Executive sedans were once considered the de facto upgrade for those looking at something more luxurious and sophisticated than a compact car. However, with the proliferation of other choices out there, not to mention the increased specs of the compact cars they’re meant to upgrade from, the executive sedan segment is dying. Today, opting for one of these Japanese mid-sized sedans likely means you’re looking for something chauffeur-driven or something cushy after a long day’s work in the board room.

Be that as it may, there are two executive sedans that don’t fit this norm. Though they’re pretty good sampled as a passenger, they’re best savored from the driver’s seat. These are the 2016 Honda Accord and the Mazda6. The Accord has long been the standard when it comes to sporty mid-sized sedans. Throughout the years, it has always produced a sportier flavor, but still managing to balance fun and comfort. But there’s a new challenger out there, hungry for its throne. Known as the Mazda6, it’s now imbued with style, power, and poise. The question is: can it finally beat the Accord in a head-to-head brawl? Well, it’s time to fire the driver and find out.




Exterior

In their current guise, neither the Honda Accord nor the Mazda6 could be considered as new. Both have been around for a while, with the KODO-fied Mazda being the first to appear in showroom floors in 2013 while the Honda arriving about a year later. Of course, it’s a given that both of these cars have seen substantial tweaks to modernize its styling.

First up is the Mazda6—a car that Mazda designers believe they have struck gold with. Apparently, the design is working (and aging) well that updates were brought in just to unify its look with the rest of the Mazda line-up. Some are arguing though that the designs coming out of Hiroshima are starting to look the same, and rightfully so; but there’s no arguing that it still looks great. It’s especially true with the Mazda6 which happens to look athletic and graceful. In fact, the subtle elements such as the headlights, bumpers, and grille have managed to make it look wider than the Accord—a feat considering it’s actually 10 millimeters narrower than the Honda.

Honda has pretty much done the same thing with the Accord, though this time, it’s not for trying to create a unified look across the product range. Sure, there are elements like the Solid Wing face, but the tweaks have been done to actually clean up the aesthetic mess that the Accord once was. And boy, did Honda get it right this time. The cleaned up look makes the Accord look more regal and believable as an executive sedan than a body racer trying to grow up. That said, there’s still something off with the way it looks. There are lots of needless gashes and lines sprinkled around. It also looks top-heavy, emphasized further by its smallish 17-inch alloy wheels.

Winner: Mazda6





Interior

As captains of industry serving as its primary market, both of these cars have refined interiors that easily justify their price tags. Yet, they’ve also been re-worked, answering to criticisms that they’re offering an experience that too close to that of their small compact sedan siblings.

This year, Honda has swapped certain interior trims to make the Accord look and feel more modern. The faux wood accents have now been minimized; now only found as an insert on the steering wheel and dashboard. Piano black inserts with metallic flakes have taken its place elsewhere from the switch bezels, center console, and even the area surrounding the gear lever. It’s not as scratch-prone as the one found in the Mazda6, and that’s already a plus. The paneling aside, the biggest change here is the new infotainment system. It still uses a dual screen set-up but this new Android-based system is light years better than the old set-up. There’s still some lag to the response, but overall it’s not too bad. And speaking about the dual screen, the larger 8-inch screen is better utilized now and acts as a display for the Lane Watch blind spot, and rear parking camera. Things like navigation are displayed in the slightly smaller 7-inch touchscreen.

Next to the re-worked Accord, the Mazda6’s interior is less fussy and more driver-friendly. It actually feels more upgraded compared to when it first appeared in the market three years ago. Though both of these cars have their share of hard plastics, the Mazda at least has had all its touch points improved. Anything that could be touched or controlled now has soft-touch plastics on them and being matte, they never cause unwanted glare. The new interior palette: black and brown leather with small slithers of aluminum isn’t to everyone’s liking—some found it too muted and dreary—but there’s no doubt it imparts a more Teutonic than Japanese feel. The Mazda Connect with its rotary controller is also far easier to master than the Honda’s system and the response is way snappier. Perhaps the only thing Mazda needs to work on is a new instrument cluster. Though they’re legible, it doesn’t look too differentiated from a more pedestrian Mazda3.

Winner: TIE





Space and Practicality

For potential buyers, this is probably the first and only thing they’ll look at. After all, executive sedans should be as comfortable in the back seat as it is from the driver’s, right?

