2023 South African Car of the Year semi-finalists announced

The South African Guild of Mobility Journalists (SAGMJ) has announced the semi-finalists for the 2023 South African Car of the Year (COTY) competition.

This year 36 entries have made it past the first stages of the competition, with models ranging in all shapes and sizes from small affordable hatchbacks to high-end luxury SUVs and everything in between.

“Congratulations to the semi-finalists, who have made it through a strict round,” said Garth Napier, MD at Old Mutual Insure, the COTY sponsor.

“Although there is still some way to go, they have already proven their resilience: The automotive market has changed drastically following Covic-19 and consumers are more in need than ever before of solutions that are adaptable to the times.”

The first stage of the competition involved 80 models which were reviewed by the COTY committee and 55 of these models met the requirements to move to the next stage.

The 36 semi-finalists were then determined by members of the SAGMJ who voted on an online platform.

In January 2023, the COTY jury will shave the list down to a small pool of finalists, which will further be subjected to a stringent evaluation process before the official 2023 South African Car of the Year is announced.

The semi-finalists

These are the cars that will be competing with one another for the coveted title of South Africa’s 2023 Car of the Year.

Click on the underlined prices for more information.

Alfa Romeo Tonale

• Starting price – R739,900

Audi e-tron GT / RS e-Tron GT

• Starting price – R2,715,000

Audi RS 3 Sedan / Sportback

• Starting price – R1,215,000

BAIC Beijing X55

• Starting price – R394,900

BMW 2 Series Coupe

• Starting price – R671,072

BMW 7 Series

• Starting price – R2,172,751

BMW i4

• Starting price – R1,600,000

BMW iX3

• Starting price – R1,290,000

Chery Tiggo Pro 7

• Starting price – R437,900

Chery Tiggo Pro 8

• Starting price – R496,900

Ford Everest

• Starting price – R965,400

Ford Ranger

• Starting price – R486,000

Haval H6 Hybrid

• Starting price – R669,950

Honda Civic RS

• Starting price – R669,000

Hyundai Grand Creta

• Starting price – R467,900

Hyundai Kona N

• Starting price – R764,900

Hyundai Tucson

• Starting price – R539,900

Isuzu D-Max

• Starting price – R411,800

Jeep Gladiator

• Starting price – R1,329,900

Jeep Grand Cherokee L

• Starting price – R1,329,900

Kia Carnival

• Starting price – R803,995

Kia Sorento

• Starting price – R813,995

Kia Sportage

• Starting price – R539,995

Range Rover

• Starting price – R2,848,600

Mahindra XUV700

• Starting price – R474,999

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

• Starting price – R2,348,889

Nissan Qashqai

• Starting price – R568,200

Opel Mokka

• Starting price – R489,900

Porsche 911 GT3

• Starting price – R3,349,000

Porsche Cayman GT4 RS

• Starting price – R2,588,000

Renault Clio 5

• Starting price – R309,999

Suzuki Baleno

• Starting price – R231,900

Toyota GR86

• Starting price – R698,100

Toyota Rav4 E-Four

• Starting price – R685,000

VW Taigo

• Starting price – R444,900

Volvo XC40 P8 Recharge

• Starting price – R1,260,000