2023/24 CarsAwards – The semi-finalists

These are the 65 semi-finalists – 5 in each of 13 vehicle categories – of the 2023/24 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards. The 39 finalists of the 7th iteration of South Africa’s definitive automotive awards programme will be chosen from this list.

The Cars.co.za Consumer Awards (CarsAwards – or #CarsAwards in social media posts) recognises the best purchasing propositions in 13 categories of the South African new-vehicle market.

The list of 65 vehicles includes model derivatives from no fewer than 25 brands represented in the South African market. 9 brands have at least 3 semi-finalists in the running for category honours. The brands with the most nominations are: Toyota (8), BMW (6) and Suzuki (5). Chery, Omoda (a Chery sub-brand) and Ora (GWM’s new EV brand) appear on the list for the first time. 

All vehicles available on the South African market on September 1, 2023, were eligible, not only new products launched during the past 12 months.

Some models that had not been launched by that date were considered, provided that they had already been priced, could be ordered by consumers and  Cars.co.za extended editorial team had sufficient experience with the vehicles. 

The first phase of CarsAwards saw the extended Cars.co.za editorial team select the five best vehicles in each of the 13 categories devised for this year’s programme. Careful attention was paid to the respective categories’ “Filters of Eligibility” and the “Pillars of Success” in order to come to a consensus on the list of semi-finalists.

“Another unique aspect of the CarsAwards is that the categories are re-evaluated every year,” says Cars.co.za’s Hannes Oosthuizen. “With so much activity in the lower-priced crossover segments, we decided to sacrifice some of the higher-priced categories in favour of those segments where consumers are actually currently buying.” 

“But the 2023/24 CarsAwards must also educate and, as such, we’ve introduced an EV category focused on the most affordable electric vehicles in the market,” he adds. 

Full list of 2023/24 CarsAwards semi-finalists

Entry-Level Hatch (Priced below R250 000)

Budget Hatch (R250 000 to R350 000)

Compact Hatch (R350 000 to R500 000)

Entry-Level Crossover (R300 000 to R400 000)

Compact Family Car (R400 000 to R500 000)

Family Car (R600 000 to R800 000)

Premium Crossover (R700 000 to R1 million)

Executive SUV (R1 million to R1.3 million)

Premium SUV (R1.3m to R1.8 million)

Adventure SUV (R800 000 to R1.2 million)

Performance Car (Below R1 million)

Leisure Double Cab (Above R800 000)

Electric Vehicle (Below R1.3 million)

In the next round (due to take place in early October 2023), the extended Cars.co.za editorial team will score the semi-finalists individually, taking into account various criteria set out for each of the respective categories. Following that, the 3 finalists per category will be announced and subjected to back-to-back testing at the Gerotek proving ground in Gauteng by the judging panel on 2 and 3 November 2023.

Combined judging panel for the 2023/24 CarsAwards:

In building the judging panel, the goal was to achieve a balance of motoring expertise (particularly in the first two phases of the programme, which determine the finalists) and respected non-motoring, highly analytical media professionals. 

“It is absolutely crucial that motoring journalists’ opinions are supplemented by those of non-motoring media professionals, who, in many ways, represent the consumer at the test days,” explains Oosthuizen.

“As these Awards are designed to be of maximum benefit to the consumer, it is critical that as many South Africans as possible know about the results,” says Oosthuizen. “Our panel of judges has been selected with that in mind, and therefore comprises a mix of new and traditional media, print, broadcast and social media specialists,” he explains.

The judges for the 2023/2024 CarsAwards are:

• Ashley Oldfield (Cars.co.za)
• David Taylor (Cars.co.za)
• Gero Lilleike (Cars.co.za)
• Ciro De Siena (Cars.co.za)
• Jacob Moshokoa (EWN)
• Wendy Knowler (Consumer Specialist – 702/Cape Talk/Sunday Times)
• Brenwin Naidu (Sowetan, Sunday Times)
• Muzi Sambo (Independent – Youtube) 
• MrHowMuch (Independent – Youtube/Social)
• Rebaneilwe Semakane (Social, Voice of Wits)
• Juliet McGuire (Independent – Cape Talk)
• Nafisa Akabor (Tech Expert)       
• Phuti Mpyane (Business Day)
• Lerato Matebese (Top Gear)       
• Kumbi Mtshakazi (Kumbi-M on Cars)
• Mpho Mahlangu (Independent – Social) 
• Tshidi Malebana (Independent – Social)  
• Sibonelo Myeni (uKhozi FM, iMoto)
• Brendon Staniforth (Maroelamedia)   
• Clement Manyathela (702)

The 20 judges’ scores for each of the 39 finalists of the 2023/24 CarsAwards will only count for 50% of the final standings, however. The other 50% will be based on rankings that the respective vehicle brands represented by the finalists achieved in the Cars.co.za Ownership Satisfaction Survey. The data incorporates feedback from thousands of vehicle owners, based on their experiences of their vehicles (less than four years old and serviced through franchised outlets). 

“The Cars.co.za Consumer Awards programme is designed to be a guide for all new passenger vehicle buyers, not only those who follow motoring publications,” Oosthuizen concludes. “With 50% of the final scores determined by brands’ rating in the survey, a vehicle only really stands a very good chance of winning if it is a good product in the eyes of the judges and if its brand delivers solid after-sales service.

Related content:

Winners: 2020/21 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards