Whenever long weekends approach, we are excited to go out of town to refresh our senses. Let’s take a look at the good cars to buy for long drives to the provinces.
Options
Toyota Wigo
Fuel efficiency is probably the most prized advantage of this car. Based on experience, an 18 km/L is not bad at all traversing the NLEX. It is still capable of long and highway driving. Just avoid being sideswiped by buses so you can feel stable on your lane.
As a sedan type of a car, this too has a very fuel efficient engine. The AGS automatic variant has a 1.2 L engine and a very large trunk, perfect for your baggage and even large coolers if you want to bring home fresh seafood from the province.
Photo by Suzuki Philippines
Ciaz
It is no longer in the market but you can still find used and second hand units if you want to save.
As a sedan, you can rely on its smooth aerodynamics to give you better mileage on provincial highways. This is a good companion whenever you go to the provinces as it gives you economical fuel consumption. One of my friends told me that it is a hungry monster for city driving especially during heavy traffic conditions due to its bigger engine displacement.
Photo by Toyota Philippines
Are you going to carry a lot of items to the provinces and back? Then a pick like this may be your best bet. The 2.5 VE 4×2 AT version may just be the one you are looking for if your town has bumpy roads or terrains with harsh features. You can fill it up with cargo from fruits to vegetables if you are on a business trip.
Photo by Nissan Philippines
One of its features is the fuel efficient rating of 18 Km/L (based on third party testing) by its 2.5 L turbo engine.
Criterion
How do we choose a car that is suitable for provincial driving? Going to the provinces does not only mean an out of town vacation. It may also be a routine city to home driving or a business and work type of trips.
Highway
We usually traverse wide and long highways going to the province. You will most probably use expressways like SLEX or NLEX so consider the size of the car. It is doable with smaller hatchbacks but as a personal preference, a minimum sedan or subcompact would be a good option.
I’ve experienced driving a hatchback before and was a little bit anxious when big trucks and buses go side by side with me on the highway. You can literally feel the rocking of your car due to air pressure pushed by the bigger vehicles.
Size
If you are going to other major islands like in the Visayas and Mindanao areas or vice versa, think about the Ro-Ro. Consider the size of your car and other physical dimensions.
Correct me if I’m wrong but I believe the rates will depend on the weight of your cargo. The bigger the car is, the more expensive the charges will be for inter-island transfers.
Gas Tank
To save you time with fuel refill, choose a car with a large gas tank. Nobody wants to fill up mid highway as it wastes a lot of time. In most cases, sedans have 35 to 50 liters of tank.