And they include fully-electric contenders…
Here are the 2023 SA COTY competition finalists
The 2023 South African Car of the Year battle is upon us. The winners will be crowned at a gala event in June, but we now have a complete list of the finalists in all nine categories, including the massive grand slam – the overall Car of the Year winner.
Sponsored by Old Mutual Insure and presented by the South African Guild of Mobility Journalists (SAGMJ), the 2023 COTY competition finalists consist of 21 vehicles battling it out in their respective categories.
The categories include Budget, Compact, Compact Family, Midsize, Premium, Adventure SUV, 4X4 Double Cab, Luxury, Performance and New Energy. In case you are wondering where the Budget category is? Well, there are no contenders this time around.
With all 21 cars battling fiercely for the COTY title, about 40% of the overall juror votes highlighted the stiff competition in the Compact Family and Midsize classifications and the Premium, Luxury and New Energy classifications categories.
“The 2023 COTY finalists showcase cutting-edge innovation and fierce competition to offer the best mobility solutions. These finalists are the cream of the crop in South Africa, and we can't wait to see who comes out on top,” adds Mabuyane Mabuza, Chairperson of the 2023 COTY Committee.”
The jurors will begin with the final round of scoring shortly and continue until the end of March 2023. They will also incorporate data from Lightstone for the competitions' automated scoring. This is based on market segment sales volumes and spec-adjusted competitor pricing.
As for public voting, the COTY committee says this will run again this year across social media sites where users can cast their votes by liking their favourite car. The finalist with the most likes is crowned the winner. Three lucky voters will stand a chance to win an off-road driving course sponsored by Old Mutual Insure and the SAGMJ.
Compact
Renault Clio 5
Compact Family
BAIC Beijing X55
Nissan Qashqai
Opel Mokka
VW Taigo
Midsize
Alfa Romeo Tonale
Chery Tiggo Pro 8
Honda Civic RS
Hyundai Tucson
Kia Sportage
Premium
Jeep Grand Cherokee L
Kia Sorento
Adventure SUV
Ford Everest
Double Cab
Ford Ranger
Isuzu D-Max
Luxury
Mercedes Benz S-Class
Performance
Audi RS3 Sedan / Hatch
New Energy
Audi e-tron GT/RS e-tron GT
Haval H6 Hybrid
Toyota RAV4 E-four
Volvo XC40 P8 Recharge
Keyword: Here are the 2023 SA COTY competition finalists