5 best cars for women in the Philippines (2021 Edition)

As the years pass, more and more women are getting into driving. That only makes sense as the world as it is in 2021 isn’t just a man’s world anymore. To prove a point, the 2013 Philippine Statistics Authority survey on the country’s labor force accounts for 8.3 million women, which is 37.5 percent out of the total working population.  

A good portion of the drivers plying Philippine roads are women

To this end, a good deal of working women needs transportation. Moreover, the modern woman in general has more responsibilities and duties, which sometimes they can amazingly juggle at the same time. As such, many will need a car that’s capable of getting their kids to school, get to work or school, bring along friends and co-workers on leisure and/or business trips, and sometimes take the husband/boyfriend along to get groceries.  

So, what cars do we recommend for women? Without further ado, here’s a list of our recommendations. 

Toyota Innova 

The Toyota Innova is a seven-seater MPV that’s undoubtedly a great car for women. More specifically, it can carry her entire family, whilst having the extra room for cargo at the back. On top of that, the Innova is based on the same ladder-frame chassis which it shares with the Toyota Hilux and Fortuner. It even uses the same 2.8-liter turbodiesel available on the two aforementioned models. As such, it has a reputation for reliability, as well as power. 

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Currently, the Philippine-spec Innova is propelled by a 2.8-liter turbodiesel inline-4 engine. The said four-banger can make up to 167 horsepower and 343 Nm of torque, and power is sent to the rear via a five-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission. Combined with the ladder-frame chassis and the robust suspension setup, this makes the Innova great not only for city travel, but for out-of-town excursions as well. Heck, it can even handle rough provincial roads too.  

Safety-wise, the top-spec Innova V is well-equipped. It has seven airbags, stability and traction control, parking sensors, hill-start assist, speed-sensing door locks, anti-lock braking, among others. The Innova V also has a lot of features for entertainment and comfort. It has a seven-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a push to start button, automatic climate control with rear vents, etc. 

On top of those points, the Innova is also a good-looking MPV

Currently, the Toyota Innova has six variants available locally. Their prices range from Php 1,186,000 for the entry-level Innova J MT, to Php 1,739,000 for the top-of-the-line Innova V 2.8 AT.  

Honda City Hatchback 

For women who want a more compact five-seater car, we recommend the Honda City Hatchback. It is perfectly sized for a woman who works and lives in the city, and it has enough space to provide a comfortable ride for a growing family. Then again, the City hatchback available to the local market is solely the RS trim. As such, it also makes for a kickass, stylish-looking ride for you young sporty ladies out there.

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As for specs, this Honda-made hatchback uses a 1.5-liter inline-4 gasoline engine, which can deliver up to 119 horsepower and 145 Nm of torque. Power is sent to the front wheels via a continuously variable transmission. 

As far as safety goes, the City RS hatchback is equipped with anti-lock braking, six airbags, stability control, hill-start assist, speed-sensing door locks, and many other features. For comfort, the said model comes standard with an eight-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay as well as Android Auto. 

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The sporty-looking Honda City Hatchback RS 

The sole variant of this Honda model in the Philippine market is the Honda City hatchback RS CVT, and it has a price tag of Php 1,115,000. 

Chery Tiggo 7 Pro 

For women who want something more elegant and mature-looking, then the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro is an excellent choice. It is one of the most striking-looking crossovers in the Philippines right now mainly thanks to its front fascia. The Tiggo 7 Pro’s front end is especially noteworthy due to its unique grille design, combined with the upswept headlights and angular front bumpers. Overall, this Chery crossover features a well-composed stance that will turn heads. 

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At most, the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro can fit up to five occupants with a lot of room for cargo at the back. It also has a lot of safety features like a 360-degree view camera, anti-lock braking, stability control, traction control, hill assist control, hill descent control, a tire pressure monitoring system, and many others.  

Continuing its elegant exterior is its well-appointed interior equipped with wireless charging, a floating 10.25-inch touchscreen, power-adjustable front seats, and many other cool gadgets.  

Just look at the Tiggo 7 Pro's grille

Regarding its engine, this Chery crossover uses a 1.5-liter inline-4, which can produce 145 horsepower and 210 Nm of torque. It uses a CVT with nine simulated gears, which then sends power to the front wheels.  

The Tiggo 7 Pro 1.5 CVT is the sole variant available locally and it has a price of Php 1,198,000.  

Kia Stonic 

On the more youthful side of things, there’s the Kia Stonic. By its looks alone, this car will suit a young woman great. On top of that, its compact size will make it a breeze to drive in the city, and its exterior design just exudes energy. Mind you, the Stonic can also function as a family car since it can comfortably seat five with cargo space to boot. As such, it will also do well for the “commander” of the house.  

For safety, the Stonic comes with anti-lock braking, stability control, hill-start assist, a rear camera, and parking sensors. All of the Stonic’s three variants also have an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen that comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 

The youthful-looking Kia Stonic

Powering this Kia-made crossover is a 1.4-liter inline-4 gasoline mill that’s paired with a six-speed automatic dual-clutch transmission, which sends power to the front wheels. With this setup, the Stonic can produce up to 97 horsepower and 132 Nm of torque.  

Currently, there are three variants to choose from for the Kia Stonic. Prices start at Php 735,000 for the Stonic LX 1.4 MT, Php 835,000 for the mid-spec Stonic LX 1.4 AT, and lastly, Php 925,000 for the top-spec Stonic EX 1.4 AT.  

Hyundai Venue 

The last car that we recommend for women is the Hyundai Venue. Like its Stonic rival, this Hyundai-made crossover is a cute subcompact crossover with a lot of personality.

As with most subcompact crossovers, the Venue can also do great as a mom’s (or daughter’s) daily chariot. It can seat up to five-occupants, and there’s ample space for shopping or for the kid’s school bags. Inside, the top-spec Venue comes standard with automatic air-conditioning, an eight-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a push to start button, six-airbags, stability control, traction control, and many other features. 

The elegantly styled Hyundai Venue

For its engine, this Hyundai model uses a 1.6-liter inline-4 gasoline four-banger that can churn up to 121 horsepower and 151 Nm of torque. Power is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission.  

The top-spec Hyundai Venue GLS 1.6 AT comes with a sticker price of Php 985,000. The entry-level Venue GL meanwhile, can be had for Php 915,000. 

Cars for women: You do you 

To conclude, those are our top five recommended cars for women. They are all capable, well-equipped vehicles, that can fulfill the multitude of duties that a modern, empowered woman assumes on the daily.  

That said though, these are just our recommendations and we encourage women drivers to pick what they’re comfortable with, or what they need. At the end of the day, you are the captain of your ship, so you do you when it comes to choices, and especially when choosing a car.  

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