Forty cars. Only five slots. Welcome to CarGuide.PH’s Top 5 Picks of 2024. As part of our annual tradition, we’re naming the five best cars we’ve test driven this year. And compared to how other publications do it, we make sure not everyone’s a winner.
Instead of coming up with special awards or categorizing them to try to make everyone a winner, we lump everything together—from A-segment mini hatchbacks to luxury SUVs—and shortlist them to the five cars we thought were outstanding in the past year.
See the past winners here:
As always, our method is simple. First, we should have driven it extensively and on the roads that we’re familiar with. This means no around the block test drives (including track days), no “first drives,” and no junkets, local or overseas. Second, it’s something we’d be willing to spend our own money own, and we’re willing to actually put in our own garage. Finally, it should be somewhat attainable. Normally, we cap our choices to P 4-million and below; however, because car prices have gone up, we’ve decided to increase our price cap to P 5-million.
Without further ado, here’s our Top 5 Picks of 2024.
5. Nissan Z Premium
The new car market is, literally, swimming in SUVs and crossovers. This leaves little choice for enthusiasts who don’t care about being perched high in traffic. The pickings are even slimmer when it comes to attainable sportscars. Thankfully, Nissan’s heeded the call with the all-new Z. It looks great and drives well. Cost-cutting measures mean it’s underpinned by a 23-year-old platform, but who cares? Drive one and you’ll feel those decades melt away. And yes, the new turbocharged V6 motor is mighty impressive. It’s a great bang-for-the-buck sportscar. Sadly, Nissan’s bean counting measures have gone too extreme as it’s let down by its budget interior.
Read the full review.
4. Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid
If there’s one vehicle that successfully reinvents itself with every succeeding generation, it’s the Hyundai Santa Fe. A product of Hyundai’s people-centric design, the fifth-generation Santa Fe is all about refinement, comfort, and user-friendliness. The boxy design may seem over-the-top at first, but it’s all about usability and flexibility inside; where else have you seen a car whose design started from, of all things, the tailgate? More than just providing first-class travel, it also adopts Hyundai’s cutting-edge strong hybrid system. With 237 horsepower, 367 Nm of torque, and a fuel economy of more than 13 km/L in the city, the electrified 1.6-liter turbo makes you easily forget the diesel engine. Shortcoming? Mainly its price tag. At around P 3.3-million, this is already luxury vehicle money; it’s a positioning the Santa Fe, even with a hybrid system, still has a hard time backing up.
Read the full review.
If there’s one vehicle that successfully reinvents itself with every succeeding generation, it’s the Hyundai Santa Fe. A product of Hyundai’s people-centric design, the fifth-generation Santa Fe is all about refinement, comfort, and user-friendliness. The boxy design may seem over-the-top at first, but it’s all about usability and flexibility inside; where else have you seen a car whose design started from, of all things, the tailgate? More than just providing first-class travel, it also adopts Hyundai’s cutting-edge strong hybrid system. With 237 horsepower, 367 Nm of torque, and a fuel economy of more than 13 km/L in the city, the electrified 1.6-liter turbo makes you easily forget the diesel engine. Shortcoming? Mainly its price tag. At around P 3.3-million, this is already luxury vehicle money; it’s a positioning the Santa Fe, even with a hybrid system, still has a hard time backing up.
Read the full review.
3. Honda CR-V RS e:HEV
One of our perennially favorites, the latest Honda CR-V is the best one yet. It sounds cliché, but it’s true. It’s smartly designed, has a solid equipment list, and is available with a cutting-edge powertrain. The two-motor e:HEV system is easily this generation’s trump card providing both a fun-to-drive experience, yet remaining frugal at the pump. Then, you’ve got on-road manners that manage to balance sportiness and comfort. The interior isn’t as luxurious as you’d expect in something that costs P 2.6-million, but it’s solid and well-finished with the right level of tech. Weaknesses? Few and far between. If anything, it’s down to its evolutionary styling and, maybe, its price tag.
Read the full review.
2. BYD Sealion 6 DM-i
We never like to throw the term, “gamechanger” over here, but that’s exactly what the BYD Sealion 6 DM-i is. It falls short in terms of driving dynamics, but that weakness aside the rest of the package is stupendously good. It’s the first serious threat against more traditional Japanese, Korean, and American compact crossovers. Like other Chinese offerings, it’s kitted to the brim at a price that doesn’t break the bank. However, the Sealion 6 DM-i has a special sauce: the powertrain. As the country’s most attainable plug-in hybrid, enables the masses to dabble in electric mobility without any range anxiety. Buyers will surely be piqued by it because of its stupendous fuel economy, but they’ll find that there’s more—way more—to like.
