Sedans, hatchbacks we want to see in PH this 2025
Sedans, hatchbacks we want to see in PH this 2025

Hatchbacks and sedans now hold a smaller share of the automotive market than they did in the late 1990s and early to mid-2000s.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Which car models is the Zigwheels Philippines editorial team excited to see in the Philippine market this year?
The Zigwheels Philippines editorial team is eager to see models like the fourth-generation Toyota Vios, the updated Toyota GR Yaris, GR Corolla Cross, fourth-generation Suzuki Swift, Honda City e:HEV, and Denza Z9 make their way to the Philippine market this year.How much horsepower and torque can the Thai-spec fourth-generation Toyota Vios (Yaris Ativ) produce?
The Thai-spec fourth-generation Toyota Vios can produce up to 93 horsepower and 110 Newton-meters of torque.Regardless, the two aforementioned vehicle body types are still popular on local roads. While crossovers arguably offer more space, sedans and hatchbacks remain convenient for many users due to their relatively compact sizes. Plus, brands often position their respective hatch and sedan models as their most affordable offerings.
So, while we’ve already written about the crossovers and sports utility vehicles we love to see in the Philippines in 2025, it is now time to list down the hatchbacks and sedans we would like to see released locally this year.
Four-generation Toyota Vios
The fourth-generation Toyota Vios, also known as the AC100 model, has been around since 2022. It is already sold in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, as well as in Thailand as the Yaris Ativ. The latest generation Vios has existed for three years now, but the Philippine market version is still the second facelift of the third-generation XP150.

Now it is 2025, and many are no doubt convinced that it is high time Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) to bring in the next-generation sedan.
The said model, after all, has a lot of desirable qualities. For example, it sports a more modern look enhanced by angular details on its front bumper, a wide grille, and a sharp-looking pair of LED headlamp clusters - among others.
It retains a similar array of powertrains, but it is much larger compared to the third-gen model, as it is now based on the Daihatsu New Global Architecture (DNGA) platform. To note, the DNGA platform currently underpins other locally available models such as the Raize, Avanza, and Veloz.

The larger body size suggests an interior with more room for heads and elbows. The version sold in Thailand also sports an upmarket cabin with diamond-stiched leather upholstery, a 64-color ambient lighting system, a seven-inch digital gauge cluster, keyless entry, a PM2.5 air filtering system, and many other creature comforts.
For reference, here is a table showing the mechanical specifications of the top-of-the-line Thai-spec Toyota Yaris Ativ Premium Luxury:
Model |
Toyota Yaris Ativ (Vios) Premium Luxury |
Engine |
1.2-liter inline-4 3NR-VE |
Fuel |
Gasoline |
Transmission |
Continuously variant transmission (CVT) |
Drivetrain |
Front-wheel-drive |
Horsepower |
93 |
Torque |
110 Nm |
Front suspension |
MacPherson strut |
Rear suspension |
Torsion beam |
Honda City e:HEV Hatchback
For a bit of wishful thinking, we are pretty confident that many Filipino Honda fans will want to see the City e:hybrid electric vehicle (e:HEV) Hatchback on local roads. Sure, the Civic RS e:HEV is already in the market, and there’s a good chance that the HR-V e:HEV crossover might see a local launch first. On the other hand, the Japanese marque’s local arm could use a smaller (more affordable) electrified model in its lineup.

Having the hybrid version of the City Hatchback in its stable will help make the brand’s hybrid tech more accessible to more buyers. Some, especially folks who drive in the metropolis every day, prefer something more compact, after all.
In the Thai market, the City e:HEV hatch is marketed in the guise of the RS trim. At maximum, its internal combustion powertrain can produce up to 96 horsepower (hp) and 127 Newton-meters of torque. Its electric motors, on the other hand, produce an additional 107 hp and 253 Nm of torque.

