Thailand new car buyers guide 2010

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Thailand new car buyers guide 
Bangkok Post: 17 Jan 2010
Car buyers' guide part 1

Bangkok Post/Wiwat Chang * Published: 17/01/2010

A quick glance at all the mass-market passenger vehicles officially sold in Thailand. This week begins with the smallest classes - the A- and B-segment cars.

CHERY QQ

Price range: 389,400-469,000 baht.

Easy specs: Five-door hatchback. E20-compatible. 68hp, 1.1 litre. Manual only. Made in China.

Pros: Being the narrowest passenger car here makes it potentially easy to park.

Cons: Not that cheap due to import duty, no track record here and iffy build quality.

KIA PICANTO

Price range: 399,000-469,000 baht.

Easy specs: Five-door hatchback. 65hp, 1.1 litre. Manual or automatic. Recently face-lifted. Made in Malaysia.

Pros: The shortest passenger car in Thailand should make parking easy.

Cons: Not that cheap for the amount of metal you get.

NAZA FORZA

Price range: 349,000-379,000 baht.

Easy specs: Five-door hatchback. 65hp, 1.1 litre. Manual only. Made in Malaysia.

Pros: The cheapest passenger car here is not the smallest.

Cons: No automatic transmission. Iffy build quality.

PROTON SAVVY

Price range: 399,000-469,000 baht.

Easy specs: Five-door hatchback. 74hp, 1.2 litre. Fully manual or Sensomatic gearbox. Made in Malaysia.

Pros: The biggest car in this class and, on paper, most fuel economical.

Cons: Iffy fit and finish.

Or if you can wait, these cars are due to debut this year ... Brand new Nissan March and Hyundai i10.

CHEVROLET AVEO

Price range: 500,000-709,000 baht.

Easy specs: Four-door saloon. E20-compatible 94hp 1.4 litre or 107hp 1.6 litre. Manual or automatic. Made in Thailand.

Pros: Good handling. Warranty extendable to five years. More service centres than you think.

Cons: Not one of the most fuel efficient cars in its class and so-so resale value.

HONDA CITY

Price range: 524,000-694,000 baht.

Easy specs: Four-door saloon. E20-compatible. 120hp, 1.5 litre. Manual or automatic. Shares mechanicals with the Honda Jazz. Made in Thailand.

Pros: Good to drive and ride in. Folding rear seats. Huge boot and excellent resale value.

Cons: Range-topper has no CD player.

HONDA JAZZ

Price range: 560,000-705,000 baht.

Easy specs: Five-door hatchback. E20-compatible 120hp, 1.5 litre. Manual or automatic. Shares mechanicals with the Honda City. Made in Thailand.

Pros: Good to drive. Versatile interior space. Great resale value.

Cons: Dual front airbags available only in the two top trim levels.

MAZDA 2

Price range: 585,000-690,000 baht.

Easy specs: Five-door hatchback. 103hp E20-compatible 1.5 litre. Manual or automatic. Made in Thailand.

Pros: Fun to drive around town and on the highways. Looks cool.

Cons: Rear seats don't fold flat. Interior a bit dull.

NISSAN TIIDA

Price range: 688,000-798,000 baht.

Easy specs: Five-door hatchback, 109hp E20-compatible 1.6 litre or 126hp 1.8 litre. Automatic only. Recently face-lifted. Made in Thailand.

Pros: Great rear legroom. Relatively quiet cabin. Reclining rear seats. Well-built.

Cons: Vague steering feel. Average fuel economy. Rear seats don't fold flat.

NISSAN TIIDA LATIO

Price range: 564,000-737,000 baht.

Easy specs: Four-door saloon. E20-compatible. 109hp, 1.6 litre. Manual or automatic. Recently face-lifted. Made in Thailand.

Pros: Great rear legroom. Relatively quiet cabin. Well-built.

Cons: Vague steering feel. Average fuel economy and equipment level.

PEUGEOT 206

Price range: 795,000 baht.

Easy specs: Five-door hatchback. 75hp, 1.4 litre. Automatic only. Made in Malaysia.

