List of the best peso per horsepower subcompact sedans in the Philippines

We here at the office decided to do something a little fun. We brought out our calculators and decided to see which normal car in the Philippines could give you the most amount of horsepower for the least amount of cash. With that in mind, we created a quick list of vehicles with that premise in mind.

For the sake of brevity, we will only include the top 10 subcompact sedans with the best peso-to-horsepower ratio available in the Philippine market today. As another disclaimer, we will remove sports cars and luxury cars from the equation and only focus on normal cars the average Filipino buyer can get. Because we're trying to get the most horsepower for as little buying power as possible, we'll be looking at the most powerful and most affordable variants in the lineup. If a certain model has a 1.3 and a 1.5-liter engine available, we'll look at the cheapest 1.5-liter and go from there. 

For our calculations, we used the SRP of all of these vehicles then we divided them by the amount of mechanical horsepower they push out. 

In 10th place, we have the Mitsubishi Mirage, particularly the G4 sedan. The subcompact four-door has a horsepower figure of 76 hp from its 1.2-liter three-cylinder gasoline engine. The model makes decent power for the city, and it was, once upon a time, the best value in its segment. However, it is safe to say that the rest of the industry has caught up to its value proposition, and with P10,118.42 per horsepower, it starts our top ten list. 

Another affordable option for those who want a European-inspired vehicle is the Volkswagen Santana. It offers a no-nonsense interior with the right amount of features that you would look for in a daily driver. It is competitively priced at P948,000 and should be on your shortlist of sedans to buy.

The crowd-favorite Toyota Vios makes it into the eighth position in its 1.5-liter configuration. While there is a race car version of this sedan available in the market, the math doesn’t lie. It's not the most powerful sedan on this list, either but it is a balanced option for those looking to get a reliable and easy-to-maintain daily commuter.

What the Nissan Almera lacks in outright horsepower, it makes up for in terms of value and torquey performance. The 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbo motor found in the Almera delivers punchy performance mated with a CVT, and it makes 99 hp. The great thing about this car is that all models come with a 1.0-liter, so no matter if you get the top-spec or the bottom-spec trim, you get full power. 

The Kia Soluto takes the 6th position as, while it is an affordable car it does lack a bit in the power area. Regardless, this small sedan is still well equipped as it comes standard with an Apple CarPlay and Android capable head unit and a reverse camera as well. 

Up next is the Honda City. A sedan with a sporty drive that those even on a budget can get. That being said, however, it is one of the more powerful vehicles on this list as it pushes out 119 hp from its 1.5-liter motor. While its power figures are impressive, its peso-to-horsepower ratio isn’t as much. Nevertheless, if you want a sedan with a great drive that fits within a P1.1 million budget, this is the one to get. 

Suzuki has a knack for making fun-to-drive cars, and sedans are included. The D-zire features a 1.2-liter engine that delivers good amounts of power at 82 hp on tap. The subcompact, thus makes it into fourth place and edges out other cars due to its low and affordable price tag and decent engine spec. 

Geely's entry into the segment that wishes to disrupt the dominance of its Japanese and Korean counterparts is the Geely Emgrand. The sedan brings a lot to the table in terms of features and interior quality in the local market. It's a great buy for those looking to get a sedan with a nice interior and a good set of features.

The MG 5 offers buyers a plethora of advanced technologies that were at the time new to the segment. While this sedan refines what you can get for your money, it lands near the top spot as its price slightly overpowers its horsepower output. It's still a great buy for those looking to get as much power for as little money as possible. 

Finally, taking the top spot is the Changan Alsvin as it gives you the best peso to horsepower ratio. While it isn't the most powerful vehicle in its segment, it delivers in being a comfortable and affordable daily driver. It even comes with a sunroof and a frugal powerplant to boot.