Automotive

Home away from home: Next-Gen Ford Everest makes long trips cozier

I don’t know how it gets better than this~

Published

June 2, 2023

MJ Jucutan

There’s an inexplicable poignance when you’re driving late at night, alone inside an elephantine 7-seater SUV while humming to the 10-minute version of “All Too Well”.

I took a long way home after dropping off my friends, sighing at every stoplight at 32nd Street. I was crestfallen that I was alone inside a big car, yearning for companionship and laughter. When I used to drive small cars, I didn’t have this longing but I guess it was the price to pay for being engulfed with joy after driving the Next-Gen Ford Everest Titanium+

After all, this automobile gave me an opportunity to bridge people together. I finally had ample space for my buddies and our luggage. Everything and everyone was able to fit in comfortably — stories, laughter, happy moments, and emotional baggage included.

It gave me a weekend full of core memories to cherish and remember.

Home is where the heart is, but that’s not where mine lives

When my mates Aureil and Miguel arrived at 30th East A parking at The Fort, they were amused at how comfortable I was. I transferred between seats with bare feet; scarves and blankets thrown everywhere; bags scattered across the trunk.

What can I say? The Everest has a cozy vibe, it’s impossible not to feel comfortable as if it’s your own home.

That afternoon, there was a downpour and we were watching the raindrops splatter on the panoramic moonroof. We were sitting in the backseat, waiting for the rain to stop, killing time while we listen to folklore.

We comfortably sat in the second row which accommodates three individuals, thanks to the spacious leg- and headroom. Even if I was sitting in the middle, there was enough room despite the high-center tunnel. This wasn’t anything like the Ford Everest two years ago.

The soft-touch materials and leather-padded seats kept us warm like a brittle fire, even with the air conditioner turned on at 16 degrees Celsius.

That’s one of the first things I liked about the Next-Gen Everest Titanium+, everyone felt cozy in the homey atmosphere. We felt safe being in each other’s presence.

Even if we were traveling from East to South and up North, the long trip gave us a safe space to be comfortable in and with ourselves. Don’t you just like yourself more when you feel at home (with the right people)?

L-R: MJ, Miguel, Aureil, Jomi.

Drive out of the city, away from the crowds

I’ve always had a love-hate relationship with driving, what with the never-ending bumper-to-bumper traffic across Metro Manila — be it on inner roads, national highways, and even expressways.

When there’s an opportunity, I switch with a trusted confidante of mine like Jomi who also got a chance to drive the Next-Gen Ford Ranger early in February, so I can sit in the front passenger seat, shake my iced coffee, and look at the side mirror while taking selfies and ~helping~ with the navigation… sometimes. Long live the passenger princess and the walls we crashed through!

But there are also moments when I want to drive and make an effort for people close to my heart. Primarily when I have a refined, tech-savvy vehicle that makes everything comfortable.

Everything inside the Next-Gen Everest parades sophistication. It has the right blend of modern interiors, accented by high technology accordingly.

The steering wheel is incorporated with quick access buttons so you won’t have to look away just to adjust your vehicle and audio controls.

There are also several storages upfront: Bottle holders, an upper glove box, and a center glove box. As a driver with lots of unnecessary “important” stuff, having plenty of storage options give me peace of mind that whatever I need can be stored easily should I need them.

Nine out of ten, I barely needed the stuff I put in glove boxes, but it’s still a nice touch for those who really need extra space.

Just the right amount of space

Speaking of space, there’s plenty for my short legs. With an 8-way power adjustment, the front seats are easy to calibrate to get our desired seating position. This has been extremely helpful for my friend, Jomi, and I who fall below 5’4” in height and struggle with reaching the pedals.

The electronic gear shifter is easily accessible, too, even if we have short hands, which was also designed ergonomically for better grip. It felt like a bulky gaming mouse, reminiscent of the ones I use when playing with the ROG Strix G16.