Pros: Agile urban vehicle without an Asian badge.

Cons: Obsolete model in most parts of the world. Price.

PROTON GEN2

Price range: 549,000-629,000 baht.

Easy specs: Five-door hatchback. E20-compatible 110hp and 125hp 1.6 litre. Manual or automatic.

Pros: Good looking, good handling hatchback.

Cons: Thirsty, unrefined engine. Not very spacious.

PROTON NEO

Price range: 499,000-698,000 baht.

Easy specs: Three-door hatchback. E20- compatible 110hp or 125hp 1.6 litre. Manual or automatic. Shares components with the Persona and Gen-2. Made in Malaysia.

Pros: Handles well. The cheapest three-door hatchback you can buy.

Cons: Does not go as fast as it looks. The 125hp version is not much better and tight on space.

PROTON PERSONA

Price range: 499,000-629,000 baht.

Easy specs: Four-door saloon version of the Gen-2. E20-compatible. 1.6 litre. Manual or automatic. Retrofitted CNG conversion also available. Made in Malaysia.

Pros: Good looking, good handling saloon.

Cons: Thirsty, unrefined engine. CNG version handles poorly.

SUZUKI SWIFT

Price range: 599,000-649,000 baht.

Easy specs: Five-door hatchback. 100hp, 1.5 litre. Automatic only. Made in Indonesia.

Pros: Fun to drive and agile around town. Good value.

Cons: Looks understated. Rear seats don't fold flat.

TOYOTA VIOS

Price range: 504,000-709,000 baht.

Easy specs: Four-door saloon. E20-compatible. 109hp, 1.5 litre. Manual or automatic. Made in Thailand.

Pros: Easy to drive. Comfy ride. Excellent resale value.

Cons: Bland to drive. Notchy automatic transmission. Average rear seat space. Due for face-lift.

TOYOTA YARIS

Price range: 539,000-714,000 baht.

Easy specs: Five-door hatchback. E20-compatible. 109hp, 1.5 litre. Manual or automatic. Recently face-lifted and shares components with the Vios saloon. Made in Thailand.

Pros: Fun to drive and agile in the city. Rear seats fold flat. Good resale value.

Cons: Notchy automatic transmission. Not so reassuring at highway speeds. Small boot.


Or if you can wait, these cars are due to debut within a couple of months ... Mazda 2 saloon, Ford Fiesta in both four-door saloon and five-door hatchback.

www.bangkokpost.com/auto/autoscoop/31164/car-buyers-guide-part-1

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New SUV buyers guide to Thailand 
Bangkok Post: 31 Jan 2010
Car buyers' guide part 3
Bangkok Post * Wiwat Chang

http://www.bangkokpost.com/auto/autoscoop/32053/car-buyers-guide-part-3

This time we look at non-commercial people-movers and non-pick-up based 'soft roaders' (road-biased SUV).

CHERY CROSS

Price range: 915,000 baht.

Easy specs: Seven-seat mid-size MPV. 138hp 2.0 litre petrol engine. Automatic only. Made in China.

Pros: Value for money.

Cons: Not so spacious. More estate than MPV. No track record here.

HONDA FREED

Price range: 894,500-1,074,500 baht.

Easy specs: Seven-seat mini-MPV. E20-compatible. 118hp 1.5 litre petrol engine. Automatic only. Based on the Honda Jazz. Electric sliding doors. Made in Indonesia.

Pros: Drives more like a car. Headroom. Practicality.

Cons: Second and third row seats do not fold flat to the floor. No rear air-con. Price.

MITSUBISHI SPACEWAGON

Price range: 1,585,000-1,690,000 baht.

Easy specs: Seven-seat mid-size MPV. E20-compatible 2.4 litre petrol engine. Automatic only. Top trim has satnav. Made in Thailand.

Pros: Capacious. Versatile. Practical.

Cons: Not the best fuel economy. Perceived build quality.

PROTON EXORA

Price range: 719,000-819,000 baht.

