Automotive
JAECOO’s first hybrid SUV earns five-star Euro NCAP rating
The JAECOO J7 SHS is coming to the Philippines soon
The JAECOO J7 SHS, the brand’s first-ever hybrid SUV, just secured a five-star safety rating from the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP). In case you didn’t know, it’s a major global benchmark for vehicle safety.
It’s the second recognition the J7 SHS has received this year, following its verified range test from the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP) back in February.
The Euro NCAP seal isn’t handed out lightly. The J7 SHS underwent rigorous crash simulations and safety tech evaluations, scoring 81% for adult occupant protection and 80% across child safety, pedestrian protection, and driver assistance systems.
It held steady during frontal and side impact tests, and kept both driver and passengers well-protected, regardless of body size or seat position. Its autonomous emergency braking system, lane support tech, and speed limit alerts also got top marks for responsiveness and reliability.
At the core of that performance is JAECOO’s suite of smart safety features. A 360° panoramic camera with under-chassis view, a real-time Driver Monitoring System, and Bosch’s IPB intelligent braking system that reacts in just 0.1 seconds.
Six airbags wrap passengers in a cocoon of protection when it really counts.
Hybrid that goes the extra mile (literally)
The JAECOO J7 SHS is a contender in the hybrid SUV category.
It’s powered by a turbocharged 1.5L DHT engine, a 201-horsepower motor, and an 18.3 kWh fast-charging battery. The J7 SHS can drive in electric, hybrid, and energy-recovery modes.
On a single charge and full tank, it clocked in 1,488.8 kilometers during its AAP test, beating its own published range of 1,200+ km. It even went 106 km in pure electric mode alone.
The J7 SHS made its first public appearance at the 2025 Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) and will be showcased at the OMODA & JAECOO Global Conference in China this April 23.
Expect the first batch to land in the Philippines by the end of May, and will come in two variants (Premium and Comfort) both priced under PhP 1,700,000.
Early reservations are already open at dealerships in Pasig, Sta. Rosa, and Cebu.
Automotive
Ford Philippines kicks off the year with Drive Now, Pay Later
Get offers up to three months of free amortization!
Ford Philippines opens the year with a strong push for drivers ready to start fresh. Introducing Drive Now, Pay Later, the program is designed to make stepping into a new Ford feel lighter and more timely.
At the center of the offer are two of Ford’s most in-demand nameplates. Customers can take home the Ford Everest Trend today with three months of free amortization.
Meanwhile, the Ford Ranger lineup brings even more flexibility. The Ranger Wildtrak 4×2 comes with four months of free amortization, and the Ranger Sport 4×4 is offered with three months free.
These offers allow buyers to drive their new vehicle now and begin bank financing only after several months. This eases the transition into ownership at the start of the year.
More ways to save this January
Beyond deferred payments, Ford Philippines is extending a wide range of January offers that focus on value and flexibility.
The Ford Everest comes with cash savings of up to PhP 95,000 this month, alongside an all-in option priced at PhP 69,000 on select variants for customers seeking simpler entry costs.
Across the Ranger lineup, buyers can enjoy cash discounts reaching up to PhP 155,000 or opt for a PhP 69,000 all-in down payment on select variants.
The Ranger XLS AT remains one of the most accessible ways to enter the lineup, with a starting price of PhP 1,379,000.
Performance-focused customers can also take advantage of extended January offers for the Ford Raptor. Options include cash discounts or bundled savings with the 5-Star Care Package, depending on the variant.
Electrified and premium options
For drivers ready to explore electrified mobility, the Territory Hybrid Trend starts at PhP 1,399,000. This January, customers may choose between a PhP 20,000 discount or a complimentary three-year Scheduled Service Plan.
Ford’s larger SUVs are also part of the month’s offerings. The Ford Explorer is available with a PhP 99,000 all-in option or 0 percent interest with 20% down payment for 60 months. The Ford Bronco carries the same flexible choices, too.
