Review: 2015 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ

Photos by Ulysses Ang

It’s been a very long time since the executive sedan market saw an American entry. And yet, in recent years, the competition has been getting fiercer with a slew of great models coming from stalwarts and new comers alike. Heck, there are those who’re supposed to be dead in the water, but are now coming back to life. In other words, the Americans aren’t fashionably late to the executive sedan party anymore; they’re ‘the party already ended’ late.
Continue »

Review: 2015 Nissan Altima 3.5 SL

Photos by Ulysses Ang

Perhaps it’s age, but there’s nothing more satisfying than driving an executive sedan after a hard day’s work. Though most will still dream about owning a Nissan GT-R or 370Z, they’re not exactly the best kind of car you’ll want to drive home in traffic after spending the day in meetings in a monkey suit. After all that work stress, you’ll want something that cushions and cuddles you as you drive through Manila’s horrendous traffic, commuting two hours in stop-and-go traffic just to get home. This is the sort of role the Nissan Altima fulfills and fulfills beautifully.
Continue »

Hyundai Philippines Launches 2015 Sonata (w/ Brochure)

Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI), the official distributor of Hyundai in the Philippines, used its festive Christmas Party to unveil the all-new seventh generation Sonata executive sedan to the media, dealers, and VIP guests. The all-new Sonata builds on the global success of its most immediate predecessor and is poised to set new standards in luxury, quality, and refinement. The all-new Sonata is built with four innovations in mind: Run, Stop, Versatility, Protect (RSVP) and the entire car is built to encapsulate those four elements.
Continue »

First Drive: 2015 Subaru Legacy 2.5i-S and Outback 2.5i-S

No turbo? That’s inevitably the first question asked by everyone during the launch of the all-new 2015 Subaru Legacy and Outback in Bangkok. It’s also the one question that Mr. Masayuki Uchida, Senior Project General Manager for both products could easily answer. His response: a turbocharged engine is not in line with the Legacy or Outback’s character. He’s aiming for an executive sedan with a smooth, comfortable, confident, and above all, linear driving experience; a turbocharged engine simply cannot deliver the refinement he wants. Mr. Uchida should know what he’s talking about: the vastly experienced 55-year old has worked on the Legacy since the first-generation model in 1981. This effectively means he’s worked on Subaru’s flagship offering for about half his life.
Continue »

Premium Takes On a New Price: Volvo Philippines Launches S60 D4 Advantage

Volvo Philippines is proud to introduce its latest addition to its premium sports sedan lineup, the Volvo S60 D4 Advantage model.
Continue »

Review: 2014 Honda Accord 3.5 S-V

Photos by Ulysses Ang

I always have a soft spot for the Honda Accord; having personally owned one straight out of college. It was my steed during my first job as a marketing professional and my ride to dinner dates with the then girlfriend (now wife). Everything equal, I’d pick the Accord as my executive sedan of choice—it was always that tad more sophisticated, sportier, and stylish. Of course, that was before everyone got into the act. Now there’s literally a sea of choices with everyone now offering their own take on the executive sedan genre. And although this market segment is more niche than mainstream, it’s so competitive that carmakers introduce cutting edge style and technology that’ll one day trickle down to the rest of their line-up. Given the sheer importance of the executive sedan, where does the all-new Honda Accord sit?
Continue »

UPDATED: Nissan Philippines Enters the Executive Sedan Battle with the Altima (w/ Complete Specs)

EDITOR’S NOTE: The photos published here are of the global Nissan Teana model. We’ll try to get official photos from Nissan Philippines as well as give you the complete specs in another update. We gave them some time, but they didn’t make it as of press time.

UPDATE: The complete specs are now available after the break.

Nissan Philippines, Inc. is readying its assault in the executive sedan segment by resurrecting a short-lived nameplate in the Philippine market: the Altima. Known as the ‘Teana’ in other markets (as well as its predecessor), Nissan Philippines has decided to adopt the North American nameplate for one reason: the Philippine-market Altima is actually built and shipped from Nissan’s assembly plant in the United States. As such, Nissan Philippines says that the all-new Altima is aiming to raise the bar when it comes to styling, comfort, performance, fuel efficiency, innovative features, and safety.
Continue »