Despite the prominence of crossovers, a subcompact sedan remains to be one of the ideal vehicles to use as a daily driver. And one of the ideal options available in the category is the Suzuki Ciaz. With two variants to choose from, Suzuki’s subcompact car comes powered by a 1.4-liter gasoline engine VVT that delivers 92hp and 130Nm of torque. The engine is connected to a four-speed automatic in the top variant and a 50speed manual in the lower trim.
Exterior-wise, the Suzuki Ciaz radiates a well-composed exterior: the front end welcomes onlookers with its large wraparound headlights, stylish chrome-plated grille, and angular bumper. Turning to the side, the Ciaz sheetmetal is enhanced by sharp character lines and chrome trims. The rear is fitted with distinctive taillights, a massive bumper, and a bulging trunk lid that gives the Suzuki Ciaz some sporty appeal.
A black theme permeates the Suzuki Ciaz interior, highlighted with silver accents. You’d expect the Ciaz cabin to look cheap for the price range (PHP823,000 to 873,000), but the overall aesthetic has a hint of premium appeal, especially with the large touchscreen Android OS audio unit with Mirror Link capability serving as the centerpiece.
It also has leather seats, three-point steering wheel with phone/audio-mounted controls, and a keyless push start system. Meanwhile, the Suzuki Ciaz's white-on-black instrument cluster makes the numbers easily readable. For safety, the Ciaz has got dual front airbags, ABS with ABD, and a TECT (Total Effective Control Technology) body for added protection in collisions.
For those who wish to shop around for alternatives to the Suzuki Ciaz, here are the car’s biggest rivals in the subcompact car category.
Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) launched the 2020 facelifted version of the Toyota Vios compact car late in July last year. Shoppers of the latest version of the Vios car get nine variants to choose from, making the Toyota Vios more diverse than ever to meet the wide-ranging needs of the Filipino car owner.
The top variant runs on a 1.5-liter gasoline engine that delivers 106hp and 140Nm of torque, with shifting provided by a continuous variable transmission (CVT). Meanwhile, the lower trims come powered by a 1.3-liter engine with 98hp and 123Nm of output, paired with a 5-speed manual.
The new Toyota Vios finds its the fog lamp/air vent assembly relocated to the lower front grille, which now takes on a trapezoid shape as opposed to the reverse-trapezoid of the outgoing model. The air vent/fog lamp assembly that dimple the lower grille has also been redesigned, now angled inward with a bit of curvature added up top, like a musical note. The LED headlights have also been tweaked design-wise to give the Vios front a more futuristic look.
Inside, the infotainment system is now compatible with both Android and Apple music players. What’s more this touchscreen is available across the range, save for the two low-rung models, which still have the 2DIN audio system of old. As for advanced safety features, the Toyota Vios has vehicle stability control, hill-start assist, and a security alarm with immobilizer. The upper ranges also come with Smart Entry with wireless doorlock and speed sensing.
After dropping the Brio Amaze from the lineup, the City subcompact once again becomes the smallest sedan in Honda PH’s family of cars. The latest version of the Honda City has an sportier front fascia than its predecessor, thanks to a more deliberate version of the 'Solid Wing Face' design language.
The new Honda City 1.0-liter gas engine arrives with more horses and torque—120hp and 173Nm to be exact, a huge improvement compared to the predecessor’s 1.5-liter i-VTEC’s 118hp and 145Nm. The added power is made possible through various tweaks to the engine setup, including the addition of a new turbocharger from BorgWarner, a more economical compression ratio, and finally, a Euro 5-compliant construction.
The design of the interior receives a major update, with a completely new dashboard setup that looks inspired by the Honda Jazz. In terms of size, new Honda City is longer, wider, and lower than its predecessor. The wheelbase is also shorter on the 2020 City than the old unit, which is somewhat of a head scratcher.
With a growing market, Hyundai sought to rebrand the humble Accent sedan into a dynamic and more sophisticated vehicle, and it looks like the South Korean carmaker succeeds in this goal, as the subcompact is now big on both style and performance. Helping it rise from the ranks is an eye-popping hexagonal front grille coupled with chrome front bumper trims that further accentuate the new design’s elevated style.
Two powertrains are available for Hyundai Accent buyers— a 1.4-liter Kappa MPI Dual CVVT with 98hp and 133Nm, and a 1.6-liter CRDi VGT good for 126hp and 260Nm. Each engine is available with either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission.
One good thing (or bad, depending on how you look at it) about the Hyundai Accent is that it offers the same cabin features across the board, which means you get the same seats, infotainment, and everything else regardless of trim.
For safety, the Hyundai Accent provides owners with airbags, seatbelts, and ABS with EBD.
Chevrolet PH’s entry into the subcompact sedan segment is engineered for practicality, but style points abound, beginning with the refined aesthetic of the polished chrome trimmings on the front grille, to the exciting inbuilt sunroof with slide and tilt function, and on to the rest of the exterior and interior features.
Two gasoline engines are available for the Chevrolet Sail—a potent 1.5-liter DVVT Inline-4 (109hp, 141Nm) for the upper trims, and a 1.3-liter VVT Inline-4 (100hp, 127Nm) for the base. The lone 1.3-liter variant shifts solely via a 5-speed manual tranny, while the two 1.5-liter variants come exclusively with a 4-speed auto gearbox.
Inside the Chevrolet Sail, buyers will find a stylish interior with plenty of legroom in the front and at the back, ready to provide a pleasant ride regardless of distance. Standard safety comes by way of seatbelts, airbags, and anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution.
The Mitsubishi Mirage G4’s latest version remains virtually unchanged since 2018. Dropping the number of variants from four to three, all Mirage G4s are powered by a 1.2-liter gasoline engine that delivers 77hp and 100Nm of torque. The engine is connected to a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) in the top trims and a 5-speed manual in the base.
Though the Mitsubishi Mirage G4 has some sharp styling cues, it’s starting to look dated, especially when lined among the rest of the Mitsubishi lineup that now come in Dynamic Shield. Still, the Mirage G4's interior can be relied on to accommodate up to five average sized Filipino adults.
The trunk offers enviable storage space amounting to 450 liters in total. This means you’ll have no problem fitting five travel luggage or three golf bags in the G4's trunk. Safety-wise, the top Mitsubishi Mirage G4 variant comes with dual front airbags, anti-lock brakes and brake override. The infotainment system also acts as a rearview screen when the gears are in reverse.
Photos from Suzuki, Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Chevrolet, Mitsubishi
Also read:
2020 Suzuki APV vs. the competition: Your other local MPV options
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