The fully digital instrument cluster shows everything I need to know, in signs that are easy to understand and comprehend. Simply put, the Next-Gen Everest Titanium+ made me want to be the driver more than the passenger princess.

I’m now at a point where I’m willing to drive and bear the traffic, even if I have to travel roads as far as 70 kilometers down South and be on the road for four hours or more. (Only if I have this car.)

Wonderstruck, blushing all the way home

When we picked up my friend Kalvin in Parañaque, he was astounded by the vehicle’s convenient and innovative features.

He was mesmerized, gasping at the sight of the hands-free Power Liftgate and the power-folding function for the third-row seats, which I pressed so we can have an adequate cargo space for all our luggage and essentials.

Miguel arranged the placement of our luggage upon opening the hands-free Power Liftgate.

When we let him ride the shotgun, he was astonished by how much technology you can tinker with inside the vehicle.

It all started with the massive, 12-inch portrait touchscreen infotainment system. He was ecstatic using the voice-activated controls using Wireless Apple Carplay with our iPhones, and the Android Auto Compatibility for his Samsung Galaxy S21+.

Jomi’s iPhone 13 wirelessly charging at the pad.

Then, he saw how we used wireless charging for our iPhones, and how Miguel didn’t have any power bank and used the 230V inverter in the rear center console instead.

Of course, there are 12V sockets found in the front center console, third row, and in the cargo area — which we only got to use when we had to pick up more passengers during a heavy downpour around SM Clark and my power bank couldn’t accommodate everyone’s smartphones.

We were singing in the car, getting lost upstate

We opened the panoramic moonroof to let the light and wind in.

During our drives along C5, SLEX, Skyway, NLEX, SCTEX, and other major highways, we were blasting music using the Next-Gen Everest’s 8 speakers.

When the weather conspired in our favor, we opened the moonroof to let the light and fresh air in and sang our hearts out with Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream”. Let’s run away and don’t ever look back~

Using Apple CarPlay, we were able to navigate the Clark Freeport Zone using Google Maps while playing on Spotify simultaneously. We felt young with no regrets, just love. (Almost 30 is still young, right?)

Remember when you hit the brakes too soon?

Perhaps, the thing that got me really excited about the Next-Gen Ford Everest is how I felt the security features and driver-assist technology. Even more-so compared to my previous rides with other Ford vehicles.

I came to the conclusion that it was the enormous veneer of the Everest Titanium+. That, coupled with my lack of expertise in maneuvering 7-seater SUVs that triggered the features made me appreciate them.

With a recent mishap using my own car during a heavy downpour and I ended up rolling down a 70-degree slope, the Next-Gen Everest’s Hill Launch Assist, Roll Over Mitigation, and Hill Descent Control gave me reassurance that the accident won’t happen again while I was behind the steering wheel.

The front and rear parking sensors were also working hand-in-hand to alert me when vehicles, pedestrians, and other inanimate objects are too near or getting in the way while I was on the road.

While driving in bumper-to-bumper traffic in the incorrigible Ortigas Avenue Extension where motorcyclists and street vendors pop in a flash, prompting other vehicles for a sudden brake, the Pre-Collision Assist activates when I didn’t get to step on the brakes as quickly as I could.

The vehicle would vibrate, emitting an alarm loud enough to shake you off the driver’s seat. I got saved by the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), which works when you aren’t able to respond to a potential collision.

Remember when I pulled up and said “Get in the car”~

The evasive steer assist and lane-related features helped me navigate the hellish C5 traffic at night. But I found the parking assist even more commendable.

Parking small cars is a piece of cake for me — be it parallel, diagonal, or perpendicular. The Next-Gen Everest, however, is a different case. It’s enormous, and I found it difficult to squeeze in between other colossal automobiles.

What astounded my friends was the activation of the Active Park Assist 2.0. The vehicle used its 360-degree camera and parks on its own with the Park Aid assist.

