South Africa’s premier automotive platform, Cars.co.za, unveiled the 2023/24 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards winners at a prestigious event held in the luxurious Sandton City. The ceremony brought together the who’s who of the automotive industry, media personalities, and celebrities, creating an atmosphere of celebration for automotive excellence and innovation.
The event, emceed by the dynamic duo of Nik Rabinowitz and Khutso Theledi, saw BMW and Suzuki each taking home three category wins, a testament to their quality, innovation, and consumer appeal. Meanwhile, Toyota, alongside its Lexus premium sub-brand, clinched the esteemed Brand of the Year title for the fourth time, solidifying its position at the pinnacle of automotive excellence in South Africa.
The Brand of the Year award, revered as the ultimate accolade in the local automotive industry, is a reflection of consumer satisfaction and loyalty. “The Brand of the Year trophy represents validation from the people who matter most: car owners,” remarked Hannes Oosthuizen, Cars.co.za Consumer Experience Manager. Toyota’s achievement underscores its commitment to providing unparalleled after-sales support and maintaining a robust dealer network across the country.
Unlike the category winners, which are selected based on a comprehensive evaluation process, the Brand of the Year is determined through an analysis of market data and findings from the Cars.co.za Ownership Satisfaction Survey. This method ensures that the award reflects genuine consumer experiences and preferences, highlighting Toyota’s exceptional performance in sales, after-sales service, and value retention over time.
Winners: 2023/24 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards – powered by Absa
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
After a brief hiatus in 2021, Cars.co.za Managing Director, Amasi Mwela, reinstated the #CarsAwards last year. True to its legacy, vehicles continue to undergo rigorous evaluation within specific categories, each with its unique criteria. Notably, 50% of the final scores are derived from brand-specific data, enriched by direct feedback from car owners across South Africa.
“The #CarsAwards underlines our commitment to helping our users understand the best way to spend their hard-earned Rands when purchasing new vehicles,” says Mwela. “As new-car prices escalate, it emphasises the need to make educated and informed buying decisions.”
The 2023/24 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards, now in its seventh and most elaborate iteration, not only celebrated the achievements of the automotive industry, but also served as a beacon of hope and progress. As the awards program continues to grow, it promises to elevate the standards of consumer satisfaction and industry innovation for years to come.
