Top 40 most inquired for cars in the Philippines—Q1 2023

Finishing the first quarter of 2023, we’ve seen a lot of new models already, and we’ve seen a ton of interest for a select few. Here are 40 of the most popular cars in the Philippines based on inquiries made on AutoDeal.com.ph. 

The list is ranked based on the percentage of total inquiries that the model gathered in contrast to the rest of the market. The percentage is based on the total number of inquires on AutoDeal.com.ph. For this run, we’re pleasantly surprised to see that several brands have stepped up to the plate, becoming top performers in their respective categories and the market as a whole.

Starting off with the number one spot, we have the Ford Ranger with 3.2 percent of all site traffic going to the inquiry button. People are searching for the Ranger, and with a new model in the country, it’s no surprise that the model is getting a ton of attention from Philippine car buyers. Previous to this generation, the Ranger was already a popular pick since it offered consumers some of the best features that money could buy in its segment. Now that we have a new look, it feels only right that the Ranger takes the top spot. 

Following close behind our number one in this list is the Ranger’s long-time rival, the Toyota Hilux. Toyota’s always been a force when it came to ladder frame pickup trucks, and the Hilux’s legendary name holds fast even to this day. Filipinos are quick to recognize the model’s durability and robust nature. Buying into this nameplate guarantees you a lot of things, a ton of inquiries included. Up to 2.98 percent of all our inquiries were for the Hilux on AutoDeal. 

Third, we have yet another pickup truck. That’s three in a row for the segment. The Nissan Navara is yet another favorite in the market, with 2.71 percent of inquiries going into this model. Again, it’s no surprise to see that the Navara is on this list in the third overall spot for the first quarter of 2023. With its coil-sprung rear suspension, it’s one of the more comfortable workhorses out there and thus earns the interest of Filipino car buyers. 

Now going into the realm of crossovers, number four on our list is the Toyota Raize. The first crossover we have here is a Toyota, but it is also an affordable one that offers customers utility in a compact and lightweight form factor. Ground clearance lets this model tower over bumps and potholes, while its badge ensures reliability no matter how long the roads are. A total of 2.64 percent of all our inquiries go to the Toyota Raize’s page. 

Not far behind the little crossover, we have the Ford Everest. Separated by a hundredth of a percent, the Ranger’s SUV brother flexes its new design in fifth place. The Everest was growing long in the tooth compared to other midsize rivals, but Ford rightfully updated with a new design that catches the eye and stokes the flames of desire in consumers. With 2.63 percent of inquiries going to its page, it’s a testament to how good the Blue Oval did with its two twin towers—so to speak. 

The most popular MPV on our list was once a dominant force in the market, and it still is. Sixth, the Mitsubishi Xpander makes the list with 2.35 percent of all of our inquiries going to the model. Following an update, the Xpander got a fresh face to tackle the rest of its rivals and so far it’s been doing pretty great. The Xpander’s entry in this list for the first quarter of the year also makes it the most popular MPV based on our metrics, currently. 

The most popular sedan on AutoDeal right now is the Toyota Vios. It comes as no surprise that Toyota’s subcompact sedan makes this list. 2.09 percent of all of our inquiries are for the Toyota Vios, and that’s a testament to how well the nameplate is doing, currently sitting comfy in seventh place. You definitely know what a Toyota Vios looks like, and you’ve definitely seen one out on the open road. For it to be seventh on the list in a sea of ever-popular nameplates is only a nod to the model’s enduring desirability among Filipino car buyers. 

Number eight on our list is the Honda BR-V, and it overtakes other MPV models, right behind the number one MPV for the first quarter of the year. The BR-V got an update last year, and Honda kept consumers on their toes in anticipation of the updated model. The seven-seater has more than respectable power and torque figures compared to the rest of its rivals, and it also keeps that signature Honda feels that most consumers have come to love over the years. As a model for the masses, and for multiple use cases, the BR-V is a great alternative choice if the number one pick isn’t to your liking (the Xpander). Coming in with 1.99% of all the inquiries made on AutoDeal, it earns its spot on this list. 

The first compact crossover on our list is yet another Ford. The Territory marked its —uh— territory back when it was first introduced in 2020. After three years on the market, and after a much-anticipated update happening in the second quarter of this year, the Territory was still able to cement 1.92 percent of our inquiries. The value proposition posed by the crossover is ripe for Filipino car buyers, that want a name brand but a ton of value woven into their purchase. In ninth place currently, we're expecting the Territory to jump the rankings in the second quarter of 2023. 

Rounding out the triple threat in the seven-seater MPV ring and capping off the top 10 is the Suzuki Ertiga, and it makes its mark on our list with 1.87 percent of our inquiries. The model has long been a great alternative to consumers looking for a robust and reliable workhorse of a seven-seater. The model is now updated with a mild-hybrid system, and it’s finally evolved from being a more affordable alternative to an MPV that can really deliver value for less or the same price as its competitors. 

For the 11th spot on our list, the Nissan Terra has become a prime choice for consumers looking to buy a midsize SUV. The Terra has found its home in the highly-competitive midsize SUV segment even if it was launched quite late compared to its other competitors. While Nissan was late to the party with the first-generation iteration of the Terra, the second-generation model is a more-than-worthy successor that we feel is one of the best in the business. An updated interior and exterior will catch your eye, but don’t forget the features and the luxurious amenities that await drivers and passengers inside the Terra. With all of that, the Terra achieved 1.76 percent of all out inquires gathered in the first quarter of the year. 

