South Africa’s automotive industry witnessed a night of glitz, glamour, and celebration as Cars.co.za hosted the highly anticipated Cars.co.za Consumer Awards in Sandton.
- Held on the rooftop of Sandton City, the event brought together industry leaders, automotive enthusiasts, and media representatives.
- The ceremony, which has evolved into a benchmark for excellence since its inception in 2015, featured 14 category winners and crowned the recipient of the prestigious Brand of the Year title.
- Renowned comedian Nik Rabinowitz and popular media personality Khutso Theledi added flair and excitement as they took center stage to reveal the winners across multiple categories.
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BMW and Suzuki emerged as the big winners of the evening, each securing three category wins. BMW’s success further solidified its position in the awards history, now boasting a total of 12 category wins, closely followed by Toyota and Suzuki. However, Volkswagen maintained its stronghold with a total of 20 category trophies to its name.
One of the notable highlights of the night was Ford’s triumphant return to the winners’ list with victories in the Adventure SUV and Leisure Double Cab categories. Ford’s Ranger 3.0 V6 EcoBoost Raptor 4WD stole the spotlight, ending Toyota Fortuner’s four-year dominance in the Leisure Double Cab category.
In a significant milestone, BMW clinched the Electric Vehicle (EV) category with its iX1 xDrive30 M Sport, marking the first time an EV triumphed over internal combustion engine rivals in the Premium SUV category.
Suzuki continued its dominance in the Budget category, securing its fifth win out of seven iterations of the awards. The Baleno 1.5 GLX reclaimed its title, while a Swift variant secured victory in the Entry-level Hatch category for the second consecutive time.
Volkswagen maintained its reign in the Compact Hatch category, securing its fourth consecutive win with the Polo 1.0 TSI 85kW R-Line. Kia made history by claiming its first-ever awards trophy with the Sportage 1.6CRDi EX, becoming the first Korean brand to do so.
The closely contested nature of the awards was evident in the narrow margins of victory, with the Premium SUV category witnessing a mere 0.1% difference and the Entry-Level Hatch category showcasing a substantial 6.4% gap.
The pinnacle of the evening was the announcement of the Brand of the Year, a title that Toyota secured for the fourth time, reaffirming its commitment to excellence and consumer satisfaction. Toyota’s score of 88.3% reflected its dedication to providing superior after-sales support and resonated with thousands of satisfied vehicle owners.
2023/24 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards Winners:
- Entry-Level Hatch: Suzuki Swift 1.2 GLX
- Runners up: Suzuki Celerio 1.0 GL, Renault Kiger 1.0 Zen
- Budget Hatch: Suzuki Baleno 1.5 GLX
- Runners up: Toyota Starlet 1.5 XR, Renault Clio 1.0 Turbo Zen
- Compact Hatch: Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI 85kW R-Line
- Runners up: Honda Fit 1.5 Elegance, Opel Corsa 1.2T Elegance
- Entry-Level Crossover: Suzuki Grand Vitara 1.5 GLX
- Runners up: Haval Jolion 1.5T Premium Auto, Chery Tiggo 4 Pro 1.5 Elite Auto
- Compact Family Car: Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8 XR
- Runners up: Haval Jolion S Super Luxury, Renault Duster 1.5dCi Intens
- Family Car: Kia Sportage 1.6CRDi EX
- Runners up: Haval H6 1.5T HEV Ultra Luxury, Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max 2.0TGDi 390 Executive
- Premium Crossover: BMW X1 sDrive18d M Sport
- Runners up: Volvo XC40 B4 Ultimate Dark, Audi Q3 Sportback 40TFSI quattro S Line
- Executive SUV: Mercedes-Benz GLC220d 4Matic Avantgarde
- Runners up: BMW X3 xDrive20d M Sport, Lexus NX 350h F Sport
- Premium SUV: BMW iX xDrive40
- Runners up: BMW X5 xDrive30d M Sport, Land Rover Defender 110 D250 SE County
- Adventure SUV: Ford Everest 3.0 V6 Wildtrak
- Runners up: Toyota Fortuner 2.8GD-6 4×4 VX, Isuzu MU-X 3.0TD Onyx 4×4
- Performance Car: Toyota GR Yaris Rally
- Runners up: Toyota GR Corolla Circuit, Honda Civic Type R
- Leisure Double Cab: Ford Ranger 3.0 V6 EcoBoost Raptor 4WD
- Runners up: Ford Ranger 3.0 V6 Wildtrak 4WD, Volkswagen Amarok 3.0 TDI V6 Aventura 4Motion
- Electric Vehicle: BMW iX1 xDrive30 M Sport
- Runners up: Volvo XC40 Twin Motor Ultimate, GWM Ora 03 Super Lux
- Brand of the Year: Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8 XR / Lexus NX 350h Sport
Cars.co.za, in partnership with Absa, unveiled the inaugural Cars.co.za Consumer Awards Roadshow at Sandton City Mall which runs until 3 March 2024. This unique event allows attendees to experience the excitement of the awards first-hand, offering a rare opportunity to interact with finalist vehicles, receive personalized advice from Cars.co.za experts, and even test drive their chosen vehicle.
The success of the 2023/24 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards not only celebrates excellence in the automotive industry but also underscores the importance of informed consumer decision-making. As the automotive landscape continues to evolve, initiatives like the Cars.co.za Consumer Awards play a crucial role in guiding consumers towards the best-in-class vehicles that cater to their diverse needs and preferences.
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