Photos by Ulysses Ang and Chevrolet Press

The 2016 Bangkok International Motor Show is unusually meh this year. Normally the staging ground for everything ASEAN, this year’s edition seems drier in terms of new and/or significant product launches. Still, some automakers came out with their wares; products which will undoubtedly come here in one form or the other.

Cutting out the exotics which regular buyers will likely not care about, these are the significant cars from the 2016 Bangkok International Motor Show.


Chevrolet Trailblazer / Colorado

Chevrolet coyly calls the Trailblazer Premier and Colorado Xtreme concepts, but it’s very clear that these are pretty much production ready. With fully-finished interiors you can actually sit in, these will reach Philippine showroom floors by the end of 2016. Both the 2017 Trailblazer and Colorado gains a front-end similar to Chevrolet’s North American pickup and SUV offerings and that’s all for the better. Inside, it has a much more sophisticated looking dashboard that finally incorporates Apple CarPlay. No mention of drivetrain is given, but the 2.8-liter Duramax Diesel is pretty much a given.


Chevrolet Captiva

To the side of theTrailblazer and Colorado concepts, Chevrolet also showed off the 2016 Captiva. The third facelift of this aging crossover, the Captiva gains the new global front face along with the addition of Apple CarPlay in its infotainment system.


Honda Accord

Honda’s executive sedan gets a refresh to keep it in touch with its perennial rival, the Toyota Camry. This year, the entire front fascia’s new with a grille that’s a shoe-in for Honda’s new design language. The LED headlights are also new as are the LED fog lights while at the back, the tail light clusters now feature LED tubes. Inside, the Accord gets minor trim revisions including the availability of Apple CarPlay. Engines though, remain the same.


Honda BR-V

Already in the Thailand market, the Honda BR-V remains an interesting highlight at Honda’s sprawling stand. A crossover based off the Mobilio, the BR-V slots below the HR-V in terms of price, yet, it offers a face closer to the CR-V. Inside, the interior comes with either five or seven seats depending on the exact model. What’s more, the dashboard is more Jazz/City than Brio/Mobilio hence it feels much more sophisticated. Power is still from the 1.5-liter SOHC i-VTEC engine mated to an Earth Dreams CVT. Further differentiating Honda’s “Active Sport Crossover” over the Mobilio, it gains vehicle stability assist along with the usual slew of safety equipment.


Honda Civic

The tenth-generation Honda Civic is pretty much is the star of the 37th Bangkok International Motor Show. Expected to debut for the Philippine market mid this year, the all-new Civic is the clearest indication yet of Honda’s return to form. The evocative and sporty styling is complimented by a long wheelbase ensuring a spacious interior. Apart from the advanced styling, the Civic now gets a turbocharged engine for the first time. The 1.5-liter Earth Dreams turbo boasts of 172 horsepower and 220 Nm of torque while the 1.8-liter normally-aspirated unit is carried over for the entry-level variant.


Isuzu D-MAX

Isuzu has launched a refreshed version of its own pickup, the D-MAX late last year for the Thailand and for the Bangkok International Motor Show; the Japanese truck giant has continued its promotion. The exterior changes are fairly minor with a new front bumper, daytime running lights incorporated into the headlights, a fin-style antenna, and a new tailgate. More significantly though, the D-MAX debuts a new 1.9-liter turbo diesel engine. Replacing the 4JK-1, the RZ4E-TC engine comes with 150 horsepower and 350 Nm of torque. Apart from the similar power outputs, this new 1.9-liter mill is up to 19 percent more fuel efficient while producing significantly less emissions.


Mitsubishi Mirage

The choice of Uber drivers, the Mitsubishi Mirage, gets a substantial update with a front-end that’s somewhat similar to that of its sedan sibling, the Mirage G4. The new hood, grille, bumpers, spoilers, and wheels have all done their part in reducing the co-efficient of drag further while adding some dose of aggressiveness to the Mirage’s design. The 1.2-liter 3-cylinder engine gets a slight bump in power but more importantly, it handles better thanks to new spring and damper rates along with larger brakes.


Subaru Forester

Subaru’s cornerstone vehicle, the Forester, gets a well-timed refresh to keep it ahead of the compact crossover game. From the outside, it gains a new face with new LED headlamps, grille, and hood. The rear also has new LED lighting elements as well. Inside, it sees significant changes all in the name of improved comfort. The interior also sees detail changes with better materials and more tech than before. More sound insulation and thicker glass ensures of a quieter interior while a quicker steering ratio and revisions to the chassis improve handling and response. Power still comes from the same 2.0-liter normally-aspirated or turbocharged motor mated to a CVT-type transmission.


Suzuki Ertiga

Suzuki has mildly updated its Ertiga with cosmetic tweaks. For this update, Suzuki has modernized the front clip with a new bumper, grille, and front fog lamps. More chrome accents and L-shaped tail lights complete the changes. A sportier-looking model, the Dreza, slots above the usual Eritiga and is differentiated by a unique face, side sills, and rear spoiler. The interior and powertrain options remain largely the same.