Get the most bang for your buck! Top brand new cars priced from P1M to P1.5M

We had fun listing down the best cars under P700,000; many of the models we cited were packed with features and value for not too much money. It was proof that even for those on a budget, you can still find a car that was fun to drive, easy to maintain and most importantly, got you from Point A to Point B.

This time around, it will be quite different. We’ll be talking about the best cars and their variants that we consider the best buys you can get between P1,000,000 to P1,500,000. If we are to take inflation and consumer price index ratios into account, it’s the sweet spot of car purchases.

This price range is likely where your mom and dad used to scout for cars back in the day. Sure, the prices of these cars would have been different, say, 20 years ago, but it is what it is, no thanks to inflation.

Choosing a suitable car with all the value and budget is never an easy task

This is where car companies make the most money, as the models are volume sellers. This implies that you’d find all the value, the best features, the most tech a company can pack into a car at this price point.

The possibilities are endless, really. Endless to a point that drafting this article actually took me longer than expected! There were over 50 car models that fit this description, and that list was from cars that I already liked in the first place, cars that I sure wouldn’t mind driving home myself.

We narrowed down the list of cars to 15 models, three in each category, from sub-compacts, compacts, crossovers, pickups, and seven-seaters. Yes, I was taken aback that you can actually get really good deals on seven-seaters in this price category. So let’s get down to the list real quick and find which car suits you best and you’d want to drive for a very long time.

1. Top subcompacts priced from P1M to P1.5M

Let’s start off with those trusty subcompacts. At this price range, you will see most top-spec variants of popular subcompacts. Given that they almost match the prices of equally well-known entry-level compacts, is it worth biting the bullet to go top-of-the-line?

Honda City 1.5 VX+ Navi 2020 - ₱1,068,000

>>> Check out the latest price list & installment for all Honda City models

This entry-level Honda can still offer tons of fun

The Honda City is quite a capable car thanks to its 1.5-liter iVTEC engine, but don’t expect much of the 90s VTEC scream, if at all, every time you floor the pedal. What the City can do, thanks to the Continuously Variable Transmission is cruise through the, er, city, in relative comfort for five passengers and do so in a very economical manner.

Acceleration and speed are adequate, to say nothing of the striking Honda good looks, but don’t expect to win any impromptu stoplight drag races (you will lose), but the long-distance race? I guarantee you’ll win that deal nine times out of 10!

Toyota Vios 1.5 Prime 2020 - ₱1,098,000

>>> Get Toyota Vios downpayment and installment price

The Vios in this iteration finally look better than the City

Let me tell you a story about the Toyota Vios. I was once cruising along Ortigas Avenue one lazy Sunday morning, when all of a sudden I saw this funky, sporty-looking sedan from my rearview mirror. I had no idea what it was but it did get my blood racing.

I wanted to see what it was and to my surprise, lo and behold, it was the new Vios! Apart from the plethora of safety features present (and torquey 1.5-liter DOHC engine), the Vios finally took the City down a few pegs in the looks department, at least in my book. It races quite well, too; check out my video on the Vios Racing Festival!

What's hot at Toyota Vios Racing Festival 2019?

Hyundai Accent 1.6 GL CRDi 2020 - ₱1,038,000

>>> View full Hyundai Accent Philippines price list with estimated installment

 

The diesel Hyundai Accent is so much faster than it is supposed to

The Hyundai Accent is at a weird juncture in its local market existence. When it was first introduced, the model was a revelation: here was a small subcompact that had the torque figures of a much faster vehicle. It sipped fuel like a lady nursing her drink in the summertime and can seat five occupants in comfort.

Today, the hype seems to have died down and I don’t understand why. It still leads its class in terms of power and torque, as well as stellar fuel economy. Only a full, long term test will determine why the Hyundai Accent seems to have missed its groove.

2. Top compact sedans priced from P1M to P1.5M

What if a subcompact just isn’t enough? As we’ve seen from the list above, subcompacts have come a long way from being the afterthought in terms of automotive choices, and have now become top of mind among car buyers especially in the Philippines. However, if you find yourself looking for more space or more power, you can’t go wrong with the next list.

MG 6 Trophy 2020 - ₱1,188,888

We begin with the dark horse on our list. The MG 6 is the British marque’s compact sedan segment killer. It has everything you want in this segment: a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine that provides class-leading torque, six airbags, leather seats as standard, an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay compatibility, a sleek fastback design and, what is probably the most important part for me, a wet-type dual clutch transmission (DCT) that’s worlds better than what we’re used to in local offerings since it was designed to handle more torque. Way better than a dry type transmission, (just ask the Blue Oval brand).

This type of DCT is the same one found in the Bugatti Veyron, and if anything, this sends the message that handling the MG 6’s power is a piece of cake. And for a ridiculously affordable price to boot, all things considered. Now I want to drive home in one.

