Automotive

Right-Hand Drive: My first experience

It’s never too late to do something new

Published

April 19, 2019

It was a Friday, my birthday. I, along with the local media team, flew to Hong Kong for an annual event on electrifying cities to achieve a greener environment.

After the warm welcome of the event’s hosts, they started briefing us of the day’s itinerary. We were to use the company’s electric vehicles and drive them through Hong Kong’s three main regions to get a feel of how they ride and put their features to real-world use.

Exciting, right? Thing is, Hong Kong is a right-hand drive territory and I live and grew up in a country with left-hand vehicles. I’ve never driven on the opposite side of the road. I figured I’d just wing it.

I figured I’d just wing it.

They finally sent us out to the cars in pairs and assigned us an official rep either to make sure everything went well or that we didn’t run away with the car — pretty sure it was more of the former.

My partner for this ride was a fellow journalist in the automotive industry. He would always crack jokes on almost anything he saw which somehow took my mind off the fact that I’d be driving in a foreign country with unfamiliar roads during my first right-hand drive experience.

We agreed that I’d take the wheel for the first half of the trip and switch seats halfway so we both could experience the electric vehicle. I grabbed the door handle on the right side, opened it, and gave my weight to its cushioned driver seat.

I was faced with the cockpit of the vehicle. As a person who likes things neat and in order, the buttons, displays, and icons were neatly laid out. I was not overwhelmed.

I spotted a mounted GoPro on the passenger’s side aimed directly at me. I thought it was cool to have a copy of myself driving on the opposite side of the road for the first time.

I kind of felt like I was in a sci-fi movie.

With everyone inside, I stepped on the brake and pressed the ignition button. The motor of the car whirred with a held-back enthusiasm. “I’m still not used to how quiet it is,” I told my companions, explaining that I was already able to drive the car — only the previous year’s model. The absence of a gas-guzzling engine made the vehicle come to life not with the sound of a heavy breathing dog but more like Wall-E‘s Eva powering up. I kind of felt like I was in a sci-fi movie.

Then we were off to take on the gloomy and chilly weather. The hotel’s lobby is elevated so there was a long spiral-like ramp that led in and out of the driveway. Turning towards the ramp was critical for me as it was my first turn to the opposite lane. “Always enter the left lane. Always enter the left lane.” I kept telling myself this over and over just to rewire my mind and unlearn the driving system that I grew up with and adapt to this new setup.

We drove down the ramp, onto the street, and later on into the highway. “So far so good,” I thought to myself. The idea was to drive through a pre-designated route using Google Maps. But, as with most times, things didn’t go as smoothly as planned. The app didn’t work properly for the first 15 to 20 minutes of our trip. It had problems with GPS so I had to listen to the company’s representative seated at the back as he pointed when and where to turn.

But, as with most times, things didn’t go as smoothly as planned.

For a while there, I was like an Uber driver going through the busy streets of Hong Kong.

The vehicle responded very well every time I stepped on the gas pedal. We were discussing that having an electric motor means power is quickly channeled to the wheels so it responds a lot faster compared to internal combustion engines. I also liked how the car didn’t have problems gaining speed whenever I needed to catch up. Basically, exploring the car’s array of features, while driving, helped me eliminate the few anxieties that I had left. Yes, I enjoyed the drive.

It was about 30 to 40 minutes in that I became more confident driving the right-hand vehicle. Entering the left lane every time I turned became more and more natural. Of course, there were times when I’d still forget I was on the opposite side — like that time I was paying at the toll gate and opened the left window instead of the right. Boy, was the teller confused when I did that.

While probably a really simple and obvious solution, one of the things that helped me with the transition was to think of everything in the opposite way. That way, It was easier for me to grasp the entire idea of right-hand driving. If my natural habit was to keep right, I knew that during that moment, I needed to keep left. When it felt natural to flick the turn signal using the left switch, I’d use the right since the left would be for activating the wipers.

If my natural habit was to keep right, I knew that during that moment, I needed to keep left.

That kind of mindset got me through the entire ride right up to the point where I and the other media I was with had to switch for his turn to drive.

I went down, walked around to the other side, and got in the passenger seat. It was weird because since I was back to sitting on the left side, the initial response of my arms was to grab the steering wheel and start the vehicle, forgetting all of a sudden the “brainwashing lessons” I taught myself just half an hour ago.

Seeing the GoPro that was mounted right above me, I reached for it to check if it was still recording. I then noticed there were no blinking red lights. I leaned closer and to my surprise, it wasn’t even turned on. So much for documenting my first right-hand experience, right?

