2025 CarsAwards: The Semi-Finalists

These are the semi-finalists of the 2024/25 Cars.co.za Awards – sponsored by Absa. The 13 eventual category winners will be selected from this pool of vehicles, which collectively represent the best purchasing propositions in the new-car market.

“We believe that any of the cars that made the cut as semi-finalists in their respective categories are worthy of serious consideration by car buyers,” says Hannes Oosthuizen – the project manager of the 2024/25 Cars.co.za Awards. The 2025 CarsAwards marks the 8th iteration of the programme, which was established in 2015 and hosted its first gala event in 2016.

“Keep in mind that all cars on sale on 1 September this year were considered for semi-finalist (top 5) selection in the 2025 CarsAwards, not only cars launched in the past year,” he explains.

Furthermore, models that are due for imminent release, and which will be priced and made available for test drives before the extended editorial team selects the finalists (top 3) of each category in early October, have been given wildcard entries into their respective segments.

*Toyota/Lexus is the reigning Cars.co.za Brand of the Year and leads the way with 11 total nominations.*

“This was done to ensure the Awards are as representative as possible of the local new-car market when the winners are announced in February 2025,” says Oosthuizen.

No fewer than 25 brands are represented in the semi-finalist line-up of the 2025 CarsAwards. Toyota/Lexus – the reigning Cars.co.za Brand of the Year (an award entirely based on customer feedback and market data) – has the most nominations: 8 for Toyota and another 3 for Lexus.

GWM (including Haval and Ora) and Volkswagen have the 2nd-highest number of semi-finalists (5 each) in the 2025 CarsAwards, with Kia, BMW and Volvo in 3rd place (4 each). This is the first year that the specialist off-road brand, Ineos, appears on the list – in 2 of the categories!

How were the top 5 in each category selected?

In the first round of the 2025 CarsAwards (styled as #CarsAwards on social media), the Cars.co.za extended editorial team selected the 5 best cars in each of the 13 categories by consensus, to ensure that each selection is debated and carefully considered. Attention was paid to the categories’ “Filters of Eligibility” and the “Pillars of Success” to reach an agreement on the identities of the semi-finalists.

*Endorsed by Naamsa and sponsored by Absa, the Cars.co.za Awards is the most important motoring awards programme in Mzansi.*

“The debate and agreement by consensus is a core pillar of our programme,” says Oosthuizen. “We debate each eligible vehicle within the context of its category, and will not finalise any category’s top 5 line-up until the entire team is in agreement. This means far deeper interrogation and more exhaustive investigation than is typical in a ‘secret vote’ setup.”

When it comes to the new wildcard entry system, it is important to note that only cars that are due for imminent release and which will be priced and made available for test drives prior to finalist voting in October, will be considered in addition to the top 5 in their respective categories.

“Imminent arrivals such as Suzuki’s new Swift and Hyundai’s Exter are high-profile newcomers this year that simply can not be ignored,” says Oosthuizen.

Best Budget Car (under R300 000)

New Suzuki Swift — *Suzuki’s soon-to-be-launched Swift is a Wildcard entry in this segment.*

Buying an affordable car doesn’t mean you should have to compromise on safety, technology and quality. The winner of this category of the 2024/25 Cars.co.za Awards – sponsored by Absa represents “as much good car as possible” for the asking price. Value is very important, as are low running costs and all such “common sense” considerations. The price cap in this category is R300 000.

The semi-finalists in this category of the 2025 CarsAwards are:

WILDCARD ENTRIES: Suzuki Swift, Hyundai Exter and Mahindra XUV 3XO (exact variants to be confirmed at finalist selection stage)

Best Compact Hatch (from R300 000 to R500 000)

*Can Opel’s recently-refreshed Corsa take the fight to the segment sales leaders?*

While this traditionally strong segment (in terms of sales) is certainly feeling the heat from compact family cars (small crossovers) and more affordable hatchbacks these days, it’s fiercely contested nonetheless. In this category, we’re looking for a balanced offering that is excellent across the board.

Cars in this segment must appeal to a very wide audience – from the young professional or family “buying up” from an entry-level car, to pensioners “buying down” from something larger and pricier.

The winner of this award must truly reflect what is best about modern automotive design and engineering, but present it in a concentrated, reasonably affordable package.

The semi-finalists in this category of the 2025 CarsAwards are:

Volkswagen’s Polo is the reigning champion in this segment, which now incorporates cars that featured in the 2023/24 Budget Car category. The feature-rich Suzuki Baleno could be the Polo’s biggest rival.

Best Budget Crossover (R300 000 to R400 000)

Kia Sonet makes list of SA's 15 best-selling cars and crossovers — *Kia’s recently refreshed Sonet could be a strong contender for the Budget Crossover title.*

The rise of crossover has been one of the strongest trends in the automotive industry for about a decade or so – and there’s no sign of it slowing down!

Manufacturers keep finding new product niches and ways of producing crossover offerings based on traditional hatchback platforms. Some of the biggest sellers in the local market can be found here.

The semi-finalists in this category of the 2025 CarsAwards are:

Best Compact Family Car (R400 000 to R600 000)

With household budgets stretched to a breaking point, the reasonably affordable compact family car must be able to fulfil many roles – from compact traffic dodger, to spacious school-run specialist and even weekend getaway machine. Practicality and spaciousness are important considerations, but so are fuel efficiency, safety, technology and a modicum of lifestyle flexibility.

