Cars.co.za Consumer Awards finalists announced

The finalists (three in each of 13 respective categories) were selected out of 65 vehicles that seven members of Cars.co.za’s extended editorial team agreed were the best derivatives available in the South African new vehicle market on 1 September 2017.

The next phase of the programme will take place on 1 and 2 November 2017, when a combined panel will evaluate the finalists back-to-back during a two-day test at Gerotek.

However, the findings of the 18 judges will only count for half of the finalists’ total scores – the remaining 50% will be based on rankings that the respective vehicles’ brands achieved in the Cars.co.za Ownership Satisfaction Survey, in partnership with leading data specialists Lightstone Consumer. The data incorporates feedback from thousands of vehicle owners, based on their experiences of their vehicles (less than five years old and serviced through franchised outlets).

The finalists

Budget Car (up to R175,000)

• Suzuki Ignis 1.2 GL
• Kia Picanto 1.0 Style
• VW Take Up!

Compact Hatchback (between R175,000 and R250,000)

• Mazda2 1.5 Individual
• Renault Clio 66 kW Turbo Dynamique
• Toyota Yaris 1.5 Pulse

Premium Hatch (between R350,000 and R500,000)

• Audi A3 Sportback 2.0T FSI S-Tronic
• Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI Comfortline R-Line
• Subaru XV 2.0i-S ES

Business Class (between R500,000 and R700,000)

• Audi A5 Sportback 2.0T FSI Sport S-Tronic
• BMW 420d Gran Coupe Sport Line sports-auto
• Alfa Romeo Giulia 2.0T Super

Executive Sedan (between R700,000 and R1,000,000)

• Mercedes-Benz E350d
• BMW 530d Luxury Line
• Volvo S90 D5 R-Design

Executive SUV between R600,000 and R900,000

• Audi Q5 2.0 TDI quattro Sport
• Jaguar F-Pace 20d AWD R Sport
• Mercedes-Benz GLC250d 4Matic AMG Line

Premium SUV (between R900,000 and R1.25m)

• Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine R-Design
• Audi Q7 3.0 TDI quattro
• Land Rover Discovery HSE TD6

Adventure SUV (between R550,000 and R800,000)

• Toyota Fortuner 2.8 GD-6 4x4 Auto
• Ford Everest 3.2 LTD
• Mitsubishi Pajero Sport 2.4 D4

Compact Family Car (between R250,000 to R350,000)

• Suzuki Vitara 1.6 GLX Auto
• Hyundai Creta 1.6 Exec Auto
• Renault Captur dCi Dynamique

Family Car (between R350,000 and R500,000)

• Volkswagen Tiguan 1.4 TSI Comfortline R-Line DSG
• Peugeot 3008 1.6T GT-Line
• Mazda CX-5 2.5 Individual

Performance Car (between R600,000 and R1,000,000)

• BMW M2 M-DCT
• Volkswagen Golf R
• Audi RS3 sedan

Fun Car (under R600 000)

• Mini JCW sports-auto
• Renault Clio RS220 Trophy
• Mazda MX-5

Leisure Double Cab (above R500,000)

• Nissan Navara 2.3D 4x4 LE Auto
• Ford Ranger 3.2 Wildtrak 4x4 Auto
• Volkswagen Amarok V6 TDI 4Motion Highline Plus

Says Cars.co.za consumer experience manager Hannes Oosthuizen: “Choosing class-leading products is only half of the story. After-sales service make up the other half. Ultimately, the judges have only 50% of the say, with data from the Cars.co.za Ownership Satisfaction Survey – in partnership with Lightstone Consumer ­– accounting for the rest, which gives a voice to the people who know their cars best: South Africa’s vehicle owners.

“We urge all South African car owners to complete the survey. We want real, credible input, and the only way to do that is for the public to give us their views on the cars they know best – the ones they own.”

Members of the public can follow developments of the awards the website and social media channels (#CarsAwards).

To participate in the Cars.co.za Ownership Satisfaction Survey or access more information about the programme (including categories, judges and finalists) go to www.carsawards.co.za.

The judges will re-evaluate the finalists back to back on a predetermined course during the two-day event at the Gerotek vehicle testing facility. Apart from driving the vehicles, judges will do extensive static evaluations of the finalists’ packaging, build quality and interior features and complete their respective scoring books (replete with a weighted criteria points system).