“It wasn’t recording the entire time!” I exclaimed. It was unfortunate but we had a laugh out of it. I figured I’d just write down the events that happened so that I wouldn’t forget it. I powered up the action camera and started recording for my partner’s sake. With dark clouds and light rain still accompanying us, we started driving back to the hotel.

My key takeaway from the experience was to know what works for yourself.

During our trip back, I reflected on what I just did, from the excitement to the feeling of fulfillment of doing something the first time and succeeding. My key takeaway from the experience was to know what works for yourself. For me, I simply had to do the opposite of what I’m comfortable with to make sure I had clear control of what to do for certain situations.

Of course, it would also help a lot if one would closely study and practice for something like this. I just didn’t have much choice and had limited time to prepare for the drive.

We got back to the hotel, thanked the company’s representative who came with us for being an accommodating guide, and I went straight to my hotel room to freshen up for the night’s welcome dinner.

It was a great experience overall and am still thankful for the brand extending an invite to the event. The fact that I did something for the first time on my birthday only made it more special. To more drives!

Related Topics:Electric vehicle EV specials

Automotive

GAC Aion UT brings big car energy to the compact segment

This stylish electric hatchback defies its size with a lounge-like interior and an attractive price tag.

Published

May 21, 2026

MJ Jucutan

GAC Philippines is pivoting its electric strategy toward the urban enthusiast with the debut of the Aion UT.

This EV hatchback arrives with a proven track record in Europe and Australia and Latin America. It flaunts with a “Milanese” design aesthetic that feels more like a fashion statement than a utility vehicle.

By utilizing a dedicated EV platform rather than a converted internal combustion chassis, the Aion UT maximizes its footprint to deliver what the brand calls “big car energy.”

Spatial engineering and urban utility

The Aion UT effectively flips the script on the compact segment by offering a class leading 2,750mm wheelbase.

Consequently, the interior feels more like a chic lounge than a traditional car because it provides a massive 905mm of rear legroom.

This smart layout means three adults can actually hang out in the back without rubbing knees or feeling cramped.

Beyond just passenger comfort, the cabin handles the daily hustle with ease. It offers 24 different storage cubbies for your essentials plus 440 liters of boot space for your gear.

Furthermore, the car features Vehicle-to-Load technology, which literally turns the vehicle into a giant mobile battery for your gear when you are away from an outlet.

Real world power and the magazine battery

The Elite variant runs on a 100 kW motor that delivers instant punch for weaving through city traffic with 180 Nm of torque.

While the technical side involves a 47.1 kWh battery, you should think of the Magazine Battery tech as a specialized safety vault for your energy.

GAC builds these batteries to resist heat and pressure, which gives you total confidence while driving in tropical weather. When you eventually run low, a DC Fast Charger gets the car from 30% to 80% in about 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, the car acts as a second set of eyes with an advanced safety suite. This system handles the heavy lifting by providing Adaptive Cruise Control and Forward Collision Warning and a 360-degree surround view camera and a system that prevents you from accidentally accelerating in the wrong direction.

A tech forward digital cockpit

The interior features a massive 14.6 inch central touchscreen alongside a sleek 8.88 inch digital instrument cluster.

This system acts as the brain of the car and handles all your media through wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Everything feels intuitive and fast because the software mirrors the responsiveness of a premium smartphone. To match this digital vibe, the car comes in gemstone inspired colors like Emerald Green and Seine Silver and Champs Elysees Beige and Rococo White.

Price, availability in the Philippines

GAC is currently offering the Aion UT Elite FWD with a retail price of PhP 1,068,000 for the Philippine market.

However, early adopters can take advantage of an introductory price of PhP 998,000 if they reserve by June 30 2026.

This special offer includes an initial discount of PhP 50,000 plus an extra PhP 20,000 reduction for the first 400 units sold.

Every unit comes with a sleek black interior and a black ceiling to maintain that premium feel. Owners also get total peace of mind through an 8 year or 200,000 km warranty on the core electric system and two years of free roadside assistance.

Automotive

VinFast VF MPV 7 positioned as practical choice for families

Strong performance, lower maintenance costs, comfortable driving experience

Published

May 7, 2026

Manila Connoisseur

VinFast is pushing its all-electric seven-seater SUV, the VF MPV 7, as family-centric choice for modern practicality.

The EV manufacturer has just launched the EV in the Philippines, one of its key markets, as it continues to push for more accessible electric mobility.

Locally, the VinFast VF MPV 7 is priced starting at PhP 1,239,000 (~ US$ 20,096) if you avail of the flexible battery subscription program.

Alternatively, customers can get it for PhP 1,518,000 (US$ 24,621.27) if they opt for the battery-included model.