2020 MG6 Philippines Review & Road Test | Philkotse

Honda Civic 1.8 E 2020

>>> Latest changes in the price of all Honda Civic variants

The entry-level Honda Civic offers hope to Honda fanboys

A quick disclaimer before we talk about the Honda Civic: I am a full, red-blooded Honda fan, ever since I was a young high school kid. Something about the red H badge on type Rs just draws me towards the brand. That said, I feel a tad alienated by the top-of-the-line Civic RS, and it has actually priced itself out of this list. Thank goodness, then, for small miracles such as the entry-level Honda Civic 1.8 E.

Fans can still enjoy the Honda Civic the way it is supposed to be enjoyed. It may not offer the same amenities as the RS variant, but the base Civic is a blank canvas that gives you all the freedom to create your own masterpiece. I only wish it had a manual transmission, though, since the lone transmission option is a CVT.

Toyota Corolla Altis 1.6 V 2020 - ₱1,185,000

>>> Find all Toyota Corolla Altis for sale at cheap price

While some brands seem to have gone out of touch with their fan base, it’s heartening to know that Toyota still has their own formula down pat: four doors, a 1.6-liter engine, a manual or CVT option. Being basic has never been this good with the Toyota Corolla Altis 1.6V. The mid-range variant of the Corolla Altis line features all you need in a daily driver. Complemented with one of the best CVT systems in the business, I can only say so many good things about this car without sounding off like a sales brochure.

Whenever anyone asks me what car they can get at this price point, my mind always goes to the Toyota Corolla Altis by default. There’s a reason why it’s the best-selling car model in the world.

This is my default answer to the question of what a good first car is

>>> You might like to read: The top brand new cars priced from Php 700k to Php 1 Million

3. Top seven-seater SUVs/MPVs priced from P1M to P1.5M

Seven-seaters have proven to be the winning product for many car companies in 2019. These vehicles go right at the heart of the Filipino values, namely of togetherness and family; no dream is more enticing than going out on the great Filipino Road Trip with people you enjoy being with. Plus, it helps that these cars have the ability to wade through small floods and the ruggedness to withstand the occasional pothole in urban or mixed-driving scenarios.

Toyota Innova 2.8 Touring Sport 2020

>>> Get Toyota Innova downpayment and installment price

Touring Sport trim adds more pizzaz to already funky Innova

One of Toyota’s best selling vehicles, in my opinion, stays the king of the hill for a reason. Powered by a torquey diesel engine, offering generous seating for seven in a large and versatile interior, and having a funky and youthful design underpinned by body-on-frame construction, the Toyota Innova has simply earned its accolades and admiration. In the Touring Sport trim, you also get various go-fast bits in and around the car to make it look even more youthful and sporty. Despite it’s slighhtly more aggressive air, supermarket moms still can’t help but gravitate towards the Innova, as it is just the perfect family car.

Mitsubishi Xpander GLS Sport 2020

>>> Check out the latest pricing changes of the Xpander

The Xpander is Mitsubishi Philippines' stroke of brilliance

In one of Mitsubishi’s most surprising strokes of brilliance over the past year, the Mitsubishi Xpander was released to much fanfare, to a point that the waiting time reached months for many customers. Sampling it behind the wheel, we realized why it was such a hit.

Apart from the eye-catching Dynamic Shield design, this seven-seater MPV offered car-like dynamics with high-performance damper valves adapted from the Lancer Evolution X, and flexible seating configurations that can carry both passengers and cargo. Three power outlets (one for each row of seats) made the Xpander a truly contemporary vehicle for gadget-crazy Filipinos on the go. The 1.5L MIVEC engine mated to a conventional four-speed automatic admittedly isn’t the most powerful combination in this class, but it gets the job done with efficiency as the paramount directive. The Xpander gets you to your destination in a fun and practical package.

Isuzu mu-X RZ4E LS 4x2 2020 - ₱1,300,000

>>> View full Isuzu Mu-X price list and price installment

It’s a wonder that Isuzu even earns a profit from this car

In a year filled seven-seater releases, one brand and model stayed unfazed and, in my opinion, has almost reached iconic status: the Isuzu Mu-X. It has the smallest engine of the bunch, it doesn’t have fog lamps, the door handles are rendered in black instead of the body color, and there is hardly a hint of leather or soft-touch surfaces on the interior.

But you know what? All of that doesn’t really matter. What you get instead is a rugged and reliable SUV armed with a six-speed automatic transmission. The price is just insane as well, leading you to wonder if Isuzu even earns a profit from this car; it’s just so darn good for what you’re paying.