But of course, we have the utmost confidence in our abilities to park the Next-Gen Everest properly. We simply used the infotainment system to give an overview of whether we were alighting in perfect symmetry.

The Terrain Management System also came into play when we were driving and parking across the lahar-filled concrete and gravel parking in Alviera and around Clark Freeport Zone.

It just has everything you can ask for, and maybe more.

I just wanna stay in that lavender haze

Photo-op before we hop on a ride to participate in our Spartan BEAST (21KM+30 Obstacles) race in Alviera.

Riding the comforts of the Next-Gen Everest felt like finally finding someone whom you’ll want to clean up bottles with on New Year’s Day. It’s delicate and gorgeous at the same time — both the relationship and the experience of a shiny, new vehicle.

It lasted long enough with only less than half of the tank with over 500km ride in four days. Refueling the tank fully only happened on the fifth day as I drove back to the East.

Long trips used to be grueling, no matter how big a car is. But when it’s designed to look and feel like home, 500 kilometers on the road from East to South and to the North and back is just a breeze through time.

Not to mention, the exterior of the Next-Gen Ford Everest Titanium+ comes with a tough, aggressive facade. It doesn’t give a cozy vibe, but we have to look beyond its appearance. Sometimes, we end up liking a person when we spend some time to know them more.

I guess that’s the lesson the Next-Gen Ford Everest Titanium+ wants to impart: Look beyond what you see, and get the best experience you can ever feel. 7-seater SUVs aren’t that intimidating to me anymore.

Price and availability

The Next-Gen Ford Everest comes in many finishes and colors. These are: Absolute Black, Aluminum Metallic, Arctic White, Equinox Bronze, Meteor Gray, Sedona Orange, Snowflake White Pearl, and Blue Lightning. It starts at PhP 1,799,000 for the Everest 2.0L Turbo Trend 4×2 AT. It goes up to PhP 2,495,000 for the Everest 2.0L Bi-Turbo Titanium+ 4×4 AT variant.

For more information, visit the Ford Everest page. To reserve the Next-Gen Ford Everest through www.ford.com.ph or check your nearest Ford dealer.

Automotive

Mercedes-Benz celebrates 140th anniversary at the Presidential Car Museum

A generation’s worth of presidential Benz models under one roof

Published

July 17, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Last month, Mercedes-Benz Philippines kicked off its 140^th -anniversary “Welcome Home” campaign. Designed to celebrate the iconic Chedeng and introduce a new generation to the brand, the campaign attracts old and new customers alike. Now, the brand’s 140^th year is also hitting history buffs with a special showcase at the Presidential Car Museum in Quezon City.

Since President Cory Aquino’s term, the official presidential car has been a Benz, offering comfort and protection for the current head of state. It is here where Mercedes-Benz wants to celebrate the legacy of the brand, especially in the annals of Philippine history.

Amid the cars of Presidents Aquino, Ramos, Estrada, and Macapagal-Arroyo, Mercedes-Benz is displaying a replica of the Benz Patent-Motorwagen Replica, which is the world’s first automobile introduced by Karl Benz in 1886. The replica will be on display until December 2026.

Outside the Presidential Car Museum, Mercedes-Benz is running discounts through the end of July. There are also special aftersales services for those who already own a Benz. Finally, the brand will continue to run activations throughout the anniversary, so expect to hear a lot more about the Chedeng throughout the year.

Automotive

The Kia Carnival Hybrid is a gentle giant

Built for every journey

Published

July 6, 2026

Dawn Pangilinan

Large vehicles are often accompanied by equally large assumptions.

They’re difficult to maneuver. They’re cumbersome in city traffic. They’re intimidating to park. And while they may offer unparalleled comfort and space, they’re usually accompanied by compromises that drivers simply learn to live with.

