Recently, Chinese manufacturers have become a popular choice for buyers looking to make the switch to electrified mobility. Whether it’s plug-in hybrid or fully electric vehicles, Chinese brands have consistently led the charge by offering more range, more performance, and more technology at increasingly competitive prices. As a result, many buyers shopping for an electrified vehicle have found themselves considering brands they may not have looked at just a few years ago.
But while Chinese automakers continue to dominate the new energy vehicle conversation, this year’s Philippine International Motor Show showed that legacy brands are not backing down. Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Subaru, and Suzuki all arrived with electrified offerings that give buyers alternatives if they want electrification without moving away from Japanese brands.
Toyota Hilux BEV
One of the most anticipated reveals was the Toyota Hilux BEV. Unlike many EVs that adopt dedicated electric platforms, the Hilux BEV retains the same chassis and body as the diesel Hilux. It uses a dual-motor setup producing just under 200 horsepower. The 59.2-kWh battery is similar in size to those found in many compact electric crossovers. But the Hilux is a heavy body-on-frame pick up with dual electric motors so the range is only 315km (NEDC). Under the more stringent WLTP standard, range drops to approximately 257 kilometers..
On paper, that’s the biggest limitation. In a market where Chinese electric pickups and SUVs are pushing significantly higher range and power figures, the Hilux BEV feels quite underwhelming.
At around P2.99 million, it also enters a segment where competitors offer more capability, more features, and more efficiency.
Still, the Hilux name carries weight. For buyers who prioritize familiarity over specs and those who mostly plan to drive within the city, it might still be a good option.
Toyota Land Cruiser HEV
At the other end of Toyota’s electrified lineup is something far more powerful and far more expensive: the Land Cruiser HEV. Priced at around P6.93 million, this is Toyota’s flagship electrified SUV and shows a very different approach compared to the Hilux BEV. It combines a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 engine with a single electric motor. The hybrid system produces a combined output of 457 PS and 790 Nm of torque.
The electric motor alone contributes 49 hp and 250 Nm of torque, helping deliver instant low-end response but the power mostly comes from the V6.
Nissan Navara Pro PHEV
The Navara Pro PHEV is the most impressive electrified vehicle from a Japanese brand at PIMS 2026, at least on paper. It is larger than the Hilux and is based on the Dongfeng Z9 platform. It combines a 1.5-liter engine with an electric motor to produce over 400 horsepower and more than 800 Nm of torque. That immediately makes it one of the most powerful electrified pickups in the segment. No official figure on the battery capacity was provided but overseas models will get a 32.85kWh battery which is good for 135km of EV range (CLTC) and a total of over 1000km of combined range
Pricing is still unconfirmed, but based on specifications alone, it positions itself as a serious performance-oriented option in the electrified pickup space.
Nissan Primera EV
Nissan also revived the Primera nameplate, this time as a midsize electric sedan based on the Dongfeng N7.
It uses a single electric motor producing 218 horsepower and 305 Nm of torque, paired with a 60 kWh battery. Claimed range is around 500 kilometers.
It focuses less on performance and more on practicality, offering a conventional sedan form factor with usable EV range for everyday driving.
Nissan Kicks e-Power
The new Kicks e-Power continues Nissan’s unique hybrid approach.
It retains a 1.2-liter engine that acts purely as a generator, while the wheels are driven by an electric motor producing 136 horsepower and 280 Nm of torque.
It’s not a plug-in, and it’s not a full EV, but it remains one of the easiest ways for buyers to experience electric-style driving without changing refueling habits or dealing with charging infrastructure.
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
The Outlander PHEV is currently the only plug-in hybrid SUV from a Japanese manufacturer at the show that was developed in-house by the brand itself. It comes with a 22.7 kWh battery, allowing up to 86 km of WLTP electric range. Power comes from a 2.4-liter engine producing 136 hp and 195 Nm of torque, paired with two electric motors: 116 PS and 255 Nm at the front, and 136 PS and 195 Nm at the rear. Combined output is rated at 306 horsepower.
Total range is claimed at 844 km thanks to its hybrid system and 53-liter fuel tank.
It measures 4,720 mm long, 1,862 mm wide, and 1,751 mm tall, and is offered locally as a five-seater. Pricing for the Outlander PHEV has not been announced yet.
Subaru Crosstrek HEV
The Crosstrek HEV uses a 2.0-liter boxer engine producing 156 horsepower and 199 Nm of torque, paired with an electric motor adding around 17 horsepower and 65 Nm of torque. It focuses on efficiency, safety, and Subaru’s core strengths rather than outright performance.
With EyeSight driver assistance included and a price of around P1.99 million, it targets buyers who want electrification without moving away from Subaru’s traditional identity.
Suzuki e-Vitara
The Suzuki e-Vitara is the brand’s first EV in the Philippines. It’s a compact 5-seater crossover with a battery capacity of 61kWh and a range of approximately 475km. Power comes from an electric motor producing around 172 horsepower and 193 Nm of torque. At around 4,275 mm in length, it remains compact enough for city driving while still offering SUV practicality. Price is P2.02m
Chinese brands still clearly lead in electrification when it comes to raw numbers. More range, more power, and more aggressive pricing. But PIMS 2026 made one thing clear: Japanese brands are responding, just in different ways. For buyers who want electrification but are not ready to move away from Japanese brands, the options are no longer limited. And compared to just a year ago, that alone is a significant shift in the market.