With the aforementioned figures, the City e:HEV Hatchback promises to be a peppy but also environmentally friendly ride. As the Thai-spec RS trim, it also boasts an eye-catching exterior look and loads of creature comforts.
Here are the specifications of the Honda City e:HEV RS Hatchback currently sold in Thailand:
Model |
Honda City e:HEV RS hatchback |
Engine |
1.5-liter inline-4 |
Fuel |
Gasoline |
Transmission |
Electronic continuously variable transmission |
Drivetrain |
Front-wheel-drive |
Horsepower |
96 |
Torque |
127 |
Front suspension |
MacPherson strut |
Rear suspension |
Torsion beam |
Brakes |
Front and rear discs |
Hybrid system |
Electronic motor and lithium-ion battery |
Hybrid system output |
107 hp and 253 Nm of torque |
Fourth-generation Suzuki Swift
Another hatchback we would love to see in the Philippines in 2025 is the fourth-generation Suzuki Swift.
Currently, Suzuki Philippines Incorporated sells the older third-generation Swift A2L model. It has enjoyed a strong market presence in the local scene, but the next-gen AOL Swift has several characteristics local small car buyers might want.

When it comes to design, the fourth-gen Swift was dressed up with an edgier, more striking design. It still somewhat keeps the familiar (albeit rounder) outline of the hatchback nameplate, but it now sports sharper LED fixtures, a flatter hood, as well as a more dynamic-looking rear end.
Additionally, it was provided with more structural adhesives for better handling and more sound-deadening materials for a quieter drive. The next-gen hatch was also made safer thanks to the addition of an electronic parking brake, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, driver monitoring, and automatic high beams.
Suzuki also touted the next-gen Swift’s 1.2-liter Z12E inline-3 engine, which, thanks to its new mild-hybrid system, provides an estimated in-city fuel economy of 20.8 kilometers per liter.

To note, the said engine has one less cylinder compared to the locally available third-gen model, but it can still produce 82 hp and 108 Nm of torque.
For reference, here is a summary of the Japanese-spec fourth-gen Suzuki Swift, specifically the Hybrid MX:
Model |
Suzuki Swift Hybrid MX |
Engine |
1.2-liter inline-3 Z12E |
Fuel |
Gasoline |
Transmission |
CVT/Five-speed manual |
Drivetrain |
Front-wheel-drive |
Horsepower |
82 |
Torque |
108 Nm |
Front suspension |
MacPherson strut |
Rear suspension |
Torsion beam |
Brakes |
Front and rear discs |
Hybrid system |
2.3 kilowatt integrated starter generator, 12-volt lithium-ion battery |
Toyota GR Corolla
In the realm of hot hatches, another model TMP could add to its roster in 2025 is the Gazoo Racing (GR) Corolla. The said model, after all, was already released in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) market.

Specifically, it was introduced back in 2023 for the Malaysian market. In Thailand, Toyota has since launched the updated version at the 2024 Thailand International Motor Show.
Also, be aware that Toyota’s arm in the Land of Smiles did figure out a way for the GR Corolla and the GR Yaris to coexist within the same lineup.
Under the hood of the Thai-spec GR Corolla is a 1.6-liter inline-3 turbocharged engine capable of outputting 300 hp and 400 Nm of torque. Per Toyota, the model is capable of sprinting from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in just 5.29 seconds. It also has an all-wheel-drive system and the newly developed GR eight-speed automatic transmission.

For reference, here is a short overview of the Thai-spec Toyota GR Corolla:
Model |
Toyota GR Corolla |
Engine |
1.6-liter G16E-GTS turbo |
Fuel |
Gasoline |
Transmission |
Eight-speed automatic |
Drivetrain |
All-wheel-drive |
Horsepower |
300 |
Torque |
400 Nm |
Front suspension |
MacPherson strut |
Rear suspension |
Double-wishbone |
Brakes |
Front and rear discs |
Toyota GR Yaris update
Yet another hot hatch we would love to see on Philippine roads this year is the updated version of the GR Yaris.
For sure, the older pre-updated version remains a potent ride, but the updated model does have some improvements courtesy of feedback coming from Toyota Motor Corporation Chairman and expert racing driver Akia “Morizo” Toyoda, as well as many other professional race drivers.

