Top 6 Cars to Buy for Expats in Pattaya

Expats living in Thailand have a wide range of cars to choose from, most of which are made in Thailand. The purchase of imported cars is an expensive business, so made leading manufacturers such as Honda, Toyota, Mazda and Ford have open plants here in Thailand. Although the choice of car is largely down to personal preference, there are a few cars that always seem to at least cross people minds. Here are just 6 of the cars commonly chosen by expats.

Mazda 3

Mazda has witnessed a massive increase in sales in the last few years with the Mazda 2 and the Mazda 3 proving to be extremely popular. The Mazda 3 is a compact car that is available as either a hatchback or saloon. The car was originally released by the Japanese manufacturer in 2009 and was Mazda’s fastest selling vehicle in 2014. They are available with a 1.6 litre or 2 litre engine here in Thailand.

Honda HRV

Honda has produced a number of cars that have proved to be very popular here in Thailand. Reliability has always been key to the Japanese giant’s success and indeed the HRV is no different. The HRV is classed as a sub-compact SUV but is a more capable family sized car and has been since being first launched back in 2006. There are three versions available in Thailand, all with a 1.8 litre engine – the S, the E, and the E Limited.

Mitsubishi Pajero

The Mitsubishi Pajero is one the most popular of the larger 4×4  vehicles and is a vehicle that many expats opt for when they move to Thailand. The vehicle settles into the mid-size SUV range and is ideal for larger families or those who require a little more space in the back. The engine sizes range from 2.8 litre to 3.8 litre and we are now on to the 4th generation of the vehicle from the Japanese manufacturer.

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Ford Focus

The Ford Focus started being manufactured in Thailand just over 5 years ago and as such provided suitable competition for Honda, Mazda and Toyota. The car is popular thanks to its stylish design and the fact that it is a well-known vehicle but it is still more expensive than its competitors. There have been issues regarding Ford’s customer service in the past but these problems now seem to have been addressed.

Toyota Yaris

The Toyota Yaris is probably the most popular of the small cars in Thailand. This is a great car for inner city driving and has a stylish appearance. This is not really a family car but suitable for couples and is very economical on fuel.

Nissan Teana

This is a mid-size car that was originally launched in 2003 and we are now on the 3rd generation. The Nissan has grown in popularity in recent years and is a fuel-efficient car with low emissions. Two engines sizes are available in Thailand, the 2.0 litre and the 2.5 litre with different versions available for both engine sizes. The Nissan Teana is favourable in terms of price when compared to many other vehicles in the same class.

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