This is where the Accord makes big gains over the Mazda6. Remember that top-heavy design? Well, the squared-off roofline, upright pillars, and lack of a standard sunroof create better ingress/egress and headroom. Aside from having more room for headwear and funky hairdos, there’s also more available shoulder room—something very evident between the driver and front passenger. However, the high set dashboard and low set seats do compromise the driving position a bit. Despite the wide array of adjustments plus more usable legroom upfront, it rarely feels comfortable next to Mazda’s get in and go set-up. Towards the back, the Accord shines not only because it’s got cushier seats, but because you can actually fit three adults there with enough room to spare for another kid. And for those who find themselves regularly playing golf, the Honda does have a wider, deeper, and longer cargo space. It’s only limited by the single-piece folding rear seat. In this day and age, a 60/40 split-fold mechanism should be standard.

Meanwhile, there’s no question where Mazda put the center of attention in the Mazda6. Compared to the cavernous space offered by the Accord, the Mazda6 feels “just right”—a surprise given it’s dimensionally not far off from the Honda (the Mazda even has a longer wheelbase). It doesn’t feel spectacularly spacious, but it’s not cramped either. The front allows just enough space to stretch legs or spread them apart, but get too comfortable and the padded knee bolsters will get in the way. The other parts of the driving environment from the controls, the seats, the exterior visibility—they’ve been carefully calibrated towards becoming a sharp driving tool. With that, the rear seats are certainly a downer in the Mazda. Not only does the sweeping roofline cause banged heads upon entry or exit, but the seat support isn’t that good and the space isn’t as generous. In addition, the trunk space is limited. Though a split-folding mechanism does supplement it somewhat, the Mazda6 will find it hard to swallow a week’s worth of groceries or luggage for four adults.

Winner: Honda Accord





Performance and Fuel Economy

This is easily the meat of the matter: how does it perform? How does it handle? Which is more fuel efficient? Well, the answer isn’t as straightforward as you think ever since Mazda made the gutsy move to offer the Mazda6 sedan solely with a diesel engine. That’s right, with the 2.5-liter Skyactiv-G moving exclusively to the Sports Wagon variant, this becomes an interesting case of Honda versus Mazda, diesel versus gasoline.

And like any gladiator match, there could only be one winner. In this case, it’s clearly the Mazda6. Some may decry that this match-up is a bit unfair, but consider the numbers: both have four cylinders, both have similar displacements, and both even offer 175 horsepower on tap. The big advantage of the Mazda is that it’s a diesel and as such, it has a Civic’s worth of more torque than the Accord. Lightning quick reactions in stoplight situations, locomotive-like acceleration, and power on demand are a given. But the Mazda6 is more than just a Soul Red-colored Road Runner. It’s also mighty quiet and smooth. It’s mighty efficient too—doing 10.20 km/L in the city (average speed 12 km/h) up to 25.11 km/L on the highway (average speed 86 km/h). Apart from its straight line performance, the Mazda6 also betters the Accord in the way it conducts itself through corners. It eats transition movements for breakfast, only occasionally spitting out hints of understeer. It also feels much more confident under heavy braking. On the flipside, the ride is far less cushy. It’s controlled, but firm. Jolts are largely absorbed, but tire noise is abundant at higher speed. Plus, there’s an obnoxious knocking sound from the front suspension—something that’s become commonplace with the Mazda6.

When not being pushed or carved through traffic, the Accord pretty much matches the Mazda6 in all but perhaps the less than stellar visibility. But roads aren’t made solely of EDSA and as soon as traffic clears up, the Honda begins to show its limits. Though it’s noticeably quieter, smoother, and plusher than the Mazda6, the overall feel is that of isolation. It’s numb all the way from the steering to the chassis; the pedals to the engine; the driver to the car. Don’t get it wrong, it is capable, but the car doesn’t simply communicate well to the driver. Nonetheless, the engine lets out a positive, but muted sound while the accompanying power and acceleration is brisk, especially from mid-throttle onward. The five-speed automatic, though a cog down the Mazda6 is well-suited to the engine. The steering itself is progressive and natural while the brakes still bite well. However, there’s simply no emotion attached to the entire experience. It has, for all intents and purposes, become the appliance of sporty sedans. And once you’re compared to a refrigerator, it’s not exactly a compliment. Further rubbing salt in its wounds, the Earth Dreams engine under the Accord’s hood has really affected fuel mileage which rests at a dismal 5.71 km/L (average speed 11 km/h) going up to 9.48 km/L as the speeds go up (average speed 16 km/h) topping out at 14.37 km/h on the highway (average speed 67 km/h).