On the outside, the model update received more vents for better cooling performance and aerodynamics. Plus, it makes the car appear sportier.
At maximum, the new hot hatch’s 1.6-liter three-cylinder turbocharged mill can dish out 300 hp and 400 Nm of torque, which is 43 hp and 40 Nm more compared to the locally available pre-updated version. It is still all-wheel-drive, but it may now come with an eight-speed automatic gearbox apart from the six-speed manual transmission most GR fans are familiar with.
Other notable additions to the new GR Yaris are a redesigned dash, more front cabin headroom, and a new “Gravel” drive mode. The said mode automatically switches power distribution from the normal 60:40 (front and rear wheels) to 53:47. With the said setup, the car is able to perform power slides on loose or slippery roads.

Here’s a short summary of the updated Toyota GR Yaris’ mechanical specs:
Model |
Toyota GR Yaris (update) |
Engine |
1.6-liter G16E-GTS turbo |
Fuel |
Gasoline |
Transmission |
Six-speed manual/Eight-speed automatic |
Drivetrain |
All-wheel-drive |
Horsepower |
300 |
Torque |
400 Nm |
Front suspension |
MacPherson strut |
Rear suspension |
Double-wishbone |
Brakes |
Front and rear discs |
Denza Z9
The Denza Z9 is also another model we would like to see make a Philippine market debut.
In a nutshell, the Z9 is a full-size, five-seater sedan produced by Denza, a luxury-oriented subsidiary of automotive giant BYD. It was first introduced at the 2024 Beijing Auto Show, and it may come with a plug-in hybrid or battery-electric powertrain.

The most potent version of the Z9 is the GT electric vehicle (EV) version, which can produce up to 952 hp out of its three-motor setup.
For folks who missed it, BYD General Manager for Sales Asia Pacific Division Liu Xieliang has already confirmed that Denza will be seeing a Philippine brand launch in 2025. However, it hasn’t been confirmed whether the Z9 will be included in its initial lineup of offerings.
For now, here is a short summary of the Denza Z9 GT EV, which is currently sold in the Chinese market:
Model |
Denza Z9 GT EV |
Motor |
Three permanent-magnet synchronous motors |
Range |
630 kilometers |
Battery |
100 kilowatt-hour |
Drivetrain |
All-wheel-drive |
Horsepower |
952 |
Front suspension |
Adaptive air suspension |
Rear suspension |
|
Brakes |
Front and rear discs |
Final thoughts
The models are just some of the hatchbacks and sedans we would love to see here in the Philippines in 2025. Sure, we missed some, but the current list already offers a good spread of variety.
The Vios, for example, is a popular mass-market darling, and the next-gen version could further cement its presence locally. And, of course, Filipino enthusiasts will no doubt shower their attention on the updated GR Yaris and GR Corolla if they enter the market.
Of course, the list is by no means definitive, nor is it an accurate prediction of what lies ahead for the local market. As such, let us be patient for more updates, and let us keep our fingers crossed.
Also read:
Here are the pickup trucks we want to see in PH this 2025
Here are the SUVs we want to see in PH this 2025
Here are the crossovers, MPVs we want to see in PH this 2025
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Length
4420 mm
|
4630 mm
|
3760 mm
|
4601 mm
|
3995 mm
|
Width
1730 mm
|
1780 mm
|
1665 mm
|
1818 mm
|
1735 mm
|
Height
1475 mm
|
1435 mm
|
1515 mm
|
1489 mm
|
1515 mm
|
Power
98
|
138
|
65
|
112
|
82
|
Torque
123 Nm
|
153 Nm
|
89 Nm
|
150 Nm
|
113 Nm
|
Automatic Climate Control
No
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
Multi-function Steering Wheel
No
|
No
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
Adjustable Seats
Yes
|
Yes
|
4-Way Driver & 4-Way Front Passenger
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Rear A/C Vents
-
|
No
|
-
|
-
|
No
|
Keyless Entry
-
|
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
-
|
|
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