The 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
- Audi RS 3 Sedan / Sportback
- BAIC Beijing X55
- BMW 2-series Coupe
- BMW 7-Series
- BMW i4
- BMW iX3
- Chery Tiggo Pro 7
- Chery Tiggo Pro 8
- 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
- Land Rover Range Rover
- Mahindra XUV700
- Mercedes-Benz S-Class
- Nissan Qashqai
- Opel Mokka
- Porsche 911 GT3
- Porsche Cayman GT4 RS
- Renault Clio 5
- Suzuki Baleno
- Toyota GR86
- Toyota Rav4 E-Four
- Volkswagen Taigo
- Volvo XC40 P8 Recharge
“Congratulations to the semi-finalists for making it through a difficult round. Although there is still work to be done, they have already demonstrated their tenacity: Following COVID-19, the automotive market has changed dramatically, and consumers now require more than ever before adaptable solutions. Each semi-finalist has piqued the judges’ interest not only because they are relevant to today’s customers, but also because they are strong competitors.
We wish the jury the best of luck in the next round of voting, which we know will be difficult given the calibre of this year’s semi-finalists,”
says Garth Napier, MD of Old Mutual Insure.
The first step in the vehicle selection process was to determine eligibility following the COTY Rules & Regulations. The COTY Validation Committee examined over 80 vehicles and determined that 55 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, who voted to determine the list of semi-finalists on a dedicated online voting platform.
The recently announced COTY jury will vote in January 2023 to narrow the list of semi-finalists down to a list of finalists. These worthy contenders will then go through a rigorous evaluation process before the jury decides on the official 2023 South African Car of the Year. The collaboration between COTY and Old Mutual Insure supports the insurer’s focus on remaining agile amidst the changes that have impacted consumers in recent years and finding ever more ways to help customers navigate the climate through relevant and innovative products.