Winner: Mazda6





Value for Money

With compact sedans and crossovers now offering increasingly competitive specs, there’s pressure to actually kit-up the executive sedans even more. Both these vehicles offer a substantial upgrade in terms of comfort and convenience technologies, some of which weren’t available in this price range before. That said, around P 200,000 separates the Mazda6 and the Accord with the Honda still coming out as the more affordable of the two. The question is: can Mazda justify its price difference?

When the Accord first came out in 2014, Honda played it conservatively, offering about 90 percent of equipment at 10 percent less cost than the competition. Today though, Honda has rectified this and has begun offering much more equipment at roughly the same price point. Apart from the de rigueur features such as powered leather seats, a fancy infotainment system, GPS navigation, and so forth, the new Accord does add things like cruise control and front proximity sensors to supplement the rear ones. A multi-angle parking camera is also standard on the 4-cylinder variant as well. Even the much vaulted, but equally unnecessary Lane Watch blind spot camera has been added too. It also receives a full complement of LED lighting front and back. What’re missing would be larger alloy wheels and perhaps, rain-sensing wipers. Apart from those, the Accord is looking to be a more complete package.

As good as the Accord is, its biggest problem is the Mazda6. With Mazda opting for a more simplified line-up, the Mazda6 has been kitted to the roof in terms of features; features that easily justifies its higher price tag. Adaptive LED headlights? Check. Gunmetal 19-inch alloy wheels? Check. Sunroof? Check. Powered driver’s seat with memory? Check. An 11-speaker Bose sound system? Check. Heads-up display? Check. Lane Keeping Assist? Check. Lane Departure Warning? Check. Game set and match.

Winner: Mazda6





For the executive who still longs to drive himself, it’s clear that there’s only one real choice. This matchup between the Honda Accord and Mazda6 has produced a new executive sedan king. And in this case, the Mazda6 rules the roost. Although the Accord still manages to strike a good balance between sportiness and comfort, it’s starting to veer too much already to becoming more of a chauffeur-driven car as opposed to an owner-driven one. It’s plush and luxurious, spacious and comfortable, but it’s also largely numb. In the end, it simply cannot match the fun-to-drive qualities of the Mazda6. The Mazda does trade a bit in terms of space and riding comfort for a better driving experience, but in the end, you know which one you’ll be willing drive on a long trip.

Winner: Mazda6

You just don’t want to mess with this version of the Chevrolet Colorado. A concept developed by General Motors and the US Army Tank Automotive Research Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC), the Colorado ZH2 is probably the most badass version of Chevrolet’s pickup truck.

The Motorcycle Development Program Participants Association (MDPPA), the premier group of motorcycle manufacturers in the country, distributed free stickers promoting the use of helmets at selected motorcycle dealerships in Metro Manila during the official roll out of its “Helmets Save Lives” campaign.

Showcasing its award-winning and best-selling vehicles that propelled the company to a record-breaking 52 percent year-on-year growth, Suzuki Philippines impressed visitors with its booth concept, activities and displays at the Philippine International Motor Show held last month.

Motor Image is launching a new campaign for its Forester which stars a new and very unlikely endorser: Homer Simpson.

Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI), announces its sales performance for the month of August 2016. HCPI’s Year-To-Date (YTD) sales grew by 19 percent from January to August with a total of 14,496 vehicle sales, compared to the same period in 2015 with 12,167 vehicles sold. The reported sales increase is attributed to the brand’s main contributors, particularly the City and the Mobilio.

Designed and tested for performance-oriented street use, Brembo Sport brake pads offer the first upgrade level for any braking system. The upgrade within your reach, they offer unparalleled performance, durability, and reliability—traits Brembo is known for.

Adventure Cycle Philippines, Inc. (ACPI), the distributor of KTM in the Philippines opened its flagship store at the Bonifacio Global City. Located at 28th Street, the KTM store showcases its wide range of motorcycles, accessories, and apparel.

A Harley-Davidson is more than a motorcycle. It is a symbol of Americana, built from the ground up by founders Walter and Arthur Davidson and their friend Bill Harley. But the road to success was not exactly smooth – filled with innumerable obstacles, ruthless competitors and extraordinary risks. Together these three young men, the sons of blue-collar immigrants, gave everything they had to ensure the survival of the company they founded. But just how far would they go to reach the ultimate American dream?

