The 2024/25 CarsAwards, sponsored by Absa, have once again provided the definitive benchmark for excellence in South Africa’s automotive industry. With rigorous judging, extensive consumer feedback, and a glamorous awards ceremony held at Waterfall City Park at the Mall of Africa on February 27, 2025, this year's winners represent the pinnacle of quality, performance, and value in their respective categories.
Judging Process: A Balanced Approach
The CarsAwards process is unique in its multi-faceted approach. A panel of 19 expert judges, in conjunction with consumer data sourced by Lightstone, determined the winners.
50% of the final score came from extensive testing and evaluation by the judging panel.
50% came from consumer feedback, based on surveys with nearly 5,000 South African car owners regarding sales experience, after-sales service, and overall product satisfaction.
The judging panel shortlisted 39 finalists from a pool of 65 semi-finalists before engaging in an intensive two-day test session at Gerotek in November 2024.
This methodology ensures that the winning vehicles are not only excellent in their technical execution but also highly rated by those who own and drive them daily.
2024/25 CarsAwards Category Winners & Runners-Up
Budget Car
Winner: Suzuki Swift 1.2 GLX
Runners-up: Hyundai Exter 1.2 Executive, Mahindra XUV 3XO 1.2T MX3
Compact Hatch
Winner: Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI (85kW) R-Line Auto
Runners-up: Honda Fit 1.5 Elegance Auto, Suzuki Baleno 1.5 GLX Auto
Budget Crossover
Winner: Toyota Urban Cruiser 1.5 XR Auto
Runners-up: Kia Sonet 1.5 LX Auto, Suzuki Fronx 1.5 GLX Auto
Compact Family Car
Winner: Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8 Hybrid XR
Runners-up: Kia Seltos 1.5 CRDi EX+, Volkswagen T-Cross 1.0 TSI R-Line
Family Car
Winner: Kia Sportage 1.6 CRDi GT Line Plus
Runners-up: Volkswagen Tiguan 1.4 TSI R-Line, Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max 2.0TGDi 390 Executive AWD
Premium Crossover
Winner: Mini Countryman S ALL4
Runners-up: BMW X2 sDrive18i M Sport, Volvo XC40 B4 Plus Dark
Executive SUV
Winner: BMW X3 30e