The semi-finalists in this category of the 2025 CarsAwards are:

Wildcard Entries: GAC GS3 Emzoom, Jetour X70 Plus and Jetour Dashing (exact specification to be confirmed at the time of finalist voting).

Best Family Car (R600 000 to R800 000)

*Volkswagen’s new Tiguan enters a very competitive segment. Can it dethrone Kia’s excellent Sportage?*

The typical family car (also known as a medium SUV) fulfils a wide variety of duties and needs to be a practical, safe all-rounder. The winner of this category should be ideally suited not only for the morning school run, but also the school holiday run to a distant location.

In judging this category, we’ve placed particular emphasis on interior flexibility, comfort and safety.

The semi-finalists in this category of the 2025 CarsAwards are:

Best Premium Crossover (R700 000 to R1m)

Can BMW’s new X2 take the silverware in a category where BMW’s X1 emerged victorious last year?

Upwardly mobile individuals used to aspire to own executive sedans, but these days those buyers shop for reasonably attainable machines with prestigious badges in the Premium Crossover segment.

We’re looking for an aspirational vehicle that will appeal to the image-conscious driver who places a priority on performance, dynamics, technology and design. The target customers have achieved success and want a car that isn’t only a personal reward, but also one that boldly broadcasts their achievements.

The semi-finalists in this category of the 2025 CarsAwards are:

Best Executive SUV (R1m to R1.5m)

Mazda CX-60 3.3 DE Takumi — *Mazda steps into the big leagues with its CX-60 3.3D Takumi. Can it beat the traditional prestige brands?*

Most premium brands now offer road-biased SUVs that combine prestige and practicality in a superbly refined package, because such vehicles are increasingly regarded as must-have status symbols by luxury car buyers. Drivetrain performance and refined road manners are a priority, as is a cabin that features upmarket materials and the most up-to-date technology.

The semi-finalists in this category of the 2025 CarsAwards are:

The all-new BMW X3 is the Wildcard entry in this category this year.

Best Premium SUV (R1.5m to R2m)

*With a strong 2nd-place finish last year, perhaps the BMW X5 will emerge victorious this time around.*

Luxurious SUVs may appeal for irrational and emotional reasons such as heightened kerb appeal and status, but at their core they are some of the most sophisticated and capable vehicles on the market.

Blending spaciousness with high-tech off-road equipment, powerful engines, as well as luxuriously trimmed cabins, the apex prestige-badged Premium SUV we are looking for in this category should be tailor-made for image- and practicality-obsessed buyers.

The semi-finalists in this category of the 2025 CarsAwards are:

Best Adventure SUV

*Ford’s Everest is the defending champion in this segment, but the competition is stiff!*

In this revised category, we’re looking for the ultimate recreational vehicle to transport a family and all their holiday and lifestyle gear in comfort to almost any destination, on- or off-road. Off-road ability is important, in combination with practicality, comfort, towing ability and long-distance cruising.

The semi-finalists in this category of the 2025 CarsAwards are:

Best Leisure Double Cab (under R750 000)

Mahindra Pik Up Karoo Dawn — *In this new category for high-value double-cab offerings, could Mahindra spring a surprise?*

While the category name is not new, it now caters for more affordable double-cab derivatives priced below R750 000. Suffice it to say, South African consumers love their bakkies, and in this revised category of the 2024/25 Cars.co.za Awards – sponsored by Absa, we are looking for a high-value offering that combines genuine off-road capability (4×4 is required) with comfort (automatic is a must).

The semi-finalists in this category of the 2025 CarsAwards are:

Ultimate Double Cab (above R750 000)

*An unknown contender in this segment is Ineos’s Grenadier Quartermaster.*

In this immensely popular and fiercely contested category of the market, the search is on for the ultimate all-rounder. From luxurious touring vehicle, to hardcore off-roader, capable carry-all, family do-all and lifestyle activity machine, the Ultimate Double Cab bakkie can no longer be too utilitarian and rough around the edges, as they say, but should be a highly sophisticated offering.

The semi-finalists in this category of the 2025 CarsAwards are:

Best Performance Car (under R2m)

*The BMW M2 is undoubtedly a strong contender for the Performance Car of the Year title.*

While supercars and other “exotics” are mere fantasies for most new-car buyers, there are cars priced below the R2 million mark that offer near-supercar thrills and performance. In this category, we are not only looking for sizzling performance but also driver engagement, whether driven on track or road.

The semi-finalists in this category of the 2025 CarsAwards are:

The new Ford Mustang is the Wildcard entry in this category, this year.

Best Electric Vehicle (under R1.3m)

Volvo’s new EX30 is a controversial but well-priced contender.

The South African electric vehicle market welcomes new arrivals on an almost monthly basis and sales are growing steadily. While many ownership challenges remain, the latest EV offerings offer increasingly appealing range, performance and prestige. Affordability remains a key to unlocking greater market acceptance, and that is why we place the focus on the more affordable offerings in the local market.

The semi-finalists in this category of the 2025 CarsAwards are:

What happens next?

In the next round of judging, due to take place early in October 2024, the same jury will score each vehicle individually, taking into account the various, different criteria that each category prescribes. The top 3 (finalists) will then be announced next month at Naamsa’s South African Autoweek in Cape Town, and then be put through back-to-back testing at Gerotek in Gauteng early in November, by the entire 2024/25 Cars.co.za Awards – sponsored by Absa, jury.