Mark your calendars: 2017 is when the production Honda Civic Type R is coming to showrooms around the world. Before then though, Honda is whetting our appetite with the unveil of the Civic Type R Prototype, photos of which just came out ahead of the 2016 Mondial de L’Automobile (Paris International Motor Show).

The different Honda car clubs gathered at the 6th Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS). Honda’s participation at PIMS became the best time for the car clubs to meet and gather with their much-loved cars.

Demonstrating the power of play, Chevrolet and One World Play Project made a special delivery of 500 ultra-durable One World Futbols to six disadvantaged schools in isolated parts of Cebu during the Trailblazer and Colorado regional drive. Using the capable Colorado pickups and Trailblazer SUVs, the delivery made it through the harsh and challenging road conditions.

Here’s something that pretty much escaped under the radar: a new Ranger variant. That’s right—Ford Philippines is beefing up its Ranger portfolio by introducing a new variant that’s the meat between value-oriented XLT and bells-and-whistles Wildtrak sandwich. Meet the tasty FX4.

Bali—the Island of the Gods. One of the most exotic destinations in Asia, it’s best known for its vibrant, and sometimes wild, beach life. And while this is the most opportune moment to sip Piña Coladas while ogling at bikini-clad women, this isn’t the time. Instead, it’s time to explore Bali in the most captivating way possible: aboard two of MINI’s newest offerings, the Cabriolet and the Clubman. Armed with sunnies and sunblock, it’s time to set off in the MINI Adventure 2016.

More powerful, more efficient, and more intelligent: the all-new Audi A4 is finally in the Philippines. Featuring numerous premium technologies that set the bar higher for its segment, the 2017 Audi A4 blends elegant design with innovative technologies; while lightweight construction meets new, efficient drivetrain solutions. The resulting all-new A4 is truly a high-tech experience.

Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI), marketer of the Caltex brand of fuels and lubricants, continues to provide customers with its best fuel ever: Caltex Platinum with Techron. Starting today, CPI’s customers, old and new, will get a chance to choose their own prize with Caltex’s Gas Up On Platinum, Win a Ford.

Ferrari is spreading forced-induction love with the brand’s first four-seater turbocharged V8 grand turismo: the GTC4Lusso T. Set to be unveiled at the upcoming Paris Motor Show, it’s aimed for owners who want something that’s sporty yet versatile and perfect to be driven on a daily basis.

Honda Cars Philippines, Inc (HCPI), releases the Jazz in Lunar Silver Metallic, a color emanating a tastefully upscale appeal that befits the pioneer in the subcompact hatchback segment. The Lunar Silver Metallic color option will be offered on all Jazz variants: the 1.5 V MT, the 1.5 V CVT, the 1.5 VX CVT, and the 1.5 VX+ CVT.

Volkswagen Philippines, in partnership with The Laus Group of Companies, inaugurated Volkswagen Pampanga along McArthur Highway. The dealership becomes Volkswagen’s first in Central Luzon.

For those who think the Nissan Juke isn’t stand out enough in terms of styling, Nissan Philippines is offering a spruced up version of its sub-compact crossover featuring both exterior and interior enhancements.

SEAOIL Philippines, Inc., the largest independent fuel player in the country today, has partnered with Uber to provide its drivers five percent discount on gasoline and two percent discount on diesel.

Foton Philippines showed off its wares for the first time as a member of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines (CAMPI) at the recently concluded 6th Philippine International Motor Show.

The S-Dream is the fastest Honda ever, beating the record set by the BAR Honda Formula One car in 2006. It set a new FIA world record of 261.875 mph (421.447 km/h) in a mile and 261.966 mph (421.593 km/h) in a kilometer for its class. And to get that new world record, it needed just a 660-cc (0.66 -liter) three-cylinder powerplant based off the Honda S660 sports car.

Peter Schreyer is marking ten years of leading new car design for Kia, a period during which the Korean brand’s global sales have risen from around 1.1 million cars in 2005, to 3.05 million in 2015.

A Mahindra Summer Caravan that made a clean sweep of the provinces, cities, and municipalities comprising Region 1 from August 30 to September 2 was conducted by Mahindra Philippiones (Asianbrands Motor Corporation), Exclusive distributor of Mahindra vehicles in the Philippines, through its authorized dealership in Northern Luzon, Mahindra Nueva Ecija.