Easy specs: Seven-seat mini-MPV. E20-compatible. 125hp 1.6 litre petrol engine. Manual or automatic. Made in Malaysia.

Pros: Car-like drive. Versatility. Second and third row seats fold flat to the floor. Value for money.

Cons: Perceived build quality. Resale value.

SUZUKI APV

Price range: 649,000-759,000 baht.

Easy specs: Seven/eight-seat mini-MPV. 92hp 1.6 litre petrol engine. Manual or automatic. Commercial vehicle-based with coil sprung rear suspension. Made in Indonesia.

Pros: Most compact seven/eight-seat MPV in Thailand. Rear air-con.

Cons: Truck-like drive and ride. Lack of legroom.

TOYOTA AVANZA

Price range: 570,000-695,000 baht.

Easy specs: Seven-seat mini-MPV. 109hp 1.5 litre petrol engine. Manual or automatic. Commercial vehicle-based with coil sprung rear suspension. Made in Indonesia.

Pros: Versatile. Compact. Rear air-con.

Cons: Drive and ride like a truck. Knee and leg room.

TOYOTA INNOVA

Price range: 829,000-1,064,000 baht.

Easy specs: Seven-seat mid-size MPV. 136hp 2.0 litre petrol engine. Manual or automatic. Commercial vehicle-based with coil sprung rear suspension. Made in Indonesia.

Pros: Spacious. Versatile. Rear air-con. Value for money.

Cons: Drives and rides more like a pick-up.

TOYOTA WISH

Price range: 1,117,000-1,267,000 baht.

Easy specs: Six/seven-seat mini-MPV. 150hp 2.0 litre petrol engine. Manual or automatic. Based on previous generation Toyota Corolla. Made in Thailand.

Pros: Easy to drive. Comfortable. Spec. Practicality. Resale value.

Cons: Already obsolete in other markets.

CHERY TIGGO

Price range: 825,000 baht.

Easy specs: Five-seat compact SUV. 138hp 2.0 litre petrol engine. Automatic only. Front-wheel-drive. Made in China.

Pros: Value for money.

Cons: No track record.

CHEVROLET CAPTIVA

Price range: 1,197,000-1,638,000 baht.

Easy specs: Seven-seat compact SUV. 136hp 2.4 litre petrol or 150hp 2.0 litre turbo-diesel engine. Automatic only with 2WD or 4WD. Made in Thailand.

Pros: Well-equipped. Good to drive. Rear air-con. Diesel is the better choice.

Cons: Average performance. Second row passenger space. Resale value.

FORD ESCAPE

Price range: 1,099,000-1,279,000 baht.

Easy specs: Five-seat compact SUV. E20-compatible. 145hp 2.3 litre petrol engine. Automatic gearbox only with front and four-wheel-drive versions. Made in the Philippines.

Pros: Safety kit on the 4WD version. Value for money.

Cons: Obsolete in the US. Road noise. No rear air-con. Low resale value.

HONDA CR-V

Price range: 1,110,000-1,513,000 baht.

Easy specs: Five-seat compact SUV, E20-compatible 150hp 2.0 litre and 170hp 2.4 litre petrol engine. Automatic only. 2WD or 4WD. Recent face-lift. Made in Thailand.

Pros: Car-like drive. Comfortable ride. Great resale value.

Cons: Four-wheel-drive version not so economical. No rear air-con.

NISSAN X-TRAIL

Price range: 1,069,000 baht.

Easy specs: Five-seat compact SUV. E10-compatible 136hp 2.0 litre petrol engine. CVT automatic gearbox. 2WD only. Made in Indonesia.

Pros: Driving and ride. Second and third rows fold flat. Practicality. Value for money.

Cons: Spec. Perceived build quality. Rather slow.

SUZUKI GRAND VITARA

Price range: 1,050,000 baht.

Easy specs: Five-seat compact SUV. 140hp 2.0 litre petrol engine. Automatic only. 2WD only. Made in Indonesia.

Pros: Driving agility. Value for money.

Cons: Not so spacious. Small boot. No rear air-con.