The 28 Most Popular Cars in the Philippines (That I Can Remember)

We all have our own unique memories of cars and their heydays—periods in the past when certain car models were the trending customers’ choice, or at least the vehicle to have, if you wanted to be a cool person. Other cars have also made their mark in our memories by their sheer popularity alone within that era. And seriously, depending on what decade you were born, your lineup of what you think are the 28 most popular cars in the Philippines as far as you can remember, may vary. Having said that, in celebration of The STAR’s 28th Anniversary, let me share you mine (in no particular order).

1. Lancer “box-type” – This is undeniably one of the most popular cars in the Philippines of all time! They were so popular back in the day, enthusiasts congregated and shared their obsessions about them. And even to this day we still see them on the road—and many are still seen in car clubs and shows.

2. Toyota Corolla – The big-bodied Corolla (AE 92/AE 101). Need I say more? This model is almost immortal. They’ve been proliferating from the mid-90’s to the early 2000’s, whether as XL, XE or GLi!

3. Isuzu Gemini – Who could forget the Gemini? These buggers were everywhere back in the 80’s—from private cars to taxicabs!

4. Mitsubishi L-300 – Another one of those immortal models, the L300 has practically become a household name.

5. Honda Civic ESi – If there’s one model that managed to challenge the reigning champion of Toyota, it must have been this era of the Honda Civic. The vehicle sold like hotcakes, became a phenomenal bestseller, and put the Honda brand up there in the local walk of fame.

6. Mitsubishi Galant – I clearly remember the time in the 90’s when owning a Galant meant you were an uber-cool car enthusiast, who was performance-oriented and clearly had taste in automobiles.

7. Volkswagen Beetle – Timeless. The oldest car model in my list, and still one of the strongest contenders till this day.

8. Toyota Land Cruiser – Flashback to the time when Metro Manila’s streets were populated by the iconic Toyota Land Cruiser which would more often than not, carry a plate with many 8’s...

9. Nissan Sentra – One of Nissan’s local superstars, the Sentra definitely had its time in the Philippine market. Arguably one of the models that put Nissan in the local map.

10. Mitsubishi Pajero Fieldmaster – This vehicle was the icon of road brawn and financial prosperity, back in my elementary days.

11. Toyota Lite Ace – I remember coming home from school and always seeing a Lite Ace picking up a number of my classmates, and spotting them everywhere we went. It was a convenient people carrier that combined the utility of a van with car-like driving ease.

12. Nissan Cefiro – You know the Cefiro had its time because you still see a lot of them plying the metro’s streets.

13. Toyota Tamaraw FX – It is hard to find any other vehicle that has made as much a huge impact in the local automotive scene as the legendary Toyota Tamaraw FX. The introduction of this model into the market changed the game of the Philippine automotive industry forever. This model was such a big hit, it changed the dynamics of public transportation and gave birth to different MPV’s that would later populate the local car market.

14. Honda Accord – During the time the Honda Civic was at its peak, so followed the popularity of the Accord. It was a definitive status symbol for midsize sedan buyers.

15. Nissan Patrol – It was never easy to drive in the roads of Metro Manila, and the Nissan Patrol was a great way to flex road muscle. It was often associated with politicians and their trusty bodyguards.

16. Toyota Fortuner – Until this very day, Toyota Fortuners dominate our streets. Enough said.

17. Isuzu Crosswind – a spin-off of the popularized MPV that was first made famous by the Tamaraw FX, Isuzu’s Crosswind instantly became the vehicle of choice of many-an-OFW and their families.

18. Mitsubishi Adventure – Mitsubishi’s answer to the phenomenal Tamaraw FX. And like other brands that began to create models to populate this newly-tapped market segment, it instantly boomed.

19. Honda CR-V – When Honda made waves in the Philippines with its highly popular Civic, the public favor spread to its other models as well. Among these was the CR-V, which was known for excellent ride comfort, and which until today is a contender in the compact SUV segment.

20. Ford Expedition (1st Gen.) – Back in the day, a Ford Explorer would immediately be associated with a high-profile person, a government official—someone you wouldn’t mess around with. Not many people owned one, but it had enough road presence for everyone to recognize it.

21. Hyundai Starex – Credited for making Hyundai a household name, the Starex became popular among individuals who actually drove their own vans (instead of hiring drivers). The Starex boasted of excellent driving comfort and car-like handling, plus the utility of a people carrier.

22. Honda Civic SiR – a spin-off of the charismatic Honda Civic that took the country by storm, I decided to give this variant its own special place in my top 28 cars because it was so popular and so coveted during its time, even I found myself lusting after this model as a schoolgirl. It sort of separated the regular motorists from the enthusiasts. It had its own following and was released as a limited edition, making it even more desirable.

23. Mercedes Benz 230E –Among the popular Benzes that I grew up seeing was the 230E (W124) – and it has also become a favorite model to restore.

24. Mazda Familia 323 – Right around the time when compact cars were reigning in the Philippine market, Mazda came out with its very own 323. The model earned its own fan base and was a favorite among young car drivers.

25. Hyundai Accent – If there’s a car that’s been putting up a fight with the mighty Vios, it has to be the Hyundai Accent. Since its introduction into the Philippine market, car buyers have been fascinated with its game-changing fluidic design and exceptional value for money. It made a statement that entry-level subcompact sedans need not necessarily look boring.

26. Toyota Innova – Descendant of the Toyota FX; 1/3 of the secret recipe to Toyota’s so-far 12-year Triple Crown Record; the country’s #1 best-selling commercial vehicle for YEARS. Need I say more?

27. Mitsubishi Montero Sport – Go outside where you can locate any passable road, and you are sure to bump into a Mitsubishi Montero. This vehicle is just practically everywhere, they are like clones that have rampaged the country! With excellent value for money and enough utility to serve the Third World needs of our country, this model has sure struck it big!

28. Toyota Vios – Toyota’s prized champion; its very own MVP in its team of cars. This overachiever has been #1 Bestselling Car Overall in the Philippines for 12 consecutive years! It dominates the taxicab industry and is the model of choice for most fleet accounts. Bringing this baby down anytime soon is practically impossible.