06 November 2012
Jack of All Traits | 2012 Honda CR-V 2.4L EX AT
Words and photos by Christopher Kho
I can still clearly remember when, back in 1996, my dad and I saw the CR-V for the very first time. They were grey-market imports sold by Greenhills Autohaus at their old place along Wilson Street, way before Honda Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI) got their hands on them. I was only about 11 years old then, but I fully agreed with my old man that these new things called “crossovers” were just a trend and won't last very long. Not quite car and not quite SUV, they were impractical and thought that no one in the right mind would buy them. Well, I guess we were wrong. And now that the fourth generation all-new CR-V is here, I can't help but think that this is one of, if not the, most versatile car to drive today.
Published in
Crossover
14 August 2012
Four Wheeling on High Heaven | 2012 Mazda CX-5 6MT 4x2
Words by Leslie Sy | Photos by Christopher Kho
Two things have become a daily fact of life for many urban dwellers: the Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) and the weekly rise of fuel prices. The convenience of an SUV makes it the primary choice for many car owners - spacious interior, high ground clearance, and grunty engine. Unfortunately, rising fuel prices have never been good for their wallets. Many have opted to go the path of a small and fuel economic car, while others simply pray for better days. But with the recent launch of the all-new 2012 Mazda CX-5 and its much-anticipated Skyactiv technology, the promise of a fuel-sipping SUV has arrived. But does it deliver?
Published in
Crossover
11 April 2012
Hierarchy of Wants | 2011 MINI Cooper S Countryman ALL4
Words by Niky Tamayo | Photos by Ken Tamayo
In an early attempt to explain the process of self-actualization, Abraham Maslow famously came up with his “Hierarchy of Needs.” The basic idea is that you aren’t concerned with high-level needs until your more basic needs are met. Thus, you’re not concerned with shelter until you’re fed, not concerned with love until you’re sheltered, not concerned with career until you’re loved, and so on and so forth. High up on Maslow’s pyramid, tackled only after every other need is fulfilled, are self-actualization needs like creativity and spontaneity.
In other words, the only people buying a MINI Countryman are people who’ve achieved Maslow’s equivalent of Nirvana. Unfortunately, most car buyers are stuck at Level 2: Security. Even your typical luxury car buyer falls further down on the pyramid, under Level 4: Self-Esteem (“mine is bigger than yours”). But apparently, there are a lot of self-fulfilled buyers in the Philippines, as the Countryman is selling like hotcakes.
The rest of the world simply doesn’t know what it’s missing.
Published in
Crossover
20 December 2011
On a Blind Date | 2011 Kia Sportage 2.0 EX AWD
Words and photos by Jose Carlo R. Sapera
Back in March, I got a sneak peek of the yet-to-be-launched all-new Sportage when I paid a visit to the old Columbian Autocar Coporation in Bicutan. All I can say is, in that brief moment, Kia's got its marketing tag line, “the power to surprise,” spot on with its latest crossover.
Fast forward a few months later, I was finally given the chance to take the lovely Sportage out for a spin to find out if it can really sweep me off my feet.
Inner Circle
Inside, the Sportage has a simple and straightforward interior layout with bits of Kia's signature “tiger nose” design integrated into the dashboard to highlight its curves. There's also an abundance of hard plastic, but build quality is top notch, so I really can't complain. On a different note, the red lit gauges are a warm welcome as it makes the instrument cluster easy to read even in broad daylight.
Published in
Crossover
Words and photos by Christopher Kho
With the number of four-wheeling CUV's entering the market each year, the crossover club is quickly becoming over-congested. However, Mazda reckons that they've got one more number that can conquer them all. Unlike the flock of jacked-up station wagons out on sale, the Mazda CX-7 pulls off a fashion sense so fetching that people assume it's reserved for the rich, famous, and somewhat regal dignitaries. But believe you me, you don't have to be royalty to travel like royalty in this colonial crossover.
Published in
Crossover
Words by Nana Nadal | Photos by Christopher Kho
Three days were all I had with it, but I still can't get over my weekend spree with a dreamy SUV. Months later, I still let out a wistful sigh each and every time a Hyundai Tucson rolls by. If only I knew how to whistle, I would probably be blowing a *wit-wiw* instead. With the number of handsome examples plying Manila’s roads, just imagine how often that happens.
Published in
Crossover
18 January 2011
Back with a Vengeance | 2010 Chevrolet Captiva 4x2
Words by Kris C. Lim | Photos courtesy of The Covenant Car Company Inc.
When the Chevrolet Captiva launched four years ago, there were signs that General Motors (GM) can bounce back from a financial rut with their new crossover. Reasons include value for money, superiority and promising variants such as its seven-seater version. With the brand now handled by The Covenant Car Company Inc., it appears that they're taking the Captiva to new heights.
The Captiva is one of the newest products to roll off Chevrolet’s assembly lines. It has a rugged yet sophisticated look, an eye-catching interplay between toughness and style. If you’ve had enough square cut designs of previous American designs, try to look now on how the Captiva have matured. The side profile is dominated by the large wheels and bold-arches, while the grille is underlined by a firmed skid plate making it more visually striking.
Published in
Crossover
06 May 2010
Well Rounded | 2008 Grand Vitara 2.4L 4x2
Words and photos by Kris C. Lim
Motorists nowadays are becoming more conscious on what they’ll need to drive. The thing is, most of them don’t really care about the fads and the price tag, but rather on the capability and value of its usage.Consider the Suzuki Grand Vitara. Since its local debut in 1994 with its first-generation 1.6L engine, the Vitara was not really a total crowd-drawer. But that was the time when compact SUV's were not yet as popular as passenger cars. As the trend slowly changed, as with the buyers, more motorists started to learn to be more eccentric with their vehicles. (Sort of seeing an avid golfer change his pair of golf shoes and replaced it with Sunday biking shoes, for instance)
Published in
Crossover
