The Philippines has smaller roads, smaller parking spaces, and lots of heavy traffic. With these conditions, you’d think that the hatchback would be the bestselling car segment in the country.
And yet looking at the actual list, you’ll find that it’s packed with SUVs (Mitsubishi Montero Sport, Toyota Fortuner), pickups (Toyota Hilux, Nissan Navara), MPVs (Toyota Innova, Mitsubishi Xpander), sedans (Toyota Vios, Hyundai Accent), and even vans (Toyota HiAce, Nissan Urvan).
Most people have a good excuse, as Filipinos are family-centric in nature. But what about the working professionals, young couples and retirees out there?
You don’t really need a bulky vehicle as your daily driver, why not opt for a small, humble and more convenient hatchback instead?
This coming 2020, here are four hatchbacks that deserve to be on your car shopping shortlist.
Mitsubishi is going at great lengths to streamline their lineup, and that’s why for 2020, you’ll see the Mirage in their signature Dynamic Shield design philosophy.
Save for the new face, though, little has changed in Mitsubishi’s popular city car, as it is still powered by the same 1.2-liter three-cylinder MIVEC gas engine that delivers 77 hp and 100 Nm. Transmission choices are the same as well—a 5-speed manual or INVECS-III continuously variable transmission, depending on trim. The rear bumper also receives a redesign, which now comes with faux diffusers and bracket-like indents that evoke the Dynamic Shield design.
Outside as well as in, much of the old interior has been carried over, but there are user-friendly updates to enjoy starting with the more comfy front armrests, cloth finishers, and a carbon fiber pattern for the cluster and window switch panels. The new Mirage also does away with the archaic 2-din audio sound system, replacing it with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment display that has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Higher spec trims come with fabric/synthetic leather seat upholstery. As for when the car will hit the Philippine market, it may take longer than expected.
Mazda is giving their supermini a mid-cycle refresh, starting with a mesh grille to replace the louver-type front that characterized its predecessor. The front headlights and rear bumper also receive some styling updates for 2020. As for changes to the powertrain, Mazda has all the 2’s trim levels driving a 1.5-liter naturally SkyActiv-G gasoline engine which can push the car to 74 hp or 90 hp depending on the trim. There’s a 6-speed manual gearbox for the lower-hp engine and a 6-speed automatic for the more powerful unit.
Mazda also imbues their smallest hatchback with more tech this time around, as the car now comes with adaptive LED headlights, 360-degree camera, lane keeping assist, and traffic sign recognition system. Options include a heated steering wheel, active cruise control, 6-way adjustable driver’s seat, and infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support. The car is already available in Japan since September, but other markets will have to wait until the second quarter of 2020 to take home Mazda’s facelifted urban driver.
The third smallest car in Honda’s lineup (after the Brio and Brio Amaze) opens the year with the all-new fourth generation Jazz. The new look Jazz eschews the lines and angles favored by the outgoing model for cuter, curvier and more charming aesthetic. It bears its own version of the Solid Wing Face design theme, where the upper top grille becomes one solid piece of metal and the lower grille is but a sliver of black.
The car looks quite feminine from the outside, but looks more gender-neutral inside. It’s powered by a two-motor hybrid technology, and comes with the Honda Sensing safety suite and Honda Connect infotainment system. The new Honda Jazz will go on sale starting in the UK, in the summer of 2020.
Like the new Honda Jazz, the Toyota Yaris is also launching its fourth generation model. The most pronounced updates can be found at the back, where the rear windshield gets a more rakish appearance and the rear wheel wells get rounder ‘gluteus maximus’ shape. From an angle, you could swear the car looks wider in the rear than in the front. The two-tone blacked-out roof motif is a new addition and a nice touch.
The new Yaris comes in three powertrain options starting with the new 1.5-liter Dynamic Force engine, new hybrid system, and 1.0-liter engine. A choice between 6-speed manual and Direct Shift CVT transmission will be offered, with standard features to include Turn Tilt Seats, Advance Park, and Toyota Safety Sense technology. It is scheduled to go on sale in Japan in February 2020.
Lovers of the environment rejoice, because the the world's best-selling highway-capable electric car is finally making its way to our local shores. Powered by a 350-volt electric motor that gives off 148 hp and 320 Nm, the Leaf has achieved a five-star ASEAN NCAP safety rating courtesy of its barrage of safety features including auto emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, driver attention alert, rear cross-traffic alert, active cruise control, driver attention alert, blind-spot monitoring, and the innovative ‘Around-View Monitor’ 360-degree parking suite.
Although its arrival to the Philippines has been confirmed, there’s no word yet on the actual date, pricing, and available variants.
Also read: Look: 2020 Mitsubishi Mirage and Mirage G4 Officially Revealed
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