4.  Top pickup trucks priced from P1M to P1.5M

Pickup trucks have been enjoying a renaissance of sorts during the past year, thanks in part to the passage of the TRAIN Law that spared this class of vehicles from price increases. We can never get enough of talk about this topic no matter how sick of it you get, because it is the single most impactful event in the local car industry and it has changed the landscape of local motoring forever.

While the tax rationalization caused an increase in prices for most cars, it had the opposite effect on pickups, being categorized as commercial vehicles that enjoy significant tax breaks under the law.

Ford Ranger 2.0 Wildtrak 4X2 2020 - ₱1,455,000

>>> Latest Ford Ranger price list and installment

Before there ever was a Ford Ranger Raptor, the Wildtrak used to be top dog in the pickup category. In a way, it still is, and you can enjoy the rear-wheel-drive variant for just under Php1.5 million. The Wildtrak shares the same bi-turbo diesel engine found on the more lifestyle-oriented Raptor, but is a much more capable hauler thanks to its rear leaf spring suspension setup.

The Ranger Raptor may be the one getting all the stares, but it’s the Wildtrak that gets the job done.

The WIldtrak is a more sensible Ford Ranger Raptor

Toyota Hilux Conquest 4X2 2020 - ₱1,352,000

>>> Get Toyota Hilux downpayment and installment price

The Toyota Hilux Conquest is the sporty and rugged version of the wildly popular Toyota Hilux

The Toyota Hilux Conquest is the sporty and rugged version of the wildly popular Toyota Hilux series. It’s got a Toyota Racing Development (TRD) appearance package that dresses it up quite a bit, giving it much more gusto and enabling it to stand its ground against the likes of the Ford Ranger Raptor, at least in terms of looks.

If there’s any lingering doubt about the reliability of the Toyota Hilux by this point, all one needs to do is search YouTube for that British motoring show’s episode where they basically try to kill a Toyota Hilux with everything they have, only to ultimately fail.

Mitsubishi Strada GLS 4x2 2020 - ₱1,250,000

>>> View full Mitsubishi Strada price list with estimated installment

The Strada doesn’t look like any other truck in the market today

Coming from a midcycle refresh this year, the Mitsubishi Strada applies the corporate Dynamic Shield design and it looks stunning. It definitely doesn’t look like any other truck in the market today as it adopts more sharp angles and edges for its design, in lieu of the curvy egg-like dimensions of old.

The GLS 2WD variant is the Strada’s midrange offering that’s packed with interior goodies and amenities that make this one of the best buys for the segment.

5. Top crossovers priced from P1M to P1.5M 

Crossovers are the new family cars. In a market segment that used to be dominated by compact cars, families have now gravitated towards these high-riding soft-roaders that offer the same kit as compacts but in a more rugged package. Crossovers ride higher than normal sedans and carry more stuff as well, which would likely explain the waning sales of sedans across a range of markets.

Hyundai Kona 2.0 GLS AT 2020 - ₱1,188,000

>>> Get the latest Hyundai Kona price list and installment

Hyundai made the impossible task of making the Kona one of their best-sellers

The Hyundai Kona is the very definition of the phrase “out of left field”. When it was first introduced late 2018, no one ever thought that the compact crossover from Hyundai would ever amount to anything, especially faced with such rivals as the Nissan Juke and the Kia Soul. Yet Hyundai managed to pull off the unthinkable by marketing the Kona right.

Imagine that? Here you have what is basically a raised subcompact car with funky styling and a great quality interior at an affordable price. That funky styling is actually now becoming the norm among cars.

Honda HR-V 1.8 RS Navi 2020

>>> Check out full Honda HR-V Philippines price list

The HRV is a combination of smart interior styling and rather sporty exterior

After receiving a minor update in its midcycle refresh, the Honda HR-V asserts its dominance in the subcompact crossover segment. Riding on the same platform as the Honda Jazz but carrying the same 1.8-liter engine as the Honda Civic, this combination of smart interior styling and rather sporty exterior as well as good driving dynamics makes the Honda HR-V a winner despite its age.

Subaru XV 2.0i 2020

>>> View full Subaru XV price list with monthly installment

Gives you all the boxer engine and Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive goodness you expect from a Subaru

When the second-generation Subaru XV was introduced, you could almost hear everyone’s collective eyebrows raising just a tiny bit. It bore a huge resemblance to the previous generation and even shares a lot of the interior bits. What got everyone talking, however, was its price relative to its counterparts.

The entry-level XV 2.0i gave you all the boxer engine and Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive goodness you expect from a Subaru. So before shelling out some dough on that next car, try checking out the XV first and you’ll be in for a treat!

There you have it, folks! With a smorgasbord of cars like this available at such a price point, it’s almost ridiculous to even go above that Php 1.5 million peso threshold. Make sure to follow us here at Philkotse.com for more tips such as these as well as news, reviews, and insights on the local car industry and more!