Colin-on-Cars – Car of the Year contenders announced

The South African Guild of Mobility Journalists’ has announced the list of semi-finalists for the 2022 Car of the Year competition – the oldest car competition in the country, with its inaugural event taking place in 1986.

Over the years, the COTY competition has evolved based on changes in the automotive industry.

Honda Fit

“The impact of COVID-19 on the automotive industry has also seen changes in car launches and the allocation of fleet vehicles over the last year, necessitating modifications to the 2022 COTY competition,” says Graham Eagle, Chairman of the 2022 COTY committee.

This year has also seen the increased importance of online scoring by Guild members. As in 2021, this year will also not see a physical event where winners will be announced; the winners will be announced on the Guild’s digital platforms.

Categories

The 39 semi-finalists represent 10 categories launched between March 31 and December 31, 2021. Four contenders tied with identical scores in the final 35th semi-finalist position and were all included.

Subaru Outback

A total of 65 new vehicles launched in South Africa during this period were considered for this year’s COTY competition.

Energy

For the first time in the competition’s history, the decision was made that vehicles launched with both regular and new energy derivatives would be entered into both their relevant vehicle category and the New Energy Category. Vehicle ranges that only launched a new energy derivative were also included in the ever-growing New Energy Category.

The recently announced 25 juror and trainee juror teams will vote for the 2022 COTY competition finalists in 10 categories.

The categories are: Budget, Compact, Compact Family, Midsize, Premium, Luxury, Performance, New Energy, Adventure SUV and 4X4 Double Cab.

Hyundai Palisade
 
MAKEMODELCATEGORY
HondaFitCompact
Hyundaii20Compact
KiaSonetCompact
NissanMagniteCompact
Peugeot208Compact
ToyotaUrban CruiserCompact
CheryTiggo 4 ProCompact Family
HavalJolionCompact Family
HyundaiKonaCompact Family
ToyotaCorolla CrossCompact Family
AudiA3Midsize
HavalH6Midsize
HyundaiPalisadeMidsize
HyundaiSanta FeMidsize
HyundaiStariaMidsize
Mercedes-BenzC-ClassMidsize
SubaruOutbackMidsize
Mercedes-AMGGLE 53Luxury
AudiRS 6Performance
AudiRS Q3Performance
AudiRS Q8Performance
BMW128tiPerformance
BMWM3 CompetitionPerformance
BMWM4 CompetitionPerformance
Porsche911 Carrera GTSPerformance
ToyotaGR YarisPerformance
VolkswagenGolf GTIPerformance
HondaFit HybridNew Energy
JaguarE-PaceNew Energy
LexusISNew Energy
ToyotaCorolla Cross HybridNew Energy
ToyotaCorolla HybridNew Energy
ToyotaRAV4 HybridNew Energy
IsuzuMU-XAdventure SUV
Land RoverDefender V8Adventure SUV
Land RoverDiscoveryAdventure SUV
ToyotaLand Cruiser 300Adventure SUV
NissanNavara4X4 Double Cab
PeugeotLandtrek4X4 Double Cab
   

Toyota dominates with seven semi-finalists competing in five categories, but there is also strong representation by Audi and Hyundai. Surprisingly, the Performance Category has nine contenders, the most in many years. This year there are no contenders in the Budget category.

Audi A3

Shortly the jurors will narrow the field of semi-finalists to worthy finalists. They are given eight weeks to assess vehicles, after which the final scoring will commence, determining the 2022 SA Car of the Year.

“The overall 2020 SA Car of the Year winner remains the most coveted of all automotive competition titles in South Africa and enjoys international recognition,” concludes Eagle.

Leave a Reply