The top 10 cars of MIAS 2025 under PHP2M

The annual Manila International Auto Show is a paradise for new car buyers. At least two dozen new cars are unveiled in MIAS every year (25 this year). Of the 25 brands, three were Japanese, two Korean, two British, one American, one Vietnam, and 16 from China. Aside from the expected new model launches, a handful of new car brands (Tesla, Aito, ROX) also made their MIAS debuts.  

We checked out all the booths and rounded up what we felt were the 10 most important new models priced under P2 million (to ensure their relevance to the majority of the car buyers) and are available already or at least within the next couple of months. Here they are, priced from lowest to highest (based on starting prices): 

1. Foton Wonder Double Cab Pickup

Joining the fight in the relatively low-profile yet highly popular small LCV segment favored by business owners and entrepreneurs is Foton’s Wonder Double Cab Pickup. It’s powered by a fuel-efficient 1.2L 4-cylinder engine and has a retail price of P788,000.

2. Suzuki Dzire

I always found the front end of Suzuki’s humble little Dzire sedan as good-looking. Well with the new model, I’m sure even more people will agree. Not only that, it also now comes as a hybrid with a 1.2L petrol engine and a price tag of P920,000 for the GL and P998,000 for the GLX. Expect to see a lot of this new Suzuki on the road.   

3. Hyundai Elantra

Already offering a highly accomplished line of petrol ICE and hybrid crossovers and SUVs in all sizes, Hyundai trained its spotlights on its compact sedan contender, the Elantra. Not only is the new model drop-dead gorgeous (and looking almost as big as a midsize sedan), it has a starting price that’s nothing short of astounding—P1.065M for the entry-level 1.6 GL STD. Not only that, you can get the HEV version for just P1.48M (a higher spec HEV is the P1.68M Premium). And if you want more excitement, there is the P1.795M Elantra 1.6T N Line. If there’s a sedan that’ll make a crossover buyer have second thoughts, the Elantra is it.

4. Lynk & Co 06

Lynk &Co is a premium Chinese car brand which shares a lot of hardware with Swedish luxury car brand Volvo (both brands are under the Geely group). So it was somewhat surprising to see the Lynk & Co 06 SUV at MIAS with a starting price of just P1.099M. The 06’s three other variants are priced at P1.399M, P1.488M, and P1.598M. 

Also drawing a lot of attention was the 02 fastback coupe e-SUV, Lynk & Co’s first fully electric offering. The 02 is a head-turner with a 435-km driving range, a charging time of just 30 minutes (from 10-80%), and a 0-100 km/h acceleration of just 5.5 seconds. It has a 14-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, among a wealth of other luxury, comfort, convenience, and safety features. It has a retail price of P1.788M.   

5. Chery Tiggo Grand Tour

Chery is diversifying from its crossover focus with the Tiggo Grand Tour, its entry into the popular sub-P1.2M MPV segment. The ace up the Tiggo Grand Tour’s sleeve, however, is that while that price segment is composed mostly of subcompact-sized models with non-turbo 1.5L engines, the Tiggo Grand Tour is a midsize 7-seater with a turbocharged 1.5L engine, giving it superior performance and exceptional value for money with its P1.188M price tag.    

Other noteworthy Chery debuts at MIAS are the P998,000 Tiggo Cross and the P1.648M Tiggo rEV 7-seater hybrid SUV, which has a claimed 1,400-km driving range.

6. Changan Nevo Q05

Speaking of the bestselling BYD SUV, Changan brought in its Sealion hunter, the similarly sized Nevo Q05. Like the Sealion, the Nevo Q05 is a plug-in hybrid 5-seater SUV. Price? A very compelling P1.259M for the Q05 SE and P1.449M for the Q05 iD.

Changan also unveiled two other potential winners: the Hunter plug-in hybrid pickup (P1.699M for the 4×2 and P1.970M for the 4×4) and the P1.195M Nevo A05 PHEV sedan.

7. BYD eMAX

The hottest brand of the moment shows no sign of letting up. Shortly after unveiling its Shark PHEV pickup (also shown at MIAS), the upstart brand from ACMobility displayed another gamechanger—this time in the Innova-sized eMAX PHEV 6- or 7-seater MPV. With a range of up to 530 kms (420 kms for the Standard 7-seater) and with prices of P1.489M (standard) and P1.798M (for the Superior Captain variant), the eMAX might just be as omnipresent as the brand’s Sealion 6 SUV.   

8. Jetour X70 Lightning i-DM

Plug-in hybrids are fast getting noticed for their phenomenal driving ranges of over 900 kms on a full tank and full charge. Jetour wants a slice of that pie with its X70 i-DM, which has a retail price of P1.648M. This fully equipped midsize 7-seater SUV can travel up to 110 kms on pure EV mode and has a driving range of 1,200 kms.

9. Isuzu mu-X

Carrying the torch for the midsize pickup-based 7-seater SUV class, the Isuzu mu-X was refreshing in a sea of car-based crossovers. The good-looking new mu-X has a starting price of P1.725M for the 1.9L-powered entry-level variant.  

10. MG ZS HEV

The brand and model that made Chinese car brands mainstream is now available with a sharp new look and a hybrid drivetrain. While pricing and availability haven’t been officially announced, it’s safe to assume that the ZS HEV will be priced below P1.7M. (It’s ranked 10^th as there is no official price yet.) MG officials expect it to be ready for delivery by end of June.

Also noteworthy from MG is the upcoming D90, which will be the brand’s biggest SUV yet. Like the ZS HEV, the D90 (in twin-turbo diesel 4×4 variant) should be available by end-June with a price tag starting below P2M.