News / 7 May 2025 / Albert du Toit

2025 South African Car of the Year winners revealed

The South African Guild of Mobility Journalists (SAGMJ) has crowned the homegrown BMW X3 the 2025 South African Car of the Year.

This marks the second year in a row where the German marque took home the title, doing so last year with its luxurious 7 Series.

As per the judges, the X3 – built in Rosslyn, Gauteng – led the competition thanks to its high refinement levels, innovative design, high level of digitisation, and relative value for money.

The runner up to the prestigious position was none other than the new Suzuki Swift, which managed to beat out far pricier rivals thanks to improvements in the aspect of occupant safety, with six airbags as standard across the range.

Completing the rostrum was another BMW, this time the new M5 super sedan.

“The adaptation of hybrid technology has given this performance saloon a fresh dimension and increased relevance in the era of electrification,” said the SAGMJ.

“Jurors were wowed by the vivid acceleration, sumptuous cabin execution, and dual-personality afforded by the powertrain, which enables zero-emissions driving, complementing the utility of its twin-turbocharged V8 motor.”

The M5 was also deemed the top pick in the special Jurors’ Choice award.

In addition to the top three overall victors, the 2025 Car of the Year competition incorporated six main categories encompassing Budget, Family, Premium, Executive, Adventure Utility, and Performance.

The BMW X3, Suzuki Swift, and BMW M5 were the top finishers in their respective categories of Premium, Budget, and Performance.

It was the new VW Tiguan that took home the win in the Family category.

The third generation of the popular SUV, launched locally late last year, marks a significant evolution over its forebear with modern styling and a cleverly packaged cabin.

It also boasts luxuries one doesn’t often found within its segment, such as massaging seats.

In the Executive class, it was yet another triumph for BMW with the 5 Series.

The executive four-door made a great impression on its judges with its polished driving experience, luxurious interior appointments, and superior value in relation to its direct competitors.

The country’s favourite nameplate, Toyota, locked off the the Adventure Utility segment with its vaunted latest-generation Land Cruiser Prado.

The swanky off-roader charmed the jurors with its retro-themed design character, improved comfort versus its predecessor, effortless off-road ability, and stout powertrain.

An honourable mention, the Mahindra XUV 3XO crossover took the crown as the “Motor Enthusiast’s” Award winner, which was voted for by the public.

“This compact SUV ticked all the right boxes with its bold looks, feature-packed interior, great fuel efficiency, and unbeatable value for money,” said the SAGMJ.

The winners and their competitors were painstakingly evaluated over the course of several months on factors such as design, technology, engineering, performance, handling, ingenuity, and safety.

They were also judged based on their market performance, with Lightstone Auto contributing market intelligence and data-driven insights such as value-for-money assessments relative to rivals, as well as each finalist’s category sales performance.

An independent audit firm formally verified the 2025 competition results to ensure fairness and transparency.