Hyundai Elantra
Hyundai has offered compact sedans for the past few years—just not very enticing ones. That changed in 2011, with the release of the all-new Elantra. The new car is aimed straight at Japanese competitors in the compact sedan class, once the heart of the Philippine car market. The all-new Elantra is sleek, looking low-slung and
On the road, it’s highly competent and comfortable, if not exactly as athletic as its looks would have you believe. The 1.8-liter engine, paired with the six-speed automatic, delivers adequate acceleration in town, as well as pleasing fuel economy. We recorded close to 8 km/liter during our test. Handling is benign, apart from a rubbery feel near the center when steering.
In this class, we would rank the Elantra above the Corolla, if not quite up to the overall package of the Honda Civic and Mitsubishi Lancer. This is a remarkable effort from the aggressive Korean carmaker.
Mini Countryman
Is a Maxi Mini still a Mini? Yes, according to British United Automobiles, which launched the Countryman. It reportedly drives and handles much like its brethren, except that it has four doors, a large rear hatch, and more space than the brand ever offered.
Jeep Grand Cherokee
The Grand Cherokee has switched to a monocoque chassis for its all-new 2011 iteration. The exterior indicates ruggedness but also a healthy helping of refinement. This may have foretold some compromises in the off-road capability, but that was put to rest with an off-road test drive organized by CATS Motors. True to its name, the Jeep pulled through all sorts of muddy slopes and rutted inclines without blinking a headlight. Its torquey 3.6-liter V6 engine (286 bhp and 347 Nm), five-speed automatic, and sophisticated four-wheel drive system allowed it to plow through without hesitation. Inside, it’s all leather-clad comfort and quietness. It would have been a runaway success, if not for a rival determined to spoil Jeep’s party…
Ford Explorer
That would be the Ford Explorer, also sporting an all-new monocoque chassis. The Explorer has the looks and interior flair of its former stablemate Land Rover. The 3.5-liter V6 delivers 290 bhp and 346 Nm of torque, making sure there’s plenty in reserve for propelling the massive Explorer around town. A six-speed automatic helps to squeeze more km/liter, reaching double-digits with some highway driving. Where the Explorer really surprised is the price: P2.3 million, undercutting its rivals and a fraction of the cost of European SUVs that this Blue-Oval badged SUV can easily match in performance and street presence.
Subaru Forester 2.0
All-new would not really apply here, since the 2011 Forester 2.0 still sports pretty much the same exterior and interior. What is noteworthy is the all-new powerplant. Displacement, power, and torque are puzzlingly nearly identical to the outgoing model’s. The all-new engine is worth the upgrade, with its more accessible torque and at least 15% better fuel economy. The swap to timing chains will also make the boxer engine more durable in the long run.
Mitsubishi Montero Sport V
Another subscriber to the “change what matters” rulebook: the Mitsubishi Montero Sport. Already at the top of its class thanks to looks, engine performance, and easy driveability, the Montero Sport introduced an all-new engine for 2011. With a variable-geometry turbo, the engine with a modest 2.5 liters of displacement, outputs 176bhp and 350Nm. Efficiency was logged at 13.5 km/liter for the 4×2 GLS V and 12.0 km/liter for the 4×4 GTV in a Department of Energy (DoE) fuel economy test. Mitsubishi further upgraded the higher variants to all-wheel disc brakes later in the year. As that is much better than the usual headlamps and bumper-change during facelift time, the Montero Sport looks to have a strong 2012 as well.
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