as they’re officially known, becoming more expensive, these small 7-seaters have become the default choice for many as their starter family car. True enough, look around you and chances are, you’ll see at least one (or maybe five) parked at your local village, school, or workplace.

March 9, 2023

Review: 2023 Hyundai Tucson 2.0 GLS


Expectations are a powerful thing. It has this way of re-wiring your brain, and could be enough to swing an opinion on a car from being awesome to just being meh. With its stunning looks and sheer number of international accolades, expectations have been running high on the all-new Tucson, Hyundai’s entry in the ultra-competitive compact SUV segment. Sadly, it is one that does not live up to all the hype.

March 6, 2023

First Drive: 2023 Honda Civic Type R


I made a mistake as I was doing my third lap around the Clark International Speedway. For the first two, I concentrated on following the proper racing line (indicated by a series of cones) and minding my shift points. This time, however, as I passed the 150-meter brake marker board at the start-finish straight, I glanced down at my speedometer: 160 km/h. Holy crap. My balls were literally in my throat, as I scrubbed off some off that speed into turn one. With just a nudge of the steering wheel (no sawing necessary), the Honda Civic Type R swung in without drama; not a hint of tire screech nor hesitation. This, I thought, is what real stuff is made of.

March 3, 2023

Review: 2023 Land Rover Discovery P300


When you think of Land Rover the first, and probably, the only thing that goes in your mind is the Defender. And truth be told, it deserves to occupy a car guy’s brain space. The newest version has single-handedly made Land Rovers (except for their Range Rover-badged kin) desirable once more. But the premium SUV specialist isn’t just made of one nameplate. In case you need to jog your memory, there’s the Discovery.

February 26, 2023

2023 Hyundai Creta 1.5 GLS vs 2023 Honda HR-V 1.5 S


The local crossover segment is an interesting one. What was once a category with segments delineated by size and price has turned into one with an almost confusing number of overlapping choices. No other segment offers buyers the choice of propulsion type—normally aspirated gas, turbocharged gas, diesel, hybrid—but also the number of seats (5 or 7), and even the country of origin (Japan, Korea, U.S., China). At last count, there are over 20 out there, and those are just the players in the A- and Small Utility space. The segment is so huge that in 2022, 76,117 A- and Small Utility vehicles were sold—that’s as much as sub-A, A-, and B-segment passenger cars put together (76,182).

February 19, 2023

The Toyota Corolla Cross GR Sport Hybrid Is Built For Work And Play


There has been so much ado when it comes to the discussion of electrification in the country. Is it coming? Is it here? When will the Philippines finally transition to more sustainable mobility? Why is the government taking so long in extending legislative support? While most of the luxury brands have continued to launch EV after EV, in an effort to provide Filipinos next-level mobility, Toyota has taken a more practical and, dare we say, simpler route while still providing motorists a taste of what it means to shift to a more sustainable mode of transport.

Review: 2023 BMW 530i M Sport


Few cars have such wide-ranging talents as the BMW 5 Series, and buyers seem to agree: it’s been at the heart of the German automaker’s range in every generation that’s been around (the current is the seventh). However, in the time when it has become almost the default choice, helped by the fact that it’s the best of its kind, it faces an interesting challenge: luxury crossovers. But as the demand for luxury sedans is shrinking, BMW isn’t going down without a fight. Their response is to come up with the best 5 Series since the legendary E39 generation.

February 16, 2023

First Drive: 2023 Hyundai Creta And 2023 Hyundai Stargazer


The Creta and Stargazer seem like they’ve got nothing in common. Sure enough, look at them and except for the stylized “H” logo at the front, there’s almost no family resemblance. Yet, underneath, these two share the same powertrain and platform. The most vital ingredients to any new car, Hyundai has built one so flexible that it’s able to cater to vastly different audiences very well.