Philippines Crossover Market – Hidden Needs and Wants

MANILA: Crossover market is flourishing like never before and this trend has not restricted itself to developed countries. The Cross fever is fast catching up in the developing nations too, with the Philippines providing some of the best growth conditions for this new hybrid car generation. They were basically developed to provide looks of an SUV with amenities of a hatchback. With them, you can enjoy the feeling of owning a big car that cost close to the smaller hatchback segment.

Present Market Scenario

Automakers are smart analysts keeping track of every market pulse. The flourishing cross segment was no exception and was soon announced as the next big thing of the auto world. Recent months have seen number of 'extended hatchback' from different car makers like -

Hyundai i20 Cross Sport

This crossover from Hyundai came to Philippines later this April along with the all-new Tuscon. I20Cross Sport is a new name for our market as the company skipped the standard model and decided to greet the market directly with the sporty version. Cross sport is a true SUV and hatch roll over and is best suited for active Filipino lifestyle. With a body dimension of 3995 x 1760 x 1525 mm, cross runs on a 1.4L CRDi diesel and 1.4L Kappa petrol engine, both delivering excellent performance and fuel economy.

Nissan Juke

Next up in line is Nissan Juke; launched wearing a bright red body, the car won many hearts at the debut night. This funky crossover is next in the row after X-Trail and looks nothing like Nissan Philippines existing line up.  It truly is a sport crossover and this fact is supported by its aggressive looks and bulky power terrain. Its 1.6L Inline 4-Cyl DOHC 16V Twin CVTC generates maximum power of 116 PS @ 5,600 rpm with a peak torque of 154 Nm @ 4,000 rpm. Juke is currently priced at PhP 980,000 and is available in four color options ( Solar Yellow, Red Alert, Black Obsidian and Pearl White)

Chevrolet Trax

The latest crossover that stepped in Philippines cross market is Chevrolet Trax, and is designed to complement the fun and stylish outlook of Philippines youth. Available in two trim levels – Trax LS ( PhP 998,888) and Trax LT (PhP 1,218,888), Chevrolet is all set to take over crossover market. Under the hood, is present a 1.4-litre turbocharged mill generating 140 PS of power and 200 Nm of torque. Safety is one area where Trax surpasses all and features Traction Control System, Electronic stability Control, Cornering Brake Control, Rear Wheel Boost, Roll Over Mitigation, Straight Line Stability, Engine Drag Control, Panic Brake Assist, Reverse Camera, and Hill Descent Control

But things doesn't end here, as the want for more is never satisfied. We searched around the globe for cars that should make a debut in the Philippines but currently are a miss. And with their arrival both the concerned automakers and Filipinos will gain, one in terms of money and other in terms of satisfaction.

Tips for a Better Cross Future

Down under we have enlisted four crossovers that are a must have in the Philippines market. They are present in the neighboring countries and should come running to the island country.