Apples to Oranges: All-New Toyota Altis or Nissan XTrail 2.0 or Honda City 1.5EL?

**cherice** · January 3rd, 2014 10:48 PM

All-New Toyota Altis has a long waiting list and offers no cash discounts. We're also told that to be "prioritized" in the unit allocation, we have to go for in-house financing. Cash or company PO transactions will most likely take much longer to be given a unit. We're looking at the 1.6G AT variant which is pegged at 935K.

Meanwhile, Nissan is offering the 2.0 AT variant pegged at 1.085M with a cash discount of 86K. This will allow us to get a subcompact SUV for only 999K, which is the same price of the new Altis 1.6V variant. The unit is available readily so that means we will be able to get the new car asap! A very tempting offer indeed.

On the periphery is the Honda City 1.5EL, which, being TOTL, has leather seats and very posh looking on the inside. Plenty of nice buttons to play around with. Price is at 871K, no cash discount currently being offered.

I know these 3 belong to different categories, but if you were to assess it individually, how would you rate each? And how would you make your choice?

PS
My last ride was also an Altis matic. The new Altis is thus our default choice but the long waiting time and in-house financing catch are a bit of a disappointment. I prefer the Xtrail, but my husband is doubtful of Nissan's maintenance costs and availability of parts...

**_Cathy_** · January 3rd, 2014 11:05 PM

Originally Posted by cherice

I know these 3 belong to different categories, but if you were to assess it individually, how would you rate each? And how would you make your choice?

I am looking into buying the same unit - 1.6 G A/T. I have been told as well that there will be no discounts. I expected that already since it's a new model. I am bargaining for free LTO but that would mean I would be bumped into the end of the waiting list. I would still go for Toyota, I don't mind the long waiting time. Subok na Toyota e. The Honda City you are considering may be TOTL but it is still a subcompact. I would still go for the bigger car. Re Nissan, in my lifetime, we've never owned one, unless datsun is also nissan (?), so for some reason, I never really considered the brand

**cherice** · January 3rd, 2014 11:27 PM

Thanks both for your prompt replies! Much appreciated!

*cathy_for_you: Did your SA tell you how long you will be waiting for the unit allocation?

*jut703: Is the CVT the same with nissan continuously variable valve timing control? that's the one in the 2.0L AT variant we are looking at...

**_Cathy_** · January 3rd, 2014 11:35 PM

Originally Posted by cherice

Thanks both for your prompt replies! Much appreciated!

*cathy_for_you: Did your SA tell you how long you will be waiting for the unit allocation? ...

Nope. Their launching it on the 2nd week of January ata. I might drop by the casa then.

**brainmafia_310** · January 3rd, 2014 11:56 PM

i suggest wait for a month or two, when the new vios (3rd gen) is coming out, wala daw discount na kayang ibigay sa akin toyota. so i end up buying gen 2.5 with lots of discount (around 150k for 1.3 G M/T).

i was surprised that after 2 or 3 months of launching the 3rd gen vios, eto na umuulan na ng discounts again.

kung hindi ka naman picky, at major facelift alng ang meron sa altis, why not go to the old model and haggle for a bigger and better discount. just my 2 cents.

hth.

**cherice** · January 4th, 2014 12:14 AM

Originally Posted by brainmafia_310

i suggest wait for a month or two, when the new vios (3rd gen) is coming out, wala daw discount na kayang ibigay sa akin toyota. so i end up buying gen 2.5 with lots of discount (around 150k for 1.3 G M/T).

i was surprised that after 2 or 3 months of launching the 3rd gen vios, eto na umuulan na ng discounts again.

kung hindi ka naman picky, at major facelift alng ang meron sa altis, why not go to the old model and haggle for a bigger and better discount. just my 2 cents.

hth.

We were really after the old gen, since it looks more classy than sporty. And lots of discounts! But they ran out of units before we could get one, only the black MT variants were left at the time and we were looking for an AT variant...

**jut703** · January 4th, 2014 03:32 AM

Originally Posted by cherice

*jut703: Is the CVT the same with nissan continuously variable valve timing control? that's the one in the 2.0L AT variant we are looking at...

CVT and CVVT are two totally different things.

CVT is a type of transmission. It stands for Continuously Variable Transmission. It functions like a conventional automatic car, but with a belt instead of gears. Both the new Altis and new X-Trail have CVTs. The outgoing Altis and previous-gen X-Trail have conventional 4-speed ATs.

CVVT is an engine valve management technology. CVVT is to Nissan as VVTi is to Toyota.

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**vinj** · January 4th, 2014 01:57 PM

Wait a few months after the New Altis is launched. By then supply allocation and discounts will be better. No sense in rushing if you can wait.

The Xtrail is a fine car too as you get a bigger and higher vehicle but do note that it's already old and were not sure what the plans of the new Nissan will be for that model.

**cherice** · January 4th, 2014 06:07 PM

Originally Posted by vinj

Wait a few months after the New Altis is launched. By then supply allocation and discounts will be better. No sense in rushing if you can wait.

The Xtrail is a fine car too as you get a bigger and higher vehicle but do note that it's already old and were not sure what the plans of the new Nissan will be for that model.

Yes, we can wait a bit longer for the Altis, if ever. It's just that we're also running on a clock with the XTrail promo (it was actually for Dec lang daw, and I'm just asking the SA to extend the deal a bit more since we're still deciding). So part of me wants to wait for the new Altis and part of me wants to grab the good deal for the XTrail.

And yes, that's actually the reason why I wanted the XTrail, the taller height feels like it's more able to combat Metro Manila's flood-prone terrain. Though we live in an area that's high and that thankfully just whisked thru Ondoy and Habagat like any other typhoon, you'll never know someday

But my husband shares your sentiments that the XTrail might have parts availability issues 3-5 years down the line since it's an old car, and we intend to keep it for 5-7 years if ever.

**cherice** · January 4th, 2014 05:36 PM

Originally Posted by jut703

CVT and CVVT are two totally different things.

CVT is a type of transmission. It stands for Continuously Variable Transmission. It functions like a conventional automatic car, but with a belt instead of gears. Both the new Altis and new X-Trail have CVTs. The outgoing Altis and previous-gen X-Trail have conventional 4-speed ATs.

CVVT is an engine valve management technology. CVVT is to Nissan as VVTi is to Toyota.

Posted via Tsikot Mobile App

Wow! Such brevity! I've been trying to look up these terms in the past hoping I would understand them but I get lost in the sea of jargons

But your explanation is very simple and understandable, thank you!

So...my old Altis (10th gen) and the 2.0L Xtrail have the same 4-speed ATs? Does that mean that performance-wise, they're the same? Honestly, I just used the R, D, and N in my old Altis...and I was quite fine with it

And I would want a belt (CVT) instead of gears because? What are the advantages of a CVT over 4-speed?