Enthusiasts now have a chance to add to their toy car collection with the Petron Supercar Series Limited Edition promo running from September 15 to October 15, 2016. For every P 500 worth of single or accumulated purchase of  Petron Blaze 100, Petron XCS, Petron Xtra Advance, Petron Turbo Diesel, Petron Diesel Max, Petron Ultron, Petron Rev-X, or Petron Sprint 4T, you are entitled to buy your choice of big toy car for only P 700 each at participating Petron stations nationwide.

Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI), Honda’s automobile business unit in the Philippines, will display the All-New BR-V, Honda’s newest 7-seater SUV, at select malls and Honda dealerships beginning September 20, 2016.

With Toyota Motor Philippines serving as the country’s official distributor of TRD parts, it’s only appropriate that they give their best-selling Fortuner and Hilux the full-on racy treatment. Well, that’s exactly what happened when Toyota showed off the 2017 Toyota Hilux TRD and Fortuner TRD at the Philippine International Motor Show.

Nissan Philippines Inc. (NPI) has announced the six Filipinos who qualified to compete in the Nissan GT Academy Race Camp Week in Silverstone, United Kingdom.

In a simple ceremony held at the Metrotent along Meralco Avenue Pasig, Gobounce Asia founder Kevin Moylan formally launched the mobile motorcycle booking application aptly called “GoBounce”. The app is currently available for download from Google Play Store for android phones and soon from App Store for iPhones and iPads.

El Nido welcomes the opening of its brand new gasoline station in town. Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI), marketer of the Caltex brand of fuels and lubricants, recently inaugurated a Caltex service station located along the National Highway, which is conveniently situated across the town’s public market, signaling CPI’s thrust in reaching out to more motoring consumers throughout the country.

Chevrolet has one mission when it comes to updating the Trailblazer and Colorado. Knowing they have the segment’s best mechanicals that still deliver class-leading numbers, they simply needed to make both exude a more premium feel. Chevrolet acknowledges the criticisms leveled at their less than stellar interiors before, and now, they’ve come back with a vengeance. The 2017 Trailblazer and Colorado may very well be the best in their segments.

Renowned for car audio and high fidelity speakers, Focal is now offering their range of multimedia and wireless set-ups perfect for audiophiles on the go.

After achieving the brand’s best sales ever and now achieving a 4.1-percent market share of the Philippine automotive industry, Nissan Philippines, Inc. (NPI) is rewarding itself with the launch of the much-awaited, much-anticipated 2017 Nissan GT-R.

Okay, so here’s another case of a great car managing to miss the limelight at the Philippine International Motor Show. At the Mazda pavilion, all eyes are focused solely on the all-new CX-3; and rightfully so, it’s stylish, it’s got all-wheel drive, and it’s a crossover—a hot segment in the market today. But just behind the CX-3 is the 2017 Mazda3.

Volkswagen Philippines revealed a “triple treat” for Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS) visitors with the market premiere of three new models: the CC, Caddy, and Golf GTI Oettinger Edition.


Volkswagen CC

The highlight of the pavilion is undoubtedly the sexy CC four-door coupe. Shown in the pure white shade, it highlights the sporty yet elegant styling of this four-seater executive coupe/sedan. Based off the Passat, it’s differentiated primarily by its Euro-5 emissions compliant 2.0-liter Turbo Direct Injection (TDI) engine. With 177 horsepower and 380 Nm of torque, it combines performance and efficiency. It also comes with the 6-speed DSG (dual clutch) automatic with an idle start/stop system.

Aside from the powertrain, the CC ups the handling thanks to its solid platform underpinned with front 3-point Double Wishbones and rear 4-link independent suspension. It also rides on massive 19-inch rims with 235/35 R 19 tires. And aiding the driver is a wealth of aids including Adaptive Chassis Control (ACC), Electronic Differential Lock (XDS), Engine Drag Torque Control, and Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP).

Interior amenities include a 12-way driver’s seat with memory, automatic climate control, leather seats, and many more.

It retails for P 2,850,000.