After spending five days and approximately 834 kilometers with the Kia Carnival Hybrid—through Metro Manila traffic, airport pickups, the narrow streets of Intramuros, an overnight trip to Anilao, a drive through Tagaytay, and eventually a same-day Manila-Baguio-Manila journey–I came away with one overriding thought:

This thing never felt big. That’s the highest compliment I can give the Kia Carnival Hybrid. It is, in every sense of the phrase, a gentle giant.

First impression

The first time I saw the Carnival, my immediate reaction was simple: It’s huge.

Parked beside most SUVs on Philippine roads, it immediately commands attention. Naturally, I expected the learning curve to be equally significant. After all, this isn’t a compact crossover or even a midsize SUV. This is a full-sized MPV designed to transport families, executives, luggage, and everything in between.

The Manila test

Our first real assignment together involved airport pickup duties in Manila. Anyone who’s done NAIA pickups knows that it’s essentially controlled chaos. Stay too long and you risk antagonizing everyone waiting behind you. Move too slowly and suddenly you’re holding up traffic while trying to get passengers and luggage loaded.

Surprisingly, the Carnival made the entire experience feel effortless.

Loading luggage was quick. Getting passengers in and out was seamless. Visibility was excellent. And despite driving a vehicle this size, I never once felt overwhelmed.

That feeling only continued over the next several days.

If there’s one place that reveals a vehicle’s true character, it’s Metro Manila.

Luxury cars are comfortable on highways. Almost anything can cruise down SCTEX or NLEX. But Manila, with its traffic, narrow roads, old parking structures, and unpredictable flow, has a way of exposing weaknesses quickly. Yet the Carnival continued to surprise me.

We drove through downtown Manila, navigated the narrow streets of Intramuros, and, managed my condos’s notoriously narrow parking facility. There were several moments where I genuinely thought, “This should feel more stressful than it actually does.” But it didn’t.

In fact, one of the Carnival’s greatest strengths is its steering.

There’s a confidence and precision to it that completely changes your perception of the vehicle. Rather than feeling like a large van, it feels more like driving a premium sedan or SUV–just one that happens to offer an immense amount of space.

This is exactly why I started calling it a gentle giant.

It possesses all the physical presence of a large luxury people mover, but none of the intimidation that usually comes with one.

Going the distance

With a full tank, we headed south toward Anilao, Batangas, eventually making our way through Tagaytay before returning to Manila. By the end of that journey, we had already covered approximately 311 kilometers.

Despite the mileage, fuel consumption was the last thing on my mind.

The hybrid system deserves tremendous credit here because it never feels like it’s trying to prove that it’s a hybrid. It simply works.

The vehicle seamlessly switches between EV mode, charging mode, and hybrid operation, quietly doing its job in the background while maximizing efficiency. Instead of constantly monitoring fuel consumption figures, I found myself simply driving and letting the car manage everything else.

We decided to push the Carnival even further with a same-day Manila-Baguio-and-back drive and added only a total of PhP 5,000 in fuel, at roughly PhP 93 per liter at the height of the fuel crisis in late April 2026. The fuel top-up was enough to cover another estimated 523 kilometers to our drive.

For a vehicle this size, the fuel economy felt genuinely surprising and reassuring.

In today’s environment, where fuel prices remain unpredictable, there’s a certain peace of mind that comes with knowing your large family vehicle isn’t going to punish you every time you decide to take a road trip.

The highs and lows of Baguio

More than the fuel economy, Baguio was surprising.

If there’s any route capable of exposing a large vehicle’s weaknesses, it’s the climb to Baguio. Zigzag roads demand confidence, braking performance, power delivery, and steering precision. Large vehicles often reveal their size very quickly in these environments. The Carnival didn’t.

By this point, I had already spent five days behind the wheel, and somewhere along the way, I had stopped thinking about its dimensions entirely.

The uphill climbs felt effortless. Overtaking slower vehicles required very little planning. The vehicle remained immensely responsive, and even downhill braking inspired complete confidence. What struck me most was how familiar everything felt. It didn’t feel like I was driving a large MPV through mountain roads. It felt like I was driving in the city.

