Toyota RAV4 named Top Gear Philippines car of the year for 2026

Insider Spotlight

• Toyota RAV4 clinched the top honor during the recent Top Gear Philippines Car of the Year Awards.
• Kia, Honda and Jetour emerged as winners in electric and hybrid vehicle categories.
• VinFast won Breakout Brand of the Year as newer automotive players gain ground.

The Toyota RAV4 has been named Car of the Year at the 2026 Top Gear Philippines Car and Bike of the Year Awards, leading a field of winners that reflected growing competition between established automotive brands and emerging electric vehicle manufacturers.

The Toyota sport utility vehicle secured the top distinction during the Nov. 5, 2026 ceremony in Makati City, which drew more than 200 representatives from automotive companies operating in the Philippines.

Organizers cited the RAV4's combination of design, powertrain, features, value and established market reputation in selecting the overall winner.

Electrification takes center stage

Electrified vehicles figured prominently among the 15 awards, highlighting the expanding range of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric models available to Philippine motorists.

The Kia EV3 won Electric Vehicle of the Year, while Honda's Prelude secured Hybrid of the Year. The Jetour T1 Lightning was named Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle of the Year, reflecting the growing appeal of electrified SUVs.

Chinese luxury vehicle brand Denza also made its mark, with the Denza D9 winning Luxury Car of the Year for its combination of design, comfort and value.

Emerging brands gain recognition

Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer VinFast received the Breakout Brand of the Year award, reflecting its growing presence in the Philippine automotive market over the past two years.

BYD Cars Philippines won Best in Marketing for its "Drive Electric. Love Pinas" campaign, while Tesla's Grok artificial intelligence technology received the Best New Tech Implementation award.

Toyota bags multiple honors

Toyota also captured the Performance Car of the Year award for its GR Corolla, while the Land Cruiser FJ received the Hypebeast Award.

Other winners included the Ford Ranger Wildtrak-X for 4x4 of the Year and Mitsubishi Destinator for Underrated Car of the Year.

In the motorcycle categories, the CFMoto 150 Aura won Small Bike of the Year, while the BMW F450 GS secured Big Bike of the Year.

Suzuki Philippines received the Love the Planet Award for supporting marine conservation efforts, including the release of more than 8,700 sea turtles.

The awards coincided with Top Gear Philippines' 22nd anniversary, underscoring the publication's continuing role in evaluating vehicles as the country's automotive industry undergoes technological change.

— Edited by Daxim L. Lucas