Specifications:

• Engine: 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged direct injection diesel
• Max. Output: 177 horsepower @ 4,200 rpm
• Max. Torque: 380 Nm @ 1,750 –2,500 rpm
• Fuel Tank Capacity: 70L
• Emissions: Euro 5
• Gearbox: 6-speed DSG
• Drivetrain: Front wheel drive
• Steering: Electromechanical, speed-sensing
• Front suspension: Struts and 3-point wishbone with stabilizer
• Rear suspension: 4-link with stabilizer
• Dimensions (LxWxH): 4,802 mm x 1,855 mm x 1,421 mm
• Wheelbase: 2,710 mm
• Wheel size: 8J x 19”
• Tire size: 235/35 R 19

Volkswagen Caddy

For those who want something more family-friendly, Volkswagen is bringing to market the Caddy. Based off the Golf Mk V platform, the Caddy is uncompromising in terms of driving dynamics, but can also deliver the practicality, flexibility, and spaciousness of an MPV.

Powered by a 2.0-liter TDI engine, the Caddy generates 140 horsepower and 320 Nm of torque. This potent engine is mated to a 6-speed DSG gearbox while power is routed through a 4Motion all-wheel drive system.

Compared to the Touran, the Caddy replaces the swing doors for traditional sliding ones. Yet, styling doesn’t take a backseat with its 17-inch rims fitted with 205/50 R 17 tires.

As a family-friendly vehicle, the MPV comes with 4 airbags, stability control, hill hold control, cruise control apart from the aforementioned all-wheel drive system.

The Caddy comes in a range of seven colors: Candy White, Toffee Brown, Reflex Silver, Natural Gray, Lav Red, Night Blue, and Deep Black Pearl for a price of P 1,550,000.

Specifications:

• Engine: 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged direct injection diesel
• Max. Output: 140 horsepower @ 4,200 rpm
• Max. Torque: 320 Nm @ 1,750 rpm
• Fuel Tank Capacity: 60L
• Emissions: Euro 5
• Gearbox: 6-speed DSG
• Drivetrain: 4Motion all-wheel drive
• Steering: Electromechanical, speed-sensing
• Front suspension: MacPherson struts with subframe and stabilizer
• Rear suspension: Rigid axle
• Dimensions (LxWxH): 4,878 mm x 1,794 mm x 1,893 mm
• Wheelbase: 3,006 mm
• Wheel size: 6J x 17”
• Tire size: 205/50 R 17

Volkswagen Golf GTI Oettinger Edition

Finally, Volkswagen is giving its Golf GTI hot hatch the tuner treatment with the unveil of the Oettinger Edition.

With over 60 years of experience tuning high-performance German cars, Oettinger is adding even more style to the Golf GTI with a motorsports-inspired body kit. The Oettinger kit is comprised of a front spoiler, front splitter, side skirt set, 4-pipe rear skirt insert with diffuser, roof spoiler, and 4-pipe rear muffler, light-weight 19-inch twine spoke rims with 225/40 R 19 tires. It’s also wrapped in a matte black wrap.

The Oettinger Edition is more show than go however as the engine remains unchanged. It still generates 220 horsepower and 350 Nm of torque from its turbocharged 2.0-liter TSI engine. Euro 4 compliant, the Golf GTI delivers power to its front wheels via a 6-speed dual clutch automatic.

The price of the Golf GTI Oettinger Edition is P 2,918,511.16 with the kit costing P 628,511.16.

Specifications:

• Engine: 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged gasoline
• Max. Output: 220 horsepower @ 4,500 – 6,200 rpm
• Max. Torque: 350 Nm @ 1,500 – 4,400 rpm
• Fuel Tank Capacity: 50L
• Emissions: Euro 4
• Gearbox: 6-speed DSG
• Drivetrain: Front wheel drive
• Steering: Electromechanical, speed-sensing, progressive steering system
• Front suspension: Struts and 3-point wishbone with stabilizer
• Rear suspension: 4-link with stabilizer
• Accessories:
• Twine spoke, Black gloss machine 7.5J x 19” alloy
• 225/40 R 19 Pirelli Cinturato
• Oettinger front spoiler
• Oettinger front splitter
• Oettinger side skirt set
• Oettinger 4-pipe rear skirt insert with diffuser
• Oettinger roof spoiler
• Oettinger 4-pipe rear muffler (4 x 84mm diameter)
• Matte black foil

Best known for the iconic Wrangler, Jeep is now going into the small crossover segment with the Renegade. Introduced first to the Philippine market via its sizeable role as Bruce Wayne’s escape car in the beginning of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, the Renegade actually packs a capable off-road package in that cutesy looking exterior.

While the 2017 GT-R is gaining the lion’s share of attention over at the Nissan pavilion, Nissan Philippines, Inc. also snuck in a mid-cycle re-fresh of their Altima executive sedan at the Philippine International Motor Show or PIMS.