The zigzag roads of Baguio, which can sometimes make even experienced drivers tense up, became surprisingly comfortable. The Carnival remained composed, predictable, and incredibly easy to place on the road.

Business Class on wheels

Inside, the experience was equally impressive. The best comparison I can think of is business-class travel.

The cabin remains exceptionally quiet whether you’re sitting in Manila traffic, cruising on the expressway, or climbing mountain roads. Conversations happen naturally. Passengers relax. Some simply fall asleep.

Speaking of comfort, the ventilated seats quickly became one of my favorite features. Given how hot Manila has been, they stopped feeling like a luxury feature and started feeling like a necessity.

Then, there’s the space. Passengers consistently remarked on how comfortable and relaxed they felt throughout the journey. The amount of room available changes the entire atmosphere inside the vehicle. People stretch out. They settle in. They stop thinking about the drive and simply enjoy the ride.

The suspension was impressive. Whether we were on provincial roads, rougher pavement, or highways, there was very little harshness transmitted into the cabin. In fact, there were moments when it became genuinely difficult to distinguish between well-paved roads and rougher sections because the Carnival absorbed imperfections so effectively.

Not perfect, but surprisingly close

Of course, no vehicle is perfect.

The Carnival’s size remains its biggest challenge, particularly when navigating older parking facilities with narrower ramps and tighter spaces. There is an adjustment period during the first few days of ownership.

Ironically, however, those moments only reinforced my appreciation for the vehicle’s engineering.

Because despite its dimensions, the Carnival never fought against me. Instead, it consistently worked with me.

After five days, nearly 834 kilometers, city traffic, airport pickups, provincial roads, beaches, mountain passes, and countless opportunities for the Carnival to remind me how large it actually is, I arrived at a surprisingly simple conclusion.

The Kia Carnival Hybrid’s greatest achievement isn’t its luxury, space, or even its impressive fuel efficiency. It’s how naturally it handles almost any driving situation without ever feeling intimidating.

Whether you’re driving it yourself or being driven, navigating through Manila traffic, heading out of town with family and friends, or cruising through the mountains, the Carnival always feels easy to live with. That’s exactly what makes it a gentle giant built for every journey.

Pricing

The Kia Carnival Hybrid is available in the Philippines in two variants:

Kia Carnival 1.6 EX Turbo Hybrid AT – PhP 2,938,000 (approximately US$50,000)
Kia Carnival 1.6 SX+ Turbo Hybrid AT – PhP 3,548,000 (approximately US$60,400)

The Philippine-spec Carnival Hybrid pairs a 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline engine with an electric motor, delivering a premium people mover that balances strong performance with improved fuel efficiency.

Automotive

GAC Philippines extends AION UT introductory discount to July 31

Now starts at PhP 998,000!

Published

July 2, 2026

GadgetMatch

GAC Philippines has extended the introductory discount on the AION UT.

The AION UT Elite now starts at PhP 998,000, down from its SRP of PhP 1,068,000, thanks to a PhP 50,000 discount that was set to expire but is now extended until July 31, 2026.

Buyers among the first 400 units sold also get an extra PhP 20,000 off, bringing total potential savings to PhP 70,000.

The AION UT Elite comes in five color options: Champs-Elysees Beige, Emerald Green, Rococo White, Seine Silver, and a two-tone Rococo White and Emerald Green combination, all paired with a black interior and ceiling.

Every unit includes an 8-year or 160,000-km warranty, an 8-year or 200,000-km warranty on the core three-electric system, and two years of free roadside assistance.

Reservations are open at GAC dealerships. The brand backs the offer with its “zero-anxiety” ownership program. This includes a dedicated parts warehouse and aftersales support.

With the deadline pushed back, GAC is betting that a little more time will convert interest into sales before the discount window finally closes.