2023 SA COTY the battle of Isandlwana

The 2023 SA Car of the Year features the best Automotive players

After a few years in limbo due to many factors including Covid-19, the South African Car of the Year is back with a bang under the new headline sponsor Old Mutual Insure.

Last week saw the first COTY test days in a while, where a group of seasoned and new media jurors spent two days on track, off-road, and on the road taking the finalists through their paces in a quest to look for excellence in motoring.

The 27 jurors brought their full energy and expertise during the test days.

This was the first COTY to have 21 finalists since its establishment in 1986.

Why 21 finalists, I hear you asking.

After the Covid pandemic, a lot of car manufacturers unleashed some high-quality products worthy of our time including a few surprises from the East.

The automobile has evolved so much that it became evident that we have a lot of excellent cars worthy of competing.

The atmosphere was charged with excitement on the first day of the 2023 South African Car of the Year Test Days. As the sun beat down on the Zwartkops Raceway, car enthusiasts and experts alike gathered to witness the motor industry’s most anticipated event of the year.

With a range of powerful engines and innovative technology on display, the race track was abuzz with activity as each car vied for the title. The judges participated intently as each car displayed its agility, handling, and speed on the track.

The diversity of the finalists was impressive by the diversity. Electric cars, luxury SUVs, and sporty coupes all vied for the coveted accolade; the variety on display was enough to appeal to everyone.

The sleek, electric Audi e-Tron was whisper-quiet and lightning-quick, gliding around the track with ease. The medium SUV has seen some fantastic contenders with the likes of Baic Beijing X55, Nissan Qashqai, Kia Sportage, and Chery Tiggo8 Pro to name but a few.

In the luxury segment, Mercedes-Benz fielded its S-Class model. Volvo XC40 P8.

The likes of Kia Sorento, and Hyundai Santa Fe all fought for their place not forgetting Ford Everest. There is no SA COTY without bakkies, South Africa being a strong bakkie market. The Isuzu D-Max and Ford Ranger.