The Philippines declared August as “Buwan ng Wika,” a month-long celebration of the Filipino language. Of course, it’s only fitting that Volkswagen, a brand revitalized with a more affordable roster of vehicles, brought its Santana, Lavida, and Tiguan on their first-ever road trip through Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, and Bulacan.
Planned to highlight the capabilities and comfort of these three new Volkswagen vehicles, the group stopped at restaurants famous for Filipino cuisine: Bale Dutung in Angeles, Pampanga; Hapag Vicentico’s in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija; and, Bahay na Tisa in Malolos, Bulacan.
The trio of vehicles also visited sites with notable cultural and historical significance such as the Barasoain Church and the Museo ng Republika ng 1899 in Malolos, Bulacan. There were also stops at two Nueva Ecija landmarks — the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in the Science City of Muñoz, and at the Pantabangan Lake.
Day One was on relatively flat lands from Volkswagen Quezon Avenue in Quezon City to Pampanga, then to the newly opened Highland Bali Villas Resort and Spa in Nueva Ecija. Running almost exclusively on the NLEX and SCTEX, the Santana, Lavida, and Tiguan all showcased commendable power and fuel efficiency: the Santana’s 1.4-liter MPI four-cylinder gasoline engine, and the 230 TSI engine with BlueMotion Technology of the Lavida and 280 TSI engine with BlueMotion Technology of the Tiguan. The Santana also provided the directness of a five-speed manual, while the seamless seven- and six-speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) transmission of the Lavida and Tiguan respectively, offered ease of use.
Everyone also felt the comfort amenities such as the Lavida’s Climatronic air conditioning and leather seats, and the Tiguan’s “Vienna” leather seats, dual-zone Climatronic air conditioning, and eight-speaker sound system.
The next day was spent touring Nueva Ecija with its rolling hills created by the convergence of three mountain ranges (the Sierra Madre, Caraballo, and Cordillera). It perfectly highlighted the power, stability, and handling of the three Volkswagen models.
The twisty, winding roads made the drivers feel the commendable power and stability of the Santana’s 90-horsepower engine and true-European designed suspension. Meanwhile, the Lavida’s 225 Nm of torque (available from as low as 1,400 rpm) came to good use. Finally, the Tiguan’s 150-horsepower output and 250 Nm of torque worked hand-in-hand with the various driver aids to provide excellent ride stability and surefootedness.
The last day saw the group drive from Nueva Ecija to Bulacan province, then back to Volkswagen Quezon Avenue. The route, a combination of provincial, city, and expressway drives, showcased the flexibility of these vehicles. The fuel efficiency, in particular, is stellar given today’s steadily increasing fuel prices.
After more than 400 kilometers across three provinces of Central Luzon, everyone certainly had a clearer understanding of what these three new models of Volkswagen vehicles had to offer. In addition, everyone had a deeper appreciation of Central Luzon’s key role in the culture, heritage, history, and identity of the Filipino.