8 small hatchbacks you can buy in the Philippines in 2021

Updated Aug 27, 2021

Here’s a list of the smallest, cutest, small hatchbacks you can buy today.

In large cities in the Philippines, and even in the provinces, more and more people are favoring small city car hatchbacks as daily drivers. This is because these small cars in the Philippines are typically more affordable to maintain, and are great first cars for new drivers.

The diminutive dimension of these cars is also relatively easier to be driven along the urban jungle’s tight landscape. Small hatchbacks can drive through tight city streets with ease, which is beneficial when you’re looking for a daily driver in places such as Metro Manila. These cars are also easier to park, and have among the best turning circles due to their short wheelbases.

Small hatchbacks you can buy in the Philippines

So, if you’re looking for a car that can be your daily urban jungle warrior, you might want to consider these eight small hatchbacks available in the Philippines. They might be the 8 best small cars in the Philippines that you can choose.

1. Toyota Wigo

Toyota Wigo 2021

2021 Toyota Wigo Philippines Review: Best value-for-money small hatchback?

The Toyota Wigo is one of the popular vehicles in the Philippines. In fact last year, this small hatchback is the third best-selling car in the country with more than 9,000 units sold. The new Wigo comes with a revamped exterior that features a more angular look than the old model.

It still uses that reliable and thrifty 1.0-liter inline-3 gasoline engine. The said engine can make 66 horsepower and 89 Nm of torque. Available transmissions include a five-speed manual, and it’s also one of the few in its class that uses a four-speed automatic torque converter. The Wigo is available in four variants with a starting price of Php 568,000. The Wigo TRD S top-of-the-line model comes with a sticker price of Php 700,000.

2. Honda Brio

Honda Brio front shot

Honda Brio

The Brio is the best-selling Honda car last 2020 with more than 3,000 units sold. It finished ahead of the City and the BR-V. It is fitted with sweptback headlights, which gives the vehicle a confident stance. The black honeycomb shape grille complements the Brio’s overall look.

The Brio hatchback is equipped with a 1.2-liter gasoline engine that delivers 89 hp and 110 Nm of torque. It uses either a five-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission (CVT), depending on the variant. The Honda Brio is offered in four variants with a starting price of Php 601,000 for the S MT trim. The top-spec Brio RS Black Top CVT comes with a sticker price of Php 735,000.

3. Mitsubishi Mirage

Mitsubishi Mirage

The Mitsubishi Mirage is the small hatchback sibling of the G4 sedan. It is offered in two variants: Mirage MT and Mirage CVT. The Mirage MT is priced at Php 704,000 while the CVT variant is at Php 765,000.

Under the hood, the Mirage is equipped with a 1.2-liter gasoline engine that can put out 77 hp and 100 Nm of torque. The engine can be mated to either a 5-speed manual or CVT. Despite its diminutive dimensions, this car can accommodate up to five occupants.

The Mirage also comes with a driver and passenger airbag to give you peace of mind while you’re out on the road. Since this is a car that’s meant to be driven in the city, Mistubishi Philippines said that the Mirage is a fuel-efficient car.

4. Kia Picanto

Kia Picanto Philkotse Car Review

The Kia Picanto is a small hatchback that has the right amount of striking and smooth exterior styling. The Picanto is available in four variants with a starting price of Php 590,000 for the LX MT variant while the top-spec EX AT trim comes at Php 745,000.

The Picanto has two engine options. The first is the 1.0-liter gasoline, which can produce up to 66 hp and 95 Nm of torque. The more powerful one is a 1.2-liter gasoline engine that can make up to 83 hp and 122 Nm of torque. For transmissions, the Kia Picanto either has a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic torque converter.

5. Chevrolet Spark

Chevrolet Spark

Sitting in as Chevrolet Philippine’s smallest model is the Spark. Like the rest of the cars on this list, it is small, practical, and relatively fuel-efficient. Under its hood, the Chevrolet Spark comes with a 1.4-liter inline-4 gasoline engine capable of making up to 98 hp and 128 Nm of torque. The Philippine-spec Chevrolet Spark either has a five-speed manual or a continuously variant transmission (CVT), depending on the variant.

Chevrolet PH is offering two variants of the Spark that either comes with a manual transmission or CVT. The Spark LT MT variant is priced at Php 694,888 while the CVT variant has a sticker price of Php 734,888.

6. Suzuki S-Presso

Suzuki S-Presso Philkotse Car Review

With the discontinuation of the Alto 800 for the Philippine market, the mantle of the smallest Suzuki now goes to the Suzuki S-Presso. While it is indeed tiny, the S-Presso offers one of the highest driving positions for a city car. The S-Presso also features a 180mm of ground clearance, which gives you more confidence to drive through rough and poorly maintained paved roads.

Under the hood, the S-Presso has a 1.0-liter gasoline engine that delivers 67 horsepower and 90 Nm of torque. Its sole variant is priced at Php 523,000, and only a five-speed manual is available.

7. Suzuki Celerio

Suzuki Celerio front shot

Suzuki Celerio

Slotting in-between the S-Presso and the Swift is the Suzuki Celerio. It’s a bit wider than the S-Presso, but surprisingly it has more default trunk space than the larger Swift at 254-liters. This makes the Celerio a practical car for small families with kids.

Propelling the Celerio is a 1.0-liter gasoline engine capable of making up to 67 horsepower and 90 Nm of torque. Like most cars on this list, the Celerio is a front-wheel-drive car. It uses either a five-speed manual or a CVT. The Celerio 1.0 MT is currently priced at Php 558,000, while the Celerio 1.0 CVT is priced at Php 628,000.

8. Abarth 595

Abarth 595 front shot

Abarth 595

If you want the smallest car with the most performance possible, then one of the few cars that meet these criteria in the Philippine market is the Abarth 595. For all its muscles though, the 595 is still much a city car.

For the base variants, its 1.4-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine can produce 143 horsepower and 206 Nm of torque. The midrange variants, on the other hand, can make a bit more at 165 horsepower and 230 Nm of torque. And lastly, the most powerful top-spec Competizione variants can churn out 180 horsepower and 250 Nm of torque. For a car with a curb weight of only 1,072 – 1,149 kg, those are impressive numbers.

Apart from a five-speed manual, the Abarth 595 also uses a manual transmission automated gearbox. The said transmission is a sequential semi-automatic that uses sensors and actuators to handle the gear shifting and clutch work. If you want to learn more about the 595, do contact their dealership located in San Juan, Metro Manila.

For more lists of interesting cars, car reviews, and car maintenance tips, keep reading here on Philkotse.com.