TOP 5: The best cars we reviewed in 2024

2024 was yet another big year for the local automotive industry. New car models and brands arrived in the market, and we saw the biggest editions of the annual Manila International Auto Show and biennial Philippine International Motor Show. 

As we welcome a new year, it’s time once again to round up our top five vehicles that we reviewed for the year. As before, we have a simple four-item criteria composed of the following:

• Must have left a mark on us by standing out compared to other models we’ve tested;
• For obvious reasons, we should not own one at the moment;
• We should have been able to test it for at least four days; and
• Its price should be less than or equal to Php 3-million to make it more realistically attainable.

We kinda slowed down a bit this year due to various reasons but that did not stop us. In total, we reviewed a total of 32 vehicles, slightly lower than last year’s 37. And without further ado, here’s our top five: 

#5 Honda City Hatchback

Let’s face it, hatchbacks are no longer as popular as they were before but Honda wants to think otherwise. It’s still no Honda Jazz but the City Hatchback is definitely one of the best vehicles out there.

The most powerful non-electrified and non-performance-oriented subcompact hatchback in our market, the City Hatchback is like a treat. Its 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine is responsive and sounds great, handling is very agile, and yet it still provides comfort and practicality with loads of room and a good ride that is very important for city dwellers. It’s also very safe with a complete suite of advanced driver-assist systems. 

Its price of Php 1,189,000 is not the most budget friendly, but it offers a bang for your buck package that is irresistible. What we’re only left wanting are more affordable variants for budget-conscious buyers and those looking for a nice little modern project car.

Our full review of the 2024 Honda City 1.5 RS CVT will be coming out soon.

#4 Mitsubishi Triton 

One of the first new model launches for the year was the Mitsubishi Triton. A huge step-up from the previous generation Strada which it replaced, it provides top-notch refinement from its excellent NVH insulation and new 2.4-liter 4N16 twin-turbo diesel engine on the Athlete 4WD variant, great ride comfort, and a feature-list that has almost everything covered regardless of which variant you get.

There are a couple of features still missing but those aside, we have to say that this is the best that you can get in its segment today and one that we would definitely buy.

Watch our review of the 2024 Mitsubishi Triton 2.4 GLS 2WD or 2.4 Athlete 4WD.

#3 Lexus LBX

We’re usually unable to include a luxury brand in our yearly top five lists but this time we can thanks to the Lexus LBX and its Php 2,558,000 suggested retail price. And you might think Lexus had to cheap out to bring its price down, but no that is definitely not the case.

The LBX may be the smallest and most affordable Lexus in our market, but it keeps the DNA that makes it undeniably Lexus. Quality is top-notch and its standard feature list will beat-out similarly priced rivals…oh wait…they’re much more expensive. It also provides extremely fun driving dynamics thanks to its smaller size, while balancing comfort that you would expect from a premium automaker. 

The best part? It saves a lot of fuel thanks to its hybrid powertrain with our average city and highway figures going up to as much as 35 km/l. It’s an all-in-one package for luxury, quality, savings, and performance.

Watch our review of the 2024 Lexus LBX here.

#2 Mazda 3 

The Mazda 3 may be the oldest in this bunch, having been first released locally in 2018, but that does not stop it from making it all the way to second place in our list. 

Receiving updates throughout the years, it remains a top choice for us with its stand-out and timeless design, excellent interior comfort and build-quality, up-to-date technology, and amazing driving dynamics. All we need now is the budget to buy one for ourselves. 

Good thing it does not break the bank too as its prices start at Php 1,510,000 for the Sport, and Php 1,790,000 for the HEV regardless of whether you get it in sedan or hatchback form.

Watch our review of the 2024 Mazda 3 2.0 HEV Fastback here.

#1 Honda CR-V

Taking the top-spot for the second year in a row is Honda, this time with the CR-V RS e:HEV. Currently serving as the Japanese automaker’s flagship model in our market, the CR-V is now in its sixth generation.

It is what we can say is the best-looking in the compact crossover segment with its sleek and sporty design especially on this RS variant. Honda was also able to prove that efficient and eco-friendly do not mean boring as this provides an excellent balance of a fun driving experience and fuel efficiency. Add to that the very good ride comfort and packed feature list, we surely have a winner right here.

Its suggested retail price of Php 2,590,000 which we all thought was gonna be its biggest drawback turned out to not be such as it easily became the model’s top-selling variant. In fact, we liked it so much that we asked our friends at Honda Cars Philippines if we could borrow it for a longer period to cap-off the year. Yes, it’s currently with us at the time of publishing and it’s just getting sweeter.

Watch our review of the 2024 Honda CR-V 2.0 RS e:HEV here.