Availability
The Drive Now, Pay Later program runs across all Ford dealerships nationwide until January 31, 2026. Customers can visit Ford Philippines’ official website or social media channels to explore the full details.
Automotive
The price I paid for trusting my car too much
A minor crash forced me to confront how technology and misplaced trust can erode the responsibility every driver still carries.
I never imagined I would be the kind of person who crashes into someone else’s car.
I drive slowly and gently, and practice restraint when another car provokes me on the highway. I’ve made it a habit to pray right before I roll out of the garage. It’s my small ritual asking for protection and patience.
I’ve watched countless videos of drivers making terrible decisions, caught in road rage, accidents, and violations that somehow get tolerated by culture and circumstance. Years of driving and I never thought I would be one of them.
It was a Wednesday morning when I decided to drive south to meet colleagues for a project in Tagaytay. I was already carrying an aching heart, passing through my own version of Cornelia Street along the long stretch of the South Luzon Expressway.
Grief and memory sat beside me in the passenger seat. What was meant to be a coffee run, heavy with nostalgia, became something I wish I could undo.
While reversing out of my parking spot, my right leg twitched. In a flash, my rear bumper hit someone else’s car.
I know that sound. Anyone who drives knows it. I froze before my brain even caught up. My stomach dropped and my chest tightened. I sat there, eyes flicking between the screen, the side mirror, and the rearview mirror, trying to understand how this had happened.
What unsettled me most was the silence.
There were no warning beeps. No flashing icons and no alerts telling me to stop. The sensors that had trained me to trust them went quiet all at once. In that moment, there was no one else to blame. It was only me and a mistake I failed to prevent.
I was lucky. The people whose car I hit were around my parents’ age. They were kind and willing to settle things without turning the situation into something heavier than it already was.
Their brunch was interrupted by my carelessness, and that thought stayed with me longer than the dent itself.
The damage was minor. Their front bumper was dented and the radiator cover cracked. My car only carried scratches on the plastic stepper.
Still, my heart pounded harder than the situation seemed to warrant. The inconvenience stretched on for months through insurance and repairs, unfolding at the same time my life was already unraveling from heartbreak and forced transition into a new home.
It took me months to recover emotionally. I stopped driving the way I used to. Driving once gave me relief when my thoughts felt too loud. After that day, it only reminded me of how easily I failed to be present.
My mistake was allowing technology to take over a part of my responsibility.
I had grown comfortable believing that if something was behind me, my car would tell me. If danger was close, the system would sound the alarm.
Somewhere along the way, I let my awareness be filtered through cameras and sensors instead of relying fully on my own body and judgment. That comfort cost me time, money, and peace of mind.
We live in the most advanced era of driving the world has ever known. Cars can see farther than mirrors ever could. Brakes are designed to react faster than human reflexes. Our car’s systems warn us when we drift or speed up, and when something approaches from the side.
These features save lives, and I am deeply grateful for them. Still, assistance is not replacement.
Without realizing it, I behaved less like a driver and more like a supervisor watching a machine do the work. Even though I checked behind me, I failed to be more careful.
I relied on expecting a warning and trusted that the car would intervene before I had to.
When systems fail and sensors miss angles, there’s no safety net waiting for you.
There’s only the person behind the wheel.
I was lucky that day that I hit a car, and not a person. No one was walking behind me and no child crossed at the wrong moment.
The consequences were small enough for the world to forgive, though my conscience hasn’t fully done the same. I know how easily this could have been worse.
I should’ve done the simplest thing a driver can do. I should have turned my head and looked again. No matter how advanced a vehicle becomes, the most important safety system is still human attention.
Because when the warning never comes, you’re responsible for what happens next. And sometimes, it only takes one missed glance to remind you how fragile everything really is.
Automotive
Inside the Next-Gen Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4×4
A closer look at the cabin that makes this truck feel smarter and more comfortable than expected.
They call it a truck, but the moment you step inside, you understand why that word no longer feels enough.
