The Cars.co.za Consumer Awards (abbreviated to CarsAwards – or #CarsAwards in social media posts), which recognises the best purchasing propositions in 13 categories of the South African new-vehicle market, is now in its seventh year.

The 13 eventual category winners will be selected from the list of 65 vehicles, which includes model derivatives from no fewer than 25 brands represented in the South African market. All vehicles available on the South African market on September 1, 2023, were eligible, not only new products that were launched during the past 12 months. Some models that had not been launched by that date were considered, provided that they had already been priced, could be ordered by consumers and Cars.co.za extended editorial team had sufficient experience with the vehicles.

The first phase of CarsAwards saw the extended Cars.co.za editorial team select the five best vehicles in each of the 13 categories devised for this year’s programme. Careful attention was paid to the respective categories' "Filters of Eligibility" and the "Pillars of Success" in order to come to a consensus on the list of semi-finalists.

“Another unique aspect of the CarsAwards is that the categories are re-evaluated every year,” says Cars.co.za’s Hannes Oosthuizen. “With so much activity in the lower-priced crossover segments, we decided to sacrifice some of the higher-priced categories in favour of those segments where consumers are actually currently buying.”

“But CarsAwards must also educate and, as such, we’ve introduced an EV category focused on the most affordable electric vehicles in the market,” he adds.

Even though as many as 25 brands’ vehicles feature in the list of 65, 9 brands have at least 3 semi-finalists in the running for category honours. The brands with the most nominations are: Toyota (8), BMW (6) and Suzuki (5). Chery, Omoda (A Chery sub-brand) and Ora (GWM’s new EV brand) appear on the list for the first time.

Full list of 2023/24 CarsAwards semi-finalists

Entry-Level Hatch (Priced below R250 000)

Citroen C3 1.2 Feel
Renault Kiger 1.0 Zen
Suzuki Celerio 1.0 GL
Suzuki Swift 1.2 GLX
Toyota Vitz 1.0 XR

Budget Hatch (R250 000 to R350 000)

Hyundai Grand i10 1.2 Fluid
Renault Clio 1.0 Turbo Zen
Suzuki Baleno 1.5 GLX
Toyota Starlet 1.5 XR
Volkswagen Polo Vivo 1.6 Highline

Compact Hatch (R350 000 to R500 000)

Audi A1 Sportback 30TFSI S Line
Honda Fit 1.5 Elegance
Opel Corsa 1.2T Elegance
Peugeot 208 1.2T
Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI 85kW R-Line

Entry-Level Crossover (R300 000 to R400 000)

Chery Tiggo 4 Pro 1.5 Elite Auto
Haval Jolion 1.5T Premium
Suzuki Fronx 1.5 GLX Auto
Suzuki Grand Vitara 1.5 GLX manual
Toyota Urban Cruiser 1.5 XR automatic

Compact Family Car (R400 000 to R500 000)

Haval Jolion S Super Luxury
Omoda C5 1.5T 230T Lux S
Peugeot 2008 1.2T Allure
Renault Duster 1.5dCi Intens
Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8 XR

Family Car (R600 000 to R800 000)

Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max 2.0TGDi 390 Executive
Haval H6 1.5T HEV Ultra Luxury
Hyundai Tucson 2.0D Elite
Kia Sportage 1.6CRDi EX
Mitsubishi Outlander 2.5 Aspire

Premium Crossover (R700 000 to R1 million)

Audi Q3 Sportback 40TFSI quattro S Line
BMW X1 sDrive18d M Sport
Lexus UX 250h SE
Mercedes-Benz GLA200d AMG Line
Volvo XC40 B4 Ultimate Dark

Executive SUV (R1 million to R1.3 million)

BMW X3 xDrive20d M Sport
Hyundai Palisade Elite 7 Seater
Lexus NX 350h F Sport
Mercedes-Benz GLC220d 4Matic Avantgarde
Volvo XC60 B5 Ultimate Dark

Premium SUV (R1.3m to R1.8 million)

