Here are 10 cars we hope are launched in PH this 2026

We’re a little over two weeks into the new year, and what a year it already has been. And when it comes to excitement, one thing’s for sure: it’s going to be a very exciting one for the local automotive industry.

We saw a lot of high-profile new model introductions in our market last year. Some good examples would be the very much-awaited Toyota Ativ, the Mitsubishi Destinator, second-generation MG ZS, the return of the Hyundai Kona and Elantra, the Y63 generation Nissan Patrol, and the “Juniper” update to the Tesla Model Y, among many others.

Of course, we can’t help but look forward to several new models that could arrive in the Philippines this year, so here’s our shortlist of cars that we hope or could make their debuts in the country this 2026:

Toyota Hilux

The latest Toyota Hilux, introduced late last year, made its first appearance in Thailand. This alone pretty much means that it is a matter of when this truck will arrive on our shores.

Featuring an all-new design language called “Cyber Sumo”, the pickup truck looks even tougher on the outside while gaining new tech and looking more upscale inside. But the biggest news is the introduction of a battery-electric variant alongside the traditional electrified turbodiesel variants while still riding on the IMV platform. Which one will Toyota Motor Philippines introduce?

Toyota Land Cruiser FJ

If there’s a lot of excitement for the new Toyota Hilux, there definitely should be for the Toyota Land Cruiser FJ. While it may not be a direct successor to the popular and now cult classic FJ Cruiser, it still has a lot going for it.

Not only does it come with a retro-inspired exterior and interior design, it also rides on the very familiar and famously reliable IMV platform, which underpins the Hilux, Fortuner, Innova, and Tamaraw mass market favorites. It also gets a tried-and-tested 2.7-liter 2TR-FE engine from Land Cruisers of old under the hood. Customizability is also one of its key design features, developed with its owners’ possible customization choices in mind.

Honda Prelude

This one is already pretty much as good as confirmed, with Honda Cars Philippines having shown it off at last year’s HondaFest, and we got our hands on the full specifications very recently. 

Pegged as the newest halo car of Honda, the Prelude is a two-seater GT aimed at introducing the latest technologies to the brand, such as a revised e:HEV hybrid drivetrain that uses a 2.0-liter gasoline engine, electric motors, and an e-CVT drivetrain that features the S+ shift drive mode that simulates all the aspects of a proper transmission. There are only two questions left for the car: How much is it, and what colors does it come in?

Mazda CX-5

With the car making more and more appearances around the world in different motor shows, all signs point to the third-generation Mazda CX-5’s potential launch.

Featuring a slightly longer body with the newest iteration of the Kodo design that has slimmer head and taillights, the car has grown up and matured, and this will most likely come with an electrified 2.5-liter e-Skyactiv-G engine with a mild hybrid system.

However, the new interior remains a big question as the 15.6-inch infotainment does bring it in line with most contemporary offerings, but does away with almost every physical control within the cabin, a complete shift from previous Mazda offerings.

Nissan X-Trail e-Power

Hopefully, we finally get to see this car arrive since we last saw the crossover back in 2024 during that year’s Philippine International Motor Show.

This familiar nameplate is pegged as Nissan’s answer to the likes of the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and new models like the BYD Tang DM-i. It comes with Nissan’s e-Power system, mating a 1.5-liter gasoline engine (that charges the batteries) to an electric motor, essentially allowing for pure electric driving. It also offers amenities that will make it perfect for families, especially with the three-row seating.

Kia EV5

We saw this previewed at last year’s Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit, and ACMobility, the distributor of Kia in the Philippines, has confirmed that we should be getting this car early this year.

The EV5 is pegged to be the most affordable fully electric offering from Kia Philippines, offering a practical crossover form factor with the usual “Opposites United” design language. It should offer up to 550km of maximum range from up to an 88.1kWh battery, and the single electric motor has a healthy 217 horsepower and 310Nm of torque.

BYD Atto 2

BYD Cars Philippines has been making waves with back-to-back launches over the past two years, and we’re expecting to see more from them throughout 2026. One model we think should come is the Atto 2, which could become the company’s entry-level fully electric crossover.

The strongest hint of its arrival is its homologation papers, which have been published by the Land Transportation Office (LTO). While there are no other signs outside of that, it’s still a good indication of what’s to come. If and when it launches, we can expect the BYD Atto 2 to come in either a Dynamic or Premium variant, set apart from each other by different electric motor outputs and battery sizes.

You can read more about the BYD Atto 2 here.

Geely EX5 EM-i

This one is no secret, as Geely Motor Philippines openly told us during a trip with them to China a few months ago that they will be bringing the EX5 EM-i in. They also announced that it will indeed be launched locally during a media thanksgiving party late last year. In fact, it’s already being teased by the Chinese automaker on its social media pages.

Essentially a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of the fully electric EX5, the EX5 EM-i is differentiated from the BEV version by its powertrain. It gets a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that is paired to an electric motor and LFP battery. It’s capable of driving up to 83km on pure electric power when fully charged, or up to 943km on a full tank of gas and battery charge. You can read more about the Geely EX5 EM-i here.

Mitsubishi Versa Van

We believe that the Mitsubishi Versa Van is the most open secret of Mitsubishi Motors Philippines at the moment. A resurrection of the popular Mitsubishi L300 variant nameplate, this will be essentially a rebadged Nissan Urvan.

While no information has been confirmed by the Japanese automaker about this, the details are in from multiple sources, and it has even been spotted being transported locally, strongly suggesting a launch happening very soon. Once this goes on the market, we can expect it to be powered by the Nissan Urvan’s 2.5-liter YD25 engine, along with a handful of changes to set it apart from its brother from another mother. That includes badging (obviously), minor trim piece changes here and there, and a different steering wheel.

Hyundai Staria Hybrid

Electrification is the next step for minivans in our market. There’s the ever-popular Toyota Alphard HEV and its direct rival—the BYD eMax 9 DM-i plug-in hybrid. Then there’s the Kia Carnival which has a turbo-hybrid version. How about the Hyundai Staria? That’s a possibility we’re hoping for this year.

With the large futuristic-styled minivan receiving an update over at the brand’s home market of South Korea, this year would be the perfect time for Hyundai Motor Philippines to introduce the electrified version of its largest offering locally. If ever, it will share its powertrain with the Kia Carnival, a 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline engine paired to an electric motor and battery, capable of 235 horsepower and 367Nm of torque. Read more about it here.

^{Photos from manufacturers and Sam Surla}