Yet another seven-seater makes the list. In the 12th spot on this list, we have the Toyota Avanza. A model that was recently updated with a new chassis and drivetrain. Now more similar in build to a crossover, the Avanza flaunts a more refined ride while still retaining the model’s robustness from previous iterations. Equipped with most of the basics, it’s also relatively affordable to most consumers and with a Toyota badge to boot. In percentages, 1.73 percent of all our inquiries came from the Avanza’s page. 

Another Filipino favorite is the Toyota Hiace. It’s hard to separate the nameplate from the segment, as the Hiace dominates almost all known metrics when it comes to full-size vans. As the best-selling nameplate in its category, the Hiace spans a huge number of variants, even offering a luxury-van-type deal with the Super Grandia. Otherwise, we reckon that the standard Grandias are where the bulk of the inquiries are being made, amounting to 1.62 percent of our total number of inquireies, and we’re happy to see the model crack the 13th spot on our list. 

The smaller and shorter brother to the Raize, the Toyota Wigo, makes this list in 14th place. The small hatchback is a mainstay in the market for its decently-affordable price tag, its brand’s reputation, and the overall following that the Wigo has in the market as a reliable and practical compact city slicker. That’s not to say that the little car cannot make it up to Baguio, however. With 1.53 percent of our inquiries in its back pocket, the little pint-sized model is also the first small hatchback on our list and thus makes it the most popular small hatch in the country for the first quarter of the year based on our metrics. 

While the regular Xpander has taken the top spot for the MPVs in the country, its snazzier brother, the Xpander Cross is yet another model that we’re pleasantly surprised to see in 15th place. The more expensive price tag for this model locks out a lot of consumers from buying it, but that doesn’t mean that it’ll cost more to inquire about it. We reckon that people are still curious about what you get if you splurge a little more for the Xpander’s more expensive brother so we’re not surprised to see 1.50 percent of our inquiries are made out to the Xpander Cross. 

It seems that there is a trend for slightly more premium offerings in the seven-seater space. The Avanza is the Veloz’s more affordable brother, and that would naturally make it a more popular choice. However, the Veloz isn’t too far behind since it still gets 1.48 percent of all our inquiries and is the 16th place car on our list. With more premium trimmings and a more striking front end, it’s no surprise that the Veloz still gets a good chunk of our site traffic in tandem with the Avanza. 

In 17th place, Suzuki has another entry. Even after the price increases and the long-waiting list, demand and desire for the Jimny still remain ripe for consumers to pick at. The Jimny nets 1.45 percent of all of our site traffic, and why wouldn’t it? Just look at it! The little SUV is one of the most capable off-road vehicles out there considering other 4x4 SUVs and pickup trucks, it’s also one of the easier models to drive with its compact form factor, and its easy-to-maintain interior and powertrain thanks in part to Suzuki's robust construction. 

Suzuki’s a specialist when it comes to compact cars, and the S-Presso is no doubt one of the brand’s more interesting models to come out in the last few years. With its tall stance and its affordable price tag, the S-Presso made waves with budget car buyers who are on the lookout for the best value for money. With a decent amount of space, seating for five average Filipinos, and a quirky design that many were quick to fall in love with. Total inquiries for the S-Presso got up to 1.42 percent, giving it the 18th spot on this list. 

There was a time when the Fortuner was the only car that most people wanted to buy, but now it seems that everyone who has bought a Fortuner has one, or has moved on from the model. Toyota did well in the refresh, but it was met with stiff competition, as seen in the model’s fall from the top spots throughout the years, at least based on our metrics. Still, however, there are a lot of people asking about this model, and the Fortuner accumulated 1.39 percent of our site inquiries and 19th place in the first quarter of this year. 

Finally, and following close behind the Fortuner is the Montero Sport which also caps the top 20 for our list. Mitsubishi and Toyota have been bitter rivals in the midsize SUV segment, with the Montero Sport being a great alternative to the Fortuner. The model got an update in 2020 and could be due for another major refresh soon, but that’s not stopping it from netting 1.37 percent of our site inquiries. Even now, the Montero Sport remains a close rival to the Fortuner, and perhaps another update could give it a push up this list. 

Following the Coolray, we have a bunch of other models that could break the top 20s sooner or later this year. Remember, it’s still early in 2023, so we’ve still got a long way to go before we can officially crown a “most popular car of the year.” 

Interestingly enough, there are a few models that made it into the top 40 of this year, with a majority being crossovers, MPVs, Pickups, and SUVs. Sedans and small hatchbacks are here and there, but it seems that Philippine consumers are more interested in crossovers now more than ever. The sedan is slowly going away in terms of absolute popularity, but we’re still glad to see models like the Honda City, the MG 5, and the Mirage G4, in addition to the others in the top 20, make this list for the first quarter of the year. 

Notable brands and models include the Nissan Kicks, which is a decent indicator that Filipinos are willing to make the switch to hybrid powertrains. Other than that, Hyundai is also making a big splash in the market once again with the Stargazer and the Creta making the list. It’s also quite shocking to see that the legendary Mitsubishi L300 was beaten out by the Isuzu Traviz. Isuzu’s doing something right with its closed van, perhaps enough to give the L300 a run for its money in the first quarter of the year. Other than that, MG is also doing well with two models in the top 40, although previous most popular lists indicate that the brand has dropped off a bit in terms of the number of inquiries and site traffic captured. 

21. Geely Coolray

22. Toyota Innova

23. MG ZS

24. Kia Stonic

25. Toyota Rush

26. Mitsubishi Strada

27. Isuzu D-MAX

28. Nissan NV350 Urvan

29. Isuzu Traviz

30. Honda Brio

31. MG 5

32. Isuzu mu-X

33. Honda City

34. Mitsubishi Mirage G4

35. Mitsubishi L300

36. Nissan Kicks

37. Honda HR-V

38. Hyundai Creta

39. Geely Okavango

40. Hyundai Stargazer