News / 28 May 2026 / Michael Taylor

2026 South African Car of the Year winners revealed

The South African Guild of Mobility Journalists (SAGMJ) has finally announced the winners of the 40th annual Car of the Year (COTY) competition.

The overall winner of this year’s competition is none other than the Jetour T2, marking the first time in the event’s history that a Chinese car has claimed the title.

All of the winners were selected through an intensive process spanning several months, with a jury of more than 25 experienced automotive journalists.

This year’s evaluation saw an initial group of 55 qualifying vehicles put head-to-head, competing across six categories – Compact, Family, Mild Adventure, Adventure, Premium, and Performance.

This group was trimmed down to 30 semi-finalists in January 2026. Another 12 were eliminated shortly thereafter, leaving the list at 18 finalists.

The finalists were then subjected to a three-day evaluation process at Zwartkops Raceway in Gauteng.

Lightstone Auto, the official data partner to the South African Car of the Year competition, provided market intelligence for the scoring process.

“Following the jury’s physical evaluations, its data – including segment sales volumes and specification-adjusted competitor pricing – is used to determine segment weighting and to assess each finalist’s value relative to direct rivals.”

“This complements the jury’s assessments by adding objective market context and uniting the competition with a leading provider of independent automotive intelligence.”

The Jetour T2 not only won the Car of the Year title, but also took first place in the Mild Adventure category.

“Combining rugged design, luxury and advanced technology, the adventure-focused SUV outperformed the Hyundai Santa Fe, a mid-size hybrid SUV with futuristic styling, as well as two Chinese rivals, the BYD Shark 6 plug-in hybrid bakkie and the GWM Haval H7 hybrid SUV, to secure the category win,” said the SAGMJ.

The T2 is not the only Chinese winner on the list, as the Omoda C7 took home the gold for the Family segment.

“The stylish crossover SUV, blending advanced technology, luxury and comfort, outperformed fellow Chinese rivals, the Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV and Leapmotor C10 REEV, as well as the Opel Grandland and Volkswagen Tayron, to secure top honours in the category.”

The Compact category went to the VW Golf TSI, which beat the Alfa Romeo Junior, BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, and BYD Dolphin Surf due to its balance of fuel-efficiency and performance.

Off-roading enthusiasts can turn their attention to the Adventure section, where the Land Rover Defender OCTA beat out the Lexus GX to take first place.

Audi claimed two victories this year thanks to the A5 and the RS Q8.

The A5 won the Premium category, having been pitted against the Volvo EX90, Hyundai Santa Fe, and Lexus GX.

The RS Q8, unsurprisingly, dominated the Performance group, coming out on top ahead of the Alfa Romeo Junior and the Land Rover Defender OCTA.

“Congratulations to all the winners of the 40th edition of the 2026 COTY competition,” said Thami Masemola, SA COTY Chairman.

“In this landmark year, your victories are especially meaningful to us. Your excellence will be recorded in the archives of the annual competition, where only the best of the best have been recognised since 1986, when the competition was first held.”

One other winner to highlight is the Chery Tiggo 7, which was crowned the victor of the 2026 Old Mutual Insure Car of the Year Motor Enthusiast “People’s Choice” Award.

Unlike the other categories, the People’s Choice Award is decided by public vote, reflecting the desires of the average consumer.

The Tiggo 7 was praised for its striking design, feature-rich interior, strong value proposition and extensive equipment included in its retail price, offering outstanding value for money.

This year also marks Old Mutual Insure’s final appearance as sponsor of the South African Car of the Year competition.