Best cars for first-time buyers in the Philippines

Choosing your first car can be a difficult decision as there are many options available in the Philippines. You have a whole range of sedan options to choose from with the likes of the Honda City and Toyota Vios being popular options. You also have the very featured-packed crossover segment that has recently bloomed over the past few years with more and more models vying to be the next big hit. Aside from this the well-established SUV segment still offers many great options for those looking to get their next off-road-ready 7-seater vehicle. 

With that in mind, we have created a shortlist of brand new cars today that we deem the best for newbie drivers. These vehicles come with a balanced range of features along with prices that many will enjoy. The vehicles mentioned also come with certain features that will help you learn the ropes of driving without compromising comfort and safety.

Starting off the list is a great vehicle to be your starter car in the form of the Honda City. Even in its S variant, the sedan already comes with all the features that a beginner might need. Its CVT is great and will give you the power you need when you want it and the sedan itself is one of the most comfortable vehicles you can get within the P1.2 million and under price range. If you prefer a hatchback, the Honda City hatchback is there to answer this call. However, note that in its hatchback form there is only one variant available.

If you are on a budget, the Suzuki Dzire is a great choice as you get a range of affordable and feature-packed variants for its price point. You get a reliable 1.2-liter gasoline engine under the hood that will give you great fuel economy figures in return. Aside from this, the sedan also comes with a lot of great features that many will surely enjoy and appreciate.

One of the latest models to launch from the Japanese automaker is the Nissan Almera. The all-new model now comes with sharper looks and a host of new features that first-time car buyers will surely appreciate. It also comes with Nissan’s suite of intelligent mobility safety features that will make sure you are safe and will ensure that driving the vehicle is easier.

Under the hood, the Nissan Almera packs a 1.0-liter turbocharged motor that comes with enough grunt to get you to highway speeds quickly but will also ensure that you get the most out of the fuel that you give it.

If you want a vehicle that comes with a great array of features and comes with a sporty as well as a comfortable ride, then the Mazda 2 in its hatchback form is a great choice for first-time buyers. It comes with a powerful 1.5-liter naturally aspirated motor that packs enough power to get you around and is also fuel-efficient at the same time. 

Another popular choice especially for first-time buyers is the Toyota Vios. It comes with a good lineup of engines to choose from in the form of a 1.3 and a 1.5-liter motor with each one being fuel-efficient in its own right. Aside from this, the Vios comes with many variants to choose from one of its variants will surely fit almost any budget. It also comes with the legendary reliability that Toyotas have been known for.

The Ford Territory is another great choice for those looking for a budget-friendly crossover that comes feature-packed. It has all the latest features that Ford can offer on top of a turbocharged 1.5-liter engine that gives it more than enough power to get you up to speed quickly. Aside from this it also comes with a large touchscreen display that gives the vehicle a futuristic vibe. 

The Mitsubishi Mirage G4 offers the practicality and simplicity of a small car, with a choice to either go hatchback or sedan. Its three-cylinder engine doesn’t fall short of power while offering impressive fuel economy to go with its competitive price tag. It’s a good daily car, which could be the main reason why it has become a favorite among Grab drivers.

One of the newer models to enter the lineup of American brands in the Philippines is the Chevrolet Tracker. It takes the form of a crossover that comes equipped with a 1.0-liter turbocharged engine. It also comes with a host of features that many will surely appreciate with Apple CarPlay available. With its turbocharged motor, the Tracker will give you a great wave of torque to ride on along with the benefit of being frugal at the same time. 

The Volkswagen Santana is a value-packed choice, especially with its very competitive price tag. Since it comes with a kind-of-a-short-throw manual transmission, newbie drivers would be able to master the art of driving a stick minus the stress. Also, VW vehicles are known for their fuel economy, so paying a pretty penny at the dealership and the gas station won’t be that much of an issue.