2023 Car of The Year semi-finalists announced
The 2023 South African Car of the Year (COTY) competition semi-finalists have been announced and no less than 36 cars have made it to this list.
Old Mutual Insure is the new headline sponsor of the 2022/2023 South African Car of the Year competition, in association with the South African Guild of Mobility Journalists (SAGMJ), the founders and custodians of this prestigious car competition.
The 36 semi-finalists of the 2023 South African Car of the Year (COTY) competition, sponsored by Old Mutual Insure, are (in alphabetical order):
Alfa Romeo Tonale
Audi e-tron GT / RS e-Tron GT (featured at the top of the article)
Audi RS 3 Sedan / Sportback
BAIC Beijing X55
BMW 2-series Coupe
BMW 7-Series
BMW i4
BMW iX3
Chery Tiggo 7 Pro
Chery Tiggo 8 Pro
Ford Everest
Ford Ranger
Haval H6 Hybrid
Honda Civic RS
Hyundai Grand Creta
Hyundai Kona N
Hyundai Tucson
Isuzu D-Max
Jeep Gladiator
Jeep Grand Cherokee L
Kia Carnival
Kia Sorento
Kia Sportage
Mahindra XUV700
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Nissan Qashqai
Opel Mokka
Porsche 911 GT3
Porsche Cayman GT4 RS
Range Rover
Renault Clio 5
Suzuki Baleno
Toyota GR86
Toyota RAV4 E-Four
Volkswagen Taigo
Volvo XC40 P8 Recharge
“Congratulations to the semi-finalists, who have made it through a strict round,” says Garth Napier, MD of Old Mutual Insure. “Although there is still some way to go, they have already proven their resilience. Each semi-finalist has caught the attention of the judges precisely because they are not only relevant for today’s customers but are also excellent contenders. We wish the jury the very best in the next round of voting, which we have no doubt will be tough given the calibre of this year’s semi-finalists.”
The first step in the vehicle selection process was determining eligibility based on the COTY Rules & Regulations. The COTY Validation Committee reviewed more than 80 vehicles and determined that 55 vehicles met the stringent entry requirements.
This list of validated vehicles was then presented to members of the South African Guild of Mobility Journalists, all experts in the field of all things motoring, on a dedicated online voting platform voted to determine the list of semi-finalists.
In January 2023, the recently announced COTY jury will cast their votes to whittle the list of semi-finalists down to a list of finalists. These worthy contenders will then undergo a stringent evaluation process before the jury locks in their scores to crown our official 2023 South African Car of the Year.
The partnership between COTY and Old Mutual Insure supports the insurer’s focus to remain agile amidst the changes that have impacted consumers in recent years and, through relevant and innovative products, find ever more ways to help customers navigate the climate.
“Through our partnership with Old Mutual Insure, we hope to explore several ways to collaborate, from consumer education to road safety,” says Mabuyane Mabuza, chairperson of 2023 COTY and interim vice-chairperson of the South African Guild of Mobility Journalists. “We aim to create a lasting symbiotic relationship.”
“Transformation is also a top priority for both brands, and we are proud that the COTY committee, which includes distinguished motoring journalists such as Lerato Matebese, Thami Masemola, Jason Woosey, and Brenwin Naidu, is the most diverse in the history of the competition. All members have extensive experience as COTY jurors and are geared to
evaluate an impressive selection of vehicles, including a record number of electric and hybrid vehicles,” adds Mabuza.
For updates on the 2023 Car of The Year competition, follow the competition on Facebook.
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