The Next-Gen Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4×4 carries a tough, ready-for-anything energy you’d expect from a pickup. It looks like it was built for mud or long highways that stretch beyond the city.
But inside, it tells a different story. One about comfort and knowing exactly how people live with their cars now.
Inside the Ranger is the kind of cabin that doesn’t ask you to brace yourself. Rather, it invites you to settle in.
Comfort with consideration
The first thing you notice is how easy it is to find your place behind the wheel.
The driver’s seat adjusts in eight ways, which means posture never feels like a compromise. The front passenger seat gets four-way adjustment, which still feels thoughtful rather than basic.
A combination of leather and synthetic leather seats add a softness that immediately changes your mood, the moment you sit down. It’s as if they were designed for long drives that accompany you in heartfelt conversations and unplanned detours.
Temperature never becomes a discussion inside the Wildtrak. With Dual-zone electronic automatic climate control, both sides of the cabin stay exactly how the people inside will want it.
Rear passengers get their own air vents, too, which reinforces the idea that this truck is meant to be shared. Everyone rides comfortably, no matter where they sit.
Even the small conveniences matter here. For instance, I love how the smart keyless entry and push-button start make it easy to start the car. The auto-dimming rearview mirror also takes care of harsh headlights, especially at night.
This cabin understands technology
Taking center stage is the 12-inch portrait touchscreen running SYNC 4A. The Wildtrak’s display feels intuitive and easy to trust, especially with how quickly it responds to inputs.
Voice commands work naturally, allowing your eyes to stay on the road where they belong. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connect almost instantly, and once you experience that kind of seamless pairing, cables start to feel unnecessary.
In real-world use, I did notice that my Android devices occasionally disconnected, which eventually pushed me to plug them in for longer drives. Google Maps is non-negotiable for me, especially when I am navigating unfamiliar routes.
On the other hand, my iPhones connected more consistently and only tended to lose signal in congestion-heavy areas, like certain stretches of the South Luzon Expressway.
Still, the Wildtrak makes it easy to stay powered and connected. There is a wireless charging pad ready for your phone, along with multiple USB ports placed exactly where you expect them to be.
The six-speaker sound system is controlled directly from the steering wheel, which means music is always within reach. It also means I can comfortably get through Taylor Swift’s “The Tortured Poets Department” whenever traffic slows everything down.
Everything feels accessible without ever feeling crowded. That includes the 8-inch digital instrument cluster, which presents all the information you need in a clean and reassuring way, without overwhelming the driver.
Driving with confidence
Out on the road, the Wildtrak feels like it is constantly looking out for you. Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go takes the edge off heavy traffic, especially during bumper-to-bumper moments when the drive feels longer than it should.
Once you hit the freeway, the Wildtrak feels composed and confident, like a Beast let loose. Features like Lane Centering and Evasive Steer Assist help keep everything steady and controlled, particularly on long southbound drives where fatigue can creep in.
In the city, Autonomous Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection becomes one of those features you hope you never need, yet deeply appreciate once you understand how quickly it reacts. It responds faster than instinct, which matters when every second counts.
Add Hill Descent Control, Hill Launch Assist, and the Electronic Locking Rear Differential, and the Wildtrak feels prepared for situations you cannot always predict. Even the rear parking sensors earn their keep, especially when backing into tight spaces where visibility is limited.
Despite its imposing size, parking never feels intimidating. The 360-degree camera quickly becomes a trusted companion, making tight spots manageable and reducing the stress that often comes with driving a large vehicle.
It’s especially reassuring for drivers who love big trucks but are still getting used to their presence on city streets.
More than a truck
The Next-Gen Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4×4 feels like it understands modern life.
It balances being tough with power and comfort. It feels ready for anything, whether it’s a weekday traffic or a weekend escape.
If you’re looking for a truck that feels like it already knows what you need, this one makes a strong case without ever raising its voice.
This is what it feels like inside the Next-Gen Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4×4.
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