BMW iX xDrive40
BMW X5 xDrive30d M Sport
Jeep Grand Cherokee L 3.6 4x4 Overland
Land Rover Defender 110 D250 SE County
Mercedes-Benz GLE300d AMG Line

Adventure SUV (R800 000 to R1.2 million)

Ford Everest 3.0 V6 Wildtrak
Isuzu MU-X 3.0TD Onyx 4x4
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 3.6 Rubicon
Mitsubishi Pajero Sport 2.4DiD 4x4 Exceed
Toyota Fortuner 2.8GD-6 4x4 VX

Performance Car (Below R1 million)


Honda Civic Type R
Subaru WRX manual
Toyota GR Corolla Circuit
Toyota GR Yaris Rally
Volkswagen Golf R

Leisure Double Cab (Above R800 000)

Ford Ranger 3.0 V6 EcoBoost Raptor 4WD
Ford Ranger 3.0 V6 Wildtrak 4WD
Isuzu D-Max 3.0TD V-Cross 4x4x Auto
Toyota Hilux 2.0GD-6 4x4 Legend RS Auto
Volkswagen Amarok 3.0TDI V6 Aventura 4Motion

EV (Below R1.3 million)

BMW i4 eDrive35 M Sport
BMW iX1 xDrive30 M Sport
Mercedes-Benz EQA250 AMG Line
Ora 03 Super Lux
Volvo XC40 Twin Motor Ultimate

In the next round (due to take place in early October 2023), the extended Cars.co.za editorial team will score the semi-finalists individually, taking into account various criteria set out for each of the respective categories. Following that, the top three finalists per category will be announced and subjected to back-to-back testing at the Gerotek proving ground in Gauteng by the combined judging panel on 2 and 3 November 2023.

Combined judging panel for the 2023/24 CarsAwards:

In building the judging panel, the goal was to achieve a balance of motoring expertise (particularly in the first two phases of the programme, which determine the finalists) and respected non-motoring, highly analytical media professionals.

“It is absolutely crucial that motoring journalists’ opinions are supplemented by those of non-motoring media professionals, who, in many ways, represent the consumer at the test days,” explains Oosthuizen.

“As these Awards are designed to be of maximum benefit to the consumer, it is critical that as many South Africans as possible know about the results,” says Oosthuizen. “Our panel of judges has been selected with that in mind, and therefore comprises a mix of new and traditional media, print, broadcast and social media specialists,” he explains.

The judges for the 2023/2024 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards are:

Ashley Oldfield (Cars.co.za)
David Taylor (Cars.co.za)
Gero Lilleike (Cars.co.za)
Ciro De Siena (Cars.co.za)
Jacob Moshokoa (EWN)
Wendy Knowler (Consumer Specialist – 702/Cape Talk/Sunday Times)
Brenwin Naidu (Sowetan, Sunday Times)
Muzi Sambo (Independent – Youtube)
MrHowMuch (Independent – Youtube/Social)
Rebaneilwe Semakane (Social, Voice of Wits)
Juliet McGuire (Independent – Cape Talk)
Nafisa Akabor (Tech Expert)
Phuti Mpyane (Business Day)
Lerato Matebese (Top Gear)
Kumbi Mtshakazi (Kumbi-M on Cars)
Mpho Mahlangu (Independent – Social)
Tshidi Malebana (Independent – Social)
Sibonelo Myeni (uKhozi FM, iMoto)
Brendon Staniforth (Maroela Media)
Clement Manyathela (702)

The 20 judges’ scores for each of the 39 finalists will only count for 50% of the final standings, however. The other 50% will be based on rankings that the respective vehicle brands represented by the finalists achieved in the Cars.co.za Ownership Satisfaction Survey. The data incorporates feedback from thousands of vehicle owners, based on their experiences of their vehicles (less than four years old and serviced through franchised outlets).

“The Cars.co.za Consumer Awards programme is designed to be a guide for all new passenger vehicle buyers, not only those who follow motoring publications," Oosthuizen concludes. “With 50% of the final scores determined by brands’ rating in the survey, a vehicle only really stands a very good chance of winning if it is a good product in the eyes of the judges and if its brand delivers solid after-sales service.