Just a few weeks ago, Volkswagen Philippines wanted to shake up the subcompact market with the launch of its new and—dare we say—competitively priced sedan. Many were quick to point out that although the Santana has a German badge, it's a China-specific model (it is actually sourced from China). But does this bother the Philippine market and its car-shoppers? Or is the Filipino buyer ready to try a German-Chinese newcomer instead of the tried-and-tested Japanese bestsellers?
To find out the pulse of the market, we invite you to take the poll below. But of course, before you pick one, it's best to check the choices out at the dealerships and test drive them, if possible.
When you shut the door, does it have that solid thud sound? Are the seats comfortable? Does the cabin smell like cheap plastic? Do you feel confident when you're behind the wheel?
But in case you don't have time right now to make dealership visits, you can compare their specs. We've done the homework, so now it's your turn to choose.
| TOYOTA VIOS 1.3 J MT |
VOLKSWAGEN SANTANA 1.4 MPI TRENDLINE |
|
| Price (Philippine Peso) | 668,000 | 686,000 |
| Drive | FWD | FWD |
| Seating capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Engine | 1.3-liter DOHC gasoline | 1.4-liter 4-cylinder inline multipoint fuel injection gasoline engine |
| Power | 98hp @ 6,000rpm | 89hp @ 5,500rpm |
| Torque | 123Nm @ 4,400rpm | 132Nm @ 3,800rpm |
| Transmission | 5-speed MT | 5-speed MT |
| Brakes (front/rear) | Ventilated disc/drum | Ventilated disc/drum |
| Front suspension | Macpherson strut with stabilizer | Macpherson indepndent suspension |
| Rear suspension | Torsion beam with stabilizer | Composite torsion beam semi-independent suspension |
| Wheels | 14-inch steel with full cap | 14-inch steel with cover |
| Tires | 175/65 R14 | 175/70 R14 |
| Airbags | Driver/passenger | Driver/passenger |
| Fuel tank capacity (liters) | 42 | 55 |
| Dimensions (mm) | 4,410 x 1,700 x 1,475 | 4,475 x 1,706 x 1,469 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2,550 | 2,603 |
