10 Best Cars Under 1 Million Pesos 2017

The Philippine automotive market is experiencing unprecedented growth, and along with the booming sales comes a wide variety of choices for the average Filipino car buyer. In the market for a car below P1 million? No sweat, because you have a veritable pool of choices. Case in point—the country’s list of top selling vehicles is rife with options below the P1 million price ceiling.

Yes, you can buy a lot of car for less the P1 million, and you have plenty of great options as well. The new car market is loaded with a crop of affordable, high quality automobiles that cram as many cutting edge features under the 1-mil cutoff as possible. Succinctly speaking, there has never been a better time to shop for an entry-level vehicle.  Take a look at Carmudi’s list of 10 best new cars under P1 million for 2017.

Chevrolet Sonic (Starting price, Php 788,888)

It would be a travesty not to include the Chevrolet Sonic in a list of best cars under 1 million pesos. A veritable home run for General Motors, the Sonic manages to erase decades of subpar entry-level efforts from the company. Aside from the attractive price range (P788,888 to P838,888), fuel mileage is also stellar. Featured also in our Top 10 City Cars For Money list.

Ford Fiesta (Starting price, P755,000)

The Ford Fiesta offers a level of handling and refinement never before seen in the American automaker in this particular segment. Its European design makes it a standout, and if that’s not enough, there’s the ultra user-friendly Ford SYNC 3 interface to bring the house down.

Honda City (Starting price, P764,000)

The state-of-the-art happy little camper that is the Honda City remains a mainstay of the best cars under 1 million pesos category, providing more of the same for local buyers, with ‘more of the same’ here meaning the same upper class reliability you’ve come to expect from the Japanese carmaker. Conservatively styled, the City possesses improved interior cabin space for driver and passengers as well as upscale options for those who have the budget for a higher price tag.

Kia Rio (Starting price, P635,000)

With the recent release of the all-new 2017 version, Kia raises the bar for its flagship hatchback. With spry handling, posh interior, and surprisingly powerful engine, it’s certainly a wonder why the Rio isn’t more expensive than it is. Few cars offer as much bang for the buck, so you need not look further for a car that’s worth your hard-earned investment.

Mazda 2 SkyActive R (Starting price, P865,000)

The 2015 CAGI Car of the Year winner features a peppy engine that never fails to impress, even when the car cruises the streets crammed with five passengers. It’s also quite the thrift fuel sipper for both city and highway driving. Mazda’s Kodo design language still feels fresh three years on, and with the car often praised as one if not the most fun to drive model in its class, the Mazda 2 is a winner on all fronts.

Mitsubishi Mirage (Starting price, P560,000)

Compact and economic, the Mirage is aided by its loaded feature package and ridiculously low price that challenges its competitors to come up with similar advancements for the cost. Good engine power and fuel efficiency only adds to the Mirage’s allure.

Nissan Juke (Starting price, P980,000)

Ever the eye-catcher, the Nissan Juke is the quirky little city driver everyone’s been waiting for. Nothing on the road looks like it, and for the Nissan Juke, that’s certainly a good thing. Though not a huge seller, and though the rear cabin is cramped (which means you’ll eventually trade the car for a bigger one down the road), you owe it to yourself to give this intensely cool entry-level car a shot.

Suzuki Swift (Starting price, P658,000)

The Suzuki Swift is certainly the silent stunner of the local vehicle market. Never flashy, the vehicle’s lines, angles and curves still manage to impress. The engine is quiet, the suspension rides well, and the performance suits most daily driver needs. If you’re looking for a competent alternative to the usual Honda, Mitsubishi or Toyota, the Swift merits your serious consideration.

Tata Indigo (Starting price, P545,000)

Back in 2014, Tata proudly declared that the Indigo will eventually become the next Philippine taxi standard model. Though it doesn’t look like Tata’s prediction will occur any time soon, the vehicle is certainly making its mark so far, and its more affordable price tag can certainly give the Vios a run for its money.

Toyota Vios (Starting price, P611,000)

The best thing about the Vios? Even the top trim (P991,000) doesn’t even break the P1 million barrier. Although many cars on this list have this quality, they don’t have the prestige of being the country’s bestselling vehicle for nine years running.

See our Best Cars Under 2 Million Pesos list.