The launch comes at the heels of VinFast being the top battery EV brand in the market as of early 2026. The Vietnam-based manufacturer also projects that EV penetration will double by the second quarter of the year.

Among the VF MPV 7’s features are:

19-inch alloy wheels
VinFast signature V-shaped LED daytime running lights
R-cut wrapped steering wheel
10.1-inch display
USB-A and USB-C ports
Automatic climate control
PM2.5 air filter
Rear air vents
Up to 1,240 liters cargo capacity
150 kW power, 280 Nm torque

Owners are promised up to 450 kilometers of range on a full charge. The VF MPV 7 has a 60.13kWh battery which can charge from 10% to 70% in just 30 minutes via 80kW fast charging.

VinFast is also throwing in either a 7-year/160,000-km or 10-year/200,000-km battery warranty for those who avail of the EV. Owners can also charge for free at V-Green stations nationwide through March 2029.

Automotive

The VinFast VF6 is perfect for urban travelers

It can handle a Caloocan-Laguna trip easily.

Published

April 30, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

The photo above shows a VinFast VF6 in Mint Green. Today, if you hear about the VinFast brand, you might be more familiar with a different shade of green: the striking turquoise of Green GSM, a local electric taxi-hailing app that primarily uses vehicles from VinFast. But did you know that VinFast offers more than just taxi cars?

The VinFast VF6 is a midsize crossover electric SUV perfect for urban travelers. One look at the car is enough to tell you that it means business. The car’s front profile looks simple enough but still exudes that premium feeling. The rear is just as sharp as the front with strong horizontal lines that give that feeling of width on the road.

A short drive to Laguna

It’s not just pure looks, either. To test out the VF6, we took the crossover for a spin from VinFast Caloocan to Lakehall in Laguna. The 60km trip felt like a breeze with the 210hp electric engine. Add to that, the trip lasted from morning to late afternoon, giving the best of smooth highways and adverse traffic conditions.

The power felt just enough to soldier through the long drive, regardless of the condition. Handling was smooth. It has just enough give for maximum control when turning through tough Metro Manila traffic. But the acceleration unleashed the beast inside for those long and smooth straights.

Range anxiety is also a thing of the past. Despite being a long drive, the engine consumed only 15 percent of the battery each way. In total, the battery can supposedly last 480 kilometers on a full charge, and the results prove it.

Even if you get caught out with a low battery, the VinFast VF6 can juice up to 70 percent (from 10 percent) in only 25 minutes. With gas prices still wreaking havoc on every fuel powered car owner’s budgets, having a vehicle that can charge up at a cheaper price per kilowatt and at a quicker rate is an absolute must.

Driving in comfort

Inside, the VinFast VF6 offers a spacious cabin for driver and passenger alike. Both trips going to and from were luxurious.

First of all, the air-conditioning system hid an insane amount of power behind the car’s vents. Being under the sun, the car was naturally hot before use. However, after only being on for a few minutes, the air-conditioning cooled this inferno to much more comfortable levels. By the end, my companion and I were freezing.

Both the front and backseats had enough legroom to help drivers and passengers stretch out their legs. I didn’t feel the crippling claustrophobia of staying inside a car for hours.

The car also had a sizable 12.9-inch infotainment system angled towards the driver. Though the angle seemed too obtrusive if you’re a passenger princess, the system itself connected seamlessly to our phones for that entertainment so crucial to long drives.

Keeping safe in dangerous streets

Comfort should go hand in hand with safety. True enough, the VinFast VF6 comes with a vast suite of ADAS conveniences for safer trips. Of course, you’re getting the standard fixings present every car today, including airbags, but the beauty also lies in those tech-infused features.

First up: cruise control. Normally, I don’t use cruise control because I prefer having maximum control over a drive. However, the VF6’s system is easy to use even when on the go.

For lengthy highways drives, it also has lane departure warnings, which can jerk you back to the right lane if you drift too much onto the next lane. Forward collision warnings and automatic emergency braking keeps your car safe from accidentally rear-ending cars in front.

Finally, the VF6 can automatically detect if you’re too drowsy or tired to drive. The system detects both your behavior inside the cabin and how you drive. For example, if you’re starting to drive erratically, the car will sound an alarm to hopefully prod you for a driver change or a short nap. Thankfully, we didn’t need this feature during our trip, but it’s nice to have.

Price, availability

The VinFast VF6 does not cost too much. The Plus version, which comes with 150kW of max power, sells for only PhP 1,699,000. Meanwhile, a competitively priced Eco version, which has 130kW of max power, sells for PhP 1,499,00.

Both models will come in Jet Black, Infinity Blanc, and Crimson Red.