New Car Guide: The Best Cars Under P1 Million

Written by Dos Pingol

Whether it’s for business or personal use, buying a car is an important material expense. So important in fact, that you can’t blame yourself for wanting to get the most bang from your buck.

Read more: The importance of buying a vehicle to growing your business

It’s easy to find yourself asking questions like: “What type of car do I need?” or “Is this car worth the price?” After all, the salesman’s pitch might be too good to be true. Finding the perfect road partner can be very tricky with all the car models and variations flooding the market. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here are seven best-value cars that you can get for under a million:

Suzuki Ertiga GLX 1.4 at PHP 812,000

MPVs or Multi-Purpose Vehicles have all the qualities of a good family car—from a spacious cabin, decent trunk load capacity, all the way to a forgiving price tag. Suzuki packages all that and more with the Ertiga. It has 810 Liters (L) of cargo space with the seats folded down, which is perfect for storing picnic and beach equipment for family getaways. Under the hood, Suzuki offsets the lack of expensive components by slotting in an efficient 1.4L 95hp engine with a fuel consumption of 7.1L per 100km. For safety, the Ertiga comes equipped with front passenger airbags, anti-lock braking system (ABS), engine immobilizer, and security alarm.

Honda Mobilio 1.5 RS NAVI CVT at PHP 967,000/Honda Mobilio 1.5L V at PHP 877,000

The second MPV in this list is the Honda Mobilio. Despite being a bit more expensive than the Ertiga, it comes with better hardware that gives the car a more premium feel. It runs on a 1.5L 120hp engine that can go from 0-100km/h in 10.8s (the best in its class). The car can also lower CO2 emissions and produce better mileage with Earth and Dreams Technology. The RS NAVI CVT variant even has a child seat anchor and a quick emergency hotline on top of standard safety features.

Chevrolet Trax 1.4 LS at PHP 998,888

The Trax justifies its borderline price tag with a strong 1.4L 138hp engine that can accelerate from 0-100km/h in just 10.3s with a top speed of 195 km/h. It has more power than the more popular 1.5L Ford Ecosport Titanium Powershift albeit the latter being priced PHP 13,000 lower. But for a premium price of just PHP 13,000, not only will you get a more powerful engine, but a more efficient one as well. It has a fuel consumption of 6.4L/100km and a trunk capacity of 365L, both the best for crossover models in its price range. Safety-wise, it has 360 degree airbags located on the driver side, front passenger side, curtain, and knee. The Trax also has an ABS with electronic brake distribution, a cornering brake control, and a 5-year (100,000km) warranty from Chevrolet.

Mitsubishi Mirage GLX 1.2 CVT at PHP 573,000

If you’re looking for the perfect hatchback to tackle the urban jungle, then look no further. With its compact design and great fuel economy, the Mirage is perfect for those days that you’re stuck in traffic, and even better for passing thru narrow side streets to avoid lockdowns along EDSA. Parking should also be less of a hassle due to its short wheelbase. The Mirage is only equipped with a humble 1.2L 76hp engine that accelerates from 0-100km/h in 12.8s but we’re not here to perform on the race track anyway. Instead, performance on the street is where the Mirage really shines with fuel consumption of just 4.6L per 100km. If you’re looking for a car that combines fuel efficiency with good engine power, then the Mirage might just be your cup of tea.

Honda City 1.5 E CVT PHP 799,000

When it comes to sedans, people tend to focus more on aesthetic value rather than performance but the Honda City ensures both power and efficiency without sacrificing style points. The City is complete eye candy with its edgy ergonomics, rigid lines, and overall premium feel. It features the best engine in its price range: a 1.5L engine that can go from 0-100km/h in just 10.5s and the lowest fuel consumption at 5.2L per 100km.

Mitsubishi Mirage G4 GLS 1.2 CVT at PHP 743,000

If you don’t mind trading in horsepower for better fuel-efficiency, then we recommend the Mitsubishi Mirage G4. The G4 has an efficient 1.2L 76hp engine (similar to its hatchback counterpart). Despite having less raw engine power than a Suzuki Dzire AT or a Toyota Vios 1.3E, it accelerates faster with 12.8s from 0-100km/h with a top speed of 170km/h. But the real selling point of the G4 is its significantly lower fuel consumption of just 4.6L/100km compared to other 1.2L and 1.3L sedans. It also has one of the smallest turning circles for easy navigation thru the narrow streets of Manila. The G4 offers the standard safety features with the exception of a security alarm.

Toyota Vios 1.3 E A/T at PHP 778,000

The Vios 1.3 E focuses on entertainment rather than power. It comes with a dependable 1.3L 85hp engine with a top speed of 165km/h. It also has the largest trunk capacity in its class of 476L and cargo space of 506L. What sets the Vios apart, however, is its infotainment system complete with a 7-inch touchscreen display with voice control and mirror functionalities, a CD/MP3 player with Bluetooth and USB, as well as an AM/FM radio. Carpool karaoke anyone?

This article first appeared in Security Bank’s New Car Guide: The Best Cars Under P1 Million