Ford Ranger

The new Ranger may not be the biggest pickup in its class, but it packs a powerful 2.5 liter turbodiesel paired to a five-speed manual or automatic transmission. The Ranger tackles tough off-road courses with aplomb and is built to haul heavy cargo, and still feels confident and agile on city roads and on the highway.

Kia Carens

The Kia Carens brings a welcome dose of style to the entry-level MPV market. A modern common-rail diesel engine delivers adequate performance, while engineering that is fit for the US and European markets should inspire confidence.

Mitsubishi Outlander

This compact SUV stands out from its class by being capable of playing with sports sedans. A powerful 3.0 liter gasoline V6 and a responsive six-speed auto with paddle shifters do wonders for the enthusiast’s soul. It’s still practical, with moderate fuel economy and a large interior fit for the family.

Hyundai Grand Starex

Hyundai’s reputation in the Philippines was built mainly on one vehicle—the Starex—and 2007 sees the introduction of a larger all-new model. The mini-bus like size of the new Grand Starex allows for twelve seats, in four rows of three-abreast seating. The top variant features a 2.5-liter turbodiesel that delivers 174 horsepower and massive 392 Nm of torque, combined with a five-speed automatic.

Chery QQ

Even considering improvements and refinements, one factor was common in 2007: prices that continued to spiral upwards. One exception is this new car, the cheapest one in the country. If the 0.8-liter inline-three is too weedy, there’s also a 1.1-liter version.

Volvo C30

The C30 breaks the stereotype of Volvos as stylish but sedate family vehicles and attracts a whole new set of customers to the brand. It first attracts with its design and feature content and continues to impress with its driving dynamics. Several shelves of awards followed suit, including the Car of the Year-Philippines.