Read the full review.
We never like to throw the term, “gamechanger” over here, but that’s exactly what the BYD Sealion 6 DM-i is. It falls short in terms of driving dynamics, but that weakness aside the rest of the package is stupendously good. It’s the first serious threat against more traditional Japanese, Korean, and American compact crossovers. Like other Chinese offerings, it’s kitted to the brim at a price that doesn’t break the bank. However, the Sealion 6 DM-i has a special sauce: the powertrain. As the country’s most attainable plug-in hybrid, enables the masses to dabble in electric mobility without any range anxiety. Buyers will surely be piqued by it because of its stupendous fuel economy, but they’ll find that there’s more—way more—to like.
Read the full review.
1. Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N defies description. It’s a two-ton hatchback/SUV/crossover thing that can give a supercar a heart attack. It’s a battery electric vehicle that mixes in the engaging attributes of a combustion engine vehicle, albeit simulated ones. It reads like a car with an existential crisis, but scratch the surface and it’s a riot. It’s a multi-faceted high-performance car that explores the enthusiast possibilities that EVs offer. Imbued with Hyundai N DNA, it’s an EV that’s every bit as involving and entertaining as the best gas-powered sports or super car out there—it’s fast, it’s playful, it’s fun. And priced at P 4.25-million, you won’t find a car in this price bracket that can match its abilities. All this makes it our Top Pick for 2024.
Read the full review.
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N defies description. It’s a two-ton hatchback/SUV/crossover thing that can give a supercar a heart attack. It’s a battery electric vehicle that mixes in the engaging attributes of a combustion engine vehicle, albeit simulated ones. It reads like a car with an existential crisis, but scratch the surface and it’s a riot. It’s a multi-faceted high-performance car that explores the enthusiast possibilities that EVs offer. Imbued with Hyundai N DNA, it’s an EV that’s every bit as involving and entertaining as the best gas-powered sports or super car out there—it’s fast, it’s playful, it’s fun. And priced at P 4.25-million, you won’t find a car in this price bracket that can match its abilities. All this makes it our Top Pick for 2024.
Read the full review.
Good! May nakasingit lang na one chinese car, but it's alright
ReplyDeleteNext target, Honda CRV HEV 😍 Spacious, comfy, premium feels & torquey 🏎
ReplyDeleteIsn't the CRV still 2.6m?
ReplyDeleteWhoops. Corrected. Thanks for that. The one that stuck in my mind was the discounted price.
DeleteI'm not a fan of Chinese cars. I have owned 5 Japanese cars already. But I predict BYD Sealion is going to be a bug hit. It will capture sales away from CRV, RAV4, Tucson, Corolla Cross, possible even some Montero-sport and Fortuner. Their next model should be an mid size SUV that sits squarely against Montero-sport and Fortuner, that should be a real good fight.
ReplyDeleteBuying a chinese car is still risky... People will stick with proven brands.
DeleteSealion 6 is tempting 1.5M but Electric Viking says it is the most complained about vehicle in China and BYD's quality ranking is not particularly stellar according to JD Powers placing near the bottom.
ReplyDeleteNaturally, this is based on our experience during our test drive. We've had no issues whatsoever when we had it for a week. Perhaps local Sealion 6 customers can chime in.
DeleteTesla still the best EV, prestigious and also affordable. Tesla miles reliable and durable vs others EV's. Tesla making EV maybe since 2008?
DeleteBYD Sealion 6 isn't an EV as it still got a ICE in it
Delete🤣
And who said that sealion 6 is an EV? Yeah it has low quality ICE engine.
DeleteI bought my Sealion 6 last August 6 here in Cebu. So far no quality issues. Also, Customer Service is very responsive on my queries as the technology is quite new to me. A lot of savings on fuel. Used to spend P250 on my ice vehicle. With Sealion 6 I spent P130 on hybrid mode (using gasoline as generator), P60 using EV mode (electricity) and lately only P12 round trip to my work with my new solar set-up.
ReplyDeleteNext year more Chinese cars will be include due to their price point viza vi features and features
ReplyDeleteNext year are the vehicles from Seres, mainly the Seres 7 and Seres 9.
ReplyDelete