New cars that we're happy to see more of on the road in 2023

The industry never sleeps, and new cars are being launched all the time. Whenever a new car launches, we can’t wait to see it out on the road, but there are some models here that are truly shocking, not in the fact that we see them out on the road, but in the fact that there are so many of them. 

Of course, the only explanation here is that the brand was successful in launching the car, and that the car itself was able to appeal to a broad range of people and a good number of them as well. Let’s go over some of the more common new cars out on the road that we’ve been seeing, and are definitely happy to see being driven by eager owners. 

The South Korean brand has had a monumental comeback in the country. Under Hyundai Motor Philipines (HMPH), it seems that interest and desire for the brand have since been reinvigorated. Prior to this, it seemed that the brand was lagging behind in the industry, even its sister brand, Kia, had more to launch prior to the change in management. Now, however, things are different. We list not one, not two, but three different models that we’re now commonly seeing out on the roads of the Philippines. 

The Stargazer is perhaps the most popular Hyundai right now. We’re still trying to tabulate the results, but it seems that many Filipinos received their Stargazer very well, going so far as to put the car to workhorse duty almost immediately after they get it. The MPV does well in this regard, and it’s nice to see that Hyundai as the newcomer in the seven-seat MPV space is doing quite well so quickly. 

Following that, and for customers with more budget to spare for a family vehicle, the Staria is something that we definitely do not mind seeing on the road. Even if at first glance it may be something that is out of the ordinary, it’s a definite head-turner and a car that does minimalist modernism quite well. With a spaceship-like exterior design, it’s no surprise how well the model captures buyers, and we’re happy to see it regularly while we drive around. 

Finally for Hyundai, and this one is a little bit of a shocker, we have the Creta. The model’s rise in popularity is reminiscent of the Kona that it replaces in the subcompact crossover category. The Creta looks every bit like a modern Hyundai, and it has a rather intriguing appeal to it. It’s definitely not designed to look like all the other cars, and it’s something that we’re happy to drive alongside or behind with that interesting rear catching our gaze while sitting in traffic. 

Moving on to another brand, we have Changan. Now, among all the models, all of which are respectable vehicles, the CS35 Plus stands out a lot. Not only is it one of the only crossovers in its size category that can be had for under a million Philippine Pesos, but it’s also jam-packed with features one can only dream of having in a car. 

The first CS35 Plus didn’t sell as much as the new one, but perhaps Changan finally hit the nail on the head with this car in terms of style and features. The update probably sold a ton more CS35s compared to when the CS35 first launched, and we’re happy to see that quite a number of buyers are already giving Changan a chance to prove themselves. 

This is not a huge surprise, but we’re glad to see a ton of new Xpanders out on the road already. The thing is, there isn’t too much wrong with the old Xpander if you have simple needs and demands from the car. However, we noticed that perhaps the allure of new features and a new design was just too much to bear for fans and would-be fans of the Xpander. 

Mitsubishi continues to do great with the Xpander, and it continues to sell well even if the competition is getting quite stiff. While it was already a common nameplate to see on the road anyway, we’re still glad that a good number of new Xpanders have been catching our attention lately. 

Probably the car that we’re most happy to see out on the road is the Nissan Kicks. Not only is it a good-looking crossover, but it’s also a very future-forward vehicle. With an electric engine and a ton of tech to keep you entertained and safe, we can’t help but feel that it’s just the choice right now for buyers who are looking to dip their toes into the EV experience without the commitment of buying a charger and going the whole nine yards. 

Every time we see a Kicks, we can’t help but feel happy for the owner, and the country because it also shows that there are a huge number of people that are willing to bet on electric vehicles. There are a ton of Kicks out on the road right now, and we’re extremely happy to see that Nissan’s innovations are being appreciated by plenty of customers. 

Back in 2022, we enjoyed seeing the all-new Civic out on the road, but now it’s time for the BR-V to shine bright. Honda’s seven-seater has been a breath of fresh air for the nameplate in the Philippines. Next to the CR-V, the BR-V was getting long in the tooth for quite a while before it received this update. Now that it is here, however, we’re happy to see that there are quite a number of buyers that are interested in the model. 

While it’s not the most exciting in terms of drive and specs, the BR-V is a not-so-common-but-now-common choice among buyers looking for a reliable and even stylish workhorse of an MPV. 

When we first saw the new Ford Ranger, we were blown away. Now, when we say tons of them out on the road, we were over the moon. Ford’s pickup truck has an all-new face which we just love seeing in our rearview mirror. The DRLs are imposing, and we can’t help but feel a little intimidated by a Ranger for once. 

However, while behind the driver’s seat of a Ford Ranger, you can expect an extremely easy and unintimidating drive. The tech inside the cabin also helps a lot with the model’s driveability. It’s also impressive how fast all these new Ranger units found their homes with their new owners. We don’t even remember when was the last time we saw a prior-generation Ranger on the road. It’s either that or we’ve just overwritten the memory of the previous generations because the new one is that good. 

While you all know what a Toyota Alphard looks like, it’s refreshing to see that people can appreciate a great alternative. The Kia Carnival is not your typical family van, in fact, it seems like a real contender in our eyes. 

We initially thought that this vehicle would sell in model numbers, but to our surprise, it’s become more and more common as time rolls on. Perhaps people are just bored and tired of seeing Alphards all day that they want something different. Or maybe it’s because the Carnival is that good. From a design standpoint, it seems like it has a more thought-out design. Add to the fact that it is based on the Sorento and you’re in for a relatively un-van-like drive which is all the more reason we’re happy to see some out on the road.