Car buying just got complicated

Depending on how you look at it, 2014 is turning out to be the best time to buy a new car or the worst. On the one hand, there are just so many choices for whichever subcompact, compact, midsize, SUV, or pickup truck that catches your fancy, especially for everything below the P2M mark. On the other hand, too much variety can make for especially tough decisions! If you only have P1M to spend for a car, the chances are good that there are more than three viable candidates to choose from. There’s hardly a turd anywhere you go, and no “default” choice for all but the most diehard brand loyalists. What a luxury! I remember as early as 10 years ago there were so few choices in the compact and subcompact class. Today there’s a virtual alphabet soup of choices.

That said, there are still a few standout choices, most of which just came out recently. Here’s the roundup of the latest from the manufacturers.

Honda Accord – All-new for 2014, the 9th generation Honda Accord is a luxurious midsize sedan with a touch of sportiness for owners who like to take the helm every now and then. Available with a 2.4-liter inline-4 or the proven 3.5-liter V6, “Earth Dreams” technology promotes economical driving with instrumentation that changes color to subtly indicate how much fuel you’re burning, as well as variable throttle response and transmission mapping. High-tech features include a multi-view camera for parking, adaptive headlamps, and an “Emergency Stop Signal” that activates the brake and hazard lamps if you come to a full, hard stop.

Honda City – Bigger and roomier than ever, the City now comes only with a 1.5-liter engine. The little Honda gleams like a jewel with its chiseled flanks, but style is just one of its aces. The City features exceptional head- and legroom for the class, as well as touch screen panels for the stereo and climate control.

Hyundai Elantra – A midlife update gives it a revised front and rear look with flashier, oversized lights, the dashboard has a slightly modified layout for better A/C vent placement, and it gets adjustable power steering. The 1.6-liter model has more variants and trim levels now with a corresponding price increase. It is still a great looking car with very good, all-around performance and comfort.

Ford Ecosport – More than just a jacked-up Fiesta,  the Ecosport is a micro-SUV for urban dwellers with impressive, curb-jumping ground clearance, fold-and-tumble rear seats, and a peppy 1.6-liter engine mated to a dual-clutch transmission.

Mazda3 – Available with a 1.5- and 2-liter SkyActiv engine and automatics across the board, the Mazda3 features sporty handling to go with its looks. The cockpit is an understated design exercise but with a standout feature like a Head Up display and oversized tachometer with a digital speedometer. The form-fitting bucket seats also betray the car’s purpose: this is the compact for driving enthusiasts.

Nissan Sylphy – A Sentra by any other name, the Sylphy features handsome styling inside and out that should appeal to buyers looking for a comfortable, if not exactly engaging, sedan. Available with 1.6 and 1.8-liter engines, these are paired with a Continuously Variable Transmission for impressive fuel efficiency (14km/l in city/highway by my test). The 18 cubic foot trunk is huge for the class. The 1.8-liter variant gets luxury features like leather upholstery, pushbutton engine start, dual-zone auto climate control, and a DVD stereo, all for under P1M.

Nissan Altima – Ideal for chauffeured owners, the midsize Altima is clearly designed for the comfort-oriented market and as such features an expansive cabin. It’s available in 4- and 6-cylinder variants and comes with niceties like Intelligent Key with pushbutton ignition, premium audio, and front, side, and curtain airbags, among others.

Subaru Impreza WRX STI – The latest iteration of Subaru’s little rocket looks just about ready for liftoff with its gaping air intakes, rear wing, and muscular fenders. The 300HP engine is still paired to a reliable 6-speed stick. The STI’s stoppers are Brembos, and it still gets the active differential. The cabin is a huge improvement from before with better plastics and eye-catching instrumentation.

Toyota Altis – All-new for 2014, the Altis has never looked so sporty and benefits from gains in passenger room. The engines are carryover, but the all-new 7-speed CVT is perfect for the car as it is smooth and helps improve fuel efficiency. A wide range of variants lets the buyer choose from decently kitted out “basic” trim to a more premium level with all the bells and whistles, including rear sunshade, reverse sonar, and Smart Key system with pushbutton engine ignition.

Toyota Yaris – The 5-door sibling of the Vios gets pretty much the same kit as the 4-door, but adds more versatility thanks to its hatchback configuration.

Toyota Wigo – The most affordable Toyota to date, the 3-cylinder Wigo is a collaboration with micro-car specialist Daihatsu, but offers a pleasantly likable package with good cabin space, decent fit and finish, and some of the comforts you’d expect in a subcompact… but starting at a price that’s less than P500k!