Toyota Avanza vs. MPV contenders

The local multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) segment has proved to be one of the fastest-growing categories in the Philippine automotive industry and the Toyota Avanza has held the fort for the Japanese carmaker since its launch. 

Considered as a household name, it has appeared on the list of many car buyers looking to drive home a decent ride for their families.

But how does it fare against newcomers from Chinese carmakers, whose offerings are packed with enticing features? Join us to see the Toyota go wheel-to-wheel with the MG G50 Plus and the GAC M60 Pro. 

On that note, let’s begin by checking out the specifications of the Toyota Avanza. 

Toyota Avanza 

Outside, the Toyota Avanza packs a relatively aggressive look thanks to the abundance of straight lines and sharp angles — predominantly on its front fascia. 

Its side profile looks clean with perpendicular lines that give it a stable and dependable character. Adding to this is a set of 16-inch tires wrapped in chunky 195/60 series tires. 

At the back, it gets a pair of combination taillamps, a decent-sized rear glass, and reflectors on each side of its bumpers. 

Here is the full exterior features of the Toyota Avanza: 

Headlamps	Split-type LED
Clearance lamp	LED
Front fog lamps	With
Rear reflector	With
Side mirrors	Power-adjust, auto-retract, with repeaters
Side turn signal	With
Front grille	Material Black
Windshield wiper (front, back)	With, intermittent
Rear window defogger	With
Rear combination lamp	LED
Rear spoiler	With
Antenna	Fin-type

 

Inside, the Toyota Avanza is both spacious and practical. Across the board, all variants sport fabric seats with cabin trims made up mostly of hard plastics. 

The instrument panel and the infotainment system are nothing to write home about, but they appear to be robust and appear to be able to take a beating. 

Here are the features one will find inside its cabin: 

Seat material	Fabric
Instrument cluster	With 2.2-inch thin-film transistor display
Steering wheel	Urethane
Inside rear-view mirror	Day and night
Sun visors	With
Parking brake	Lever-type
Shift lever and knob	Urethane
Door trim	With, brown accents
Lamps	With (room, front personal, luggage)
Illuminated entry system	With
Keyless entry	With
Ignition system	Push start
Air conditioning system	With, manual
Infotainment unit	Eight-inch, with Apple Carplay, Android Auto
USB charger	With

 

As for its power, the Toyota Avanza delivers some decent numbers. Below are its figures: 

Engine	1.5-liters
Transmission	Continuously variable transmission
Maximum power output (in hp)	104
Maximum torque (in Nm)	138

 

When it comes to safety, the Toyota Avanza is no slouch. Here are its safety technologies: 

• Anti-lock braking
• Vehicle stability control
• Hill-start assist control
• Traction control
• Blind spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Rear camera
• Parking sensors

The Toyota Avanza is priced from P838,000 to P1.065 million. 

The author was able to review the Toyota Avanza. You can read the full story, here. 

MG G50 Plus 

Last year, Morris Garages (MG) Motor Philippines bolstered its lineup with a rebadged Maxus G50 and called it the G50 Plus. 

The added nameplate gave the SAIC-owned brand an entry into the tightly-contested MPV segment and a way into getting some slice of the category’s profitable pie. 

At a glance, it looks classy and beefy — with large windows and plenty of chrome appliqués, especially at the fore. 

The flanks of the vehicle dons some contours, which go well with its shiny chrome accents and 16-inch wheels shod in relatively substantial 205/60 series tires. 

At the back, the MG G50 Plus boasts a roof-mounted spoiler with an integrated brake lamp, combination taillamps, and a hydraulically-assisted tailgate. 

Here are its other features: 

Front grille	Chrome with body color
Headlamps	LED
Daytime running lights	LED
Side window frame	Chrome
Side mirrors	Power-fold, power-adjust, with turn signals
Side turn signal lamp	With
High-mount stop lamp	With
Antenna	With
Overfender	With
Spoiler	With
Roof rail	With

 

Similarly, the interior of the MG G50 Plus gives off opulent vibes thanks to the abundance of light-colored trims as well as large screens. 

Impressive are its floating infotainment system, which comes with a wealth of functions to make one’s driving experience comfortable and convenient. 

Here are its interior features: 

Seat material	PVC leather
Multi-information display	Analog, with digital meter
Steering wheel	Leather
Inside rear-view mirror	Day and night
Sunvisor	With
Parking brake	Electronic with auto hold
Interior lamps	With (room, front personal, cargo)
Remote keyless entry	With
Ignition system	Push button
Air conditioning system	Automatic
Infotainment unit	12.3-inches with Apple Carplay, Android Auto
USB charger	With

 

Powering the MG G50 Plus is a dependable engine that offers the right amount of peppiness and a transmission system that complements the said powerplant. 

Here are their specifications: 

Engine	1.5-liters (turbocharged)
Transmission	Seven-speed wet dual-clutch transmission
Maximum power output (in hp)	178
Maximum torque (in Nm)	285

 

Safety-wise, here are its features: 

• Airbags
• Seatbelts
• Anti-lock braking 
• Vehicle stability control 
• HIll start assist 
• Reverse camera
• Rear parking sensors 
• Tire pressure monitoring 

The MG G50 Plus sells for P1.048 million to P1.288 million. 

The writer was able to try out the MPV. You can check out the story, here. 

GAC M6 Pro 

GAC Motor Philippines also released a family-oriented MPV not too long ago. The more budget-friendly M6 Pro is the brand’s offering to car buyers looking for a ferry that is as exciting as it is practical. 

The seven-seater has the ideal recipe for those in the market for a new ride. 

The GAC M6 Pro is fitted with a stylish fascia that gets a grille with large horizontal slats. The fore is highlighted with indentations on the vehicle’s cheeks, which gives additional dimensions to its attractive front end. 

At the sides, the nameplate gets elegant appointments in the form of chrome strips on the windows paired with a black pillar, which creates a floating roof design. 

It also rides on a set of 18-inch wheels with 215/50 radial tires. 

The GAC Pro’s rear end packs a large rear glass, taillamps connected by a horizontal light bar, and reflectors on each of its bumpers. 

Here are its other exterior features: 

LED headlights	With
LED daytime running lights	With
Rear fog lamps	With
Side mirrors	Power-adjustable, auto-folding, heated
Rain-sensing wipers	With, front
Panoramic sunroof	With
Second-row, rear window privacy screen	With
Heated rear windshield	With

 

As for its interior, the GAC M6 Pro boasts a sporty feel with its black and red color theme. Nevertheless, it still offers some level of luxury with captain seats and technologically adequate amenities. 

Below are its features: 

Seat material	Leather
Steering wheel	Polyurethane
Air conditioning system	Dual-zone, automatic
Instrument cluster	Seven-inch LCD display
Infotainment system	10.25-inches with Apple Carplay, Carlife
Air quality sensor	With
Air filter	PM 0.1
Inside rearview mirrors	Automatic with anti-glare

 

Likewise impressive is the GAC M6 Pro’s powertrain setup. Below are its specifications:

Engine	1.5-liters (turbocharged)
Transmission	Seven-speed wet dual-clutch transmission
Maximum power output (in hp)	174
Maximum torque (in Nm)	270

 

GAC gave the M6 Pro a robust list of safety features to make it an ideal ride for various jobs. We have listed them down below: 

• Hill start hold control
• Hill descent control
• Electronic stability control
• Engine immobilizer 
• Tire pressure monitoring system 
• Passive entry/passive start
• Rear parking sensors
• Surround view camera
• Adaptive cruise control
• Lane departure warning 
• Autonomous emergency braking 
• Forward collision warning 
• Lane keeping assist 
• High beam assist 
• Integrated cruise assist 
• Traffic jam assist 
• Traffic sign recognition system 

The GAC M6 Pro is available with a price tag that ranges from P1.23 million to P1.598 million. 

You may check our full review of the MPV, here. 

Also read: 

Certain Toyota Avanza, Veloz, Yaris Cross models likely affected by front shock absorber nut issue

Toyota issues recalls on Avanza, Raize, Veloz

Here are the variants and pricing of the all-new Toyota Avanza