Chairperson of the 2023 COTY competition, Mabuyane Mabuza noted, however, that the Budget category for its year was cancelled due to no considerable contenders and the product lifecycle timing of key competitors.<\/p>\n
He added that there were also no winners for the Compact category, as the sole contender \u2013 the Renault Clio \u2013 did not meet the required percentage to secure a category win.<\/p>\n
“These categories remain an important entry point into the market, and the automotive industry is encouraged to persist in its innovation efforts, aiming to create vehicles that cater to the diverse requirements of the South African public,” he said.<\/p>\n
Winners<\/strong><\/p>\n The official winner of the 2023 South African Car of the Year Award is none other than the next-generation Ford Ranger Double Cab <\/strong>\u2013 securing the win over 21 finalists.<\/p>\n The SAGMJ noted that this was the first time in the 37-year history of the COTY competition a leisure double cab 4×4 bakkie was crowned South Africa’s Car of the Year.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n “Over the past decade, the popularity of SUVs and Double Cabs has skyrocketed at the expense of sedans.<\/p>\n “Double cab bakkies have become a common choice for everyday commuting, family adventures and various work applications, providing a popular solution for South Africans’ mobility demands,” said Mabuza.<\/p>\n He added that this remarkable achievement is a testament to the automotive industry’s commitment to producing high-quality double cabs that offer unrivalled performance while seamlessly blending comfort, safety, and cutting-edge technology.<\/p>\n Winners across the sub-categories included the first ever-win for the Chinese automaker, two wins for Kia, another placement for Ford, and three titles for luxury brands \u2013 Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Volvo.<\/p>\n The first-ever win for a Chinese automaker went to BAIC\u2019s Beijing X55 crossover \u2013 winning the Compact Family category.<\/p>\n The stylish new Sportage managed to take home the Midsize title, while the Sorento achieved the number one spot in the Premium segment.<\/p>\n Ford’s Everest SUV came on top in the Adventure SUV category, while the performance sector was dominated by the Audi RS3 and the New Energy award was taken by a pure battery-electric vehicle in the form of the Volvo XC40 P8 Recharge.<\/p>\n The Mercedes-Benz S-Class, meanwhile, claimed two titles with the Luxury Award as well as the Juror\u2019s Excellence Award, which \u201csignifies recognition of exceptional quality and craftsmanship.\u201d<\/p>\n All the winners of the 2023 Car of the Year competition are listed below \u2013 with pricing.<\/p>\n 2023 Car of the Year \u2013 Ford Ranger Double Cab 4×4<\/strong><\/p>\n Adventure SUV \u2013 Ford Everest<\/strong><\/p>\n Compact Family \u2013 BAIC Beijing X55<\/strong><\/p>\n Double Cab \u2013 Ford Ranger\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Luxury \u2013 Mercedes-Benz S-Class<\/strong><\/p>\n Midsize \u00a0\u2013 Kia Sportage<\/strong><\/p>\n New Energy \u2013 Volvo XC40 P8 Recharge<\/strong><\/p>\n Performance \u2013 Audi RS 3<\/strong><\/p>\n Premium \u2013 Kia Sorento<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/next-gen-Ford-ranger-Wildtrak.webp\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\n
<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\n
<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\n
<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\n
<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\n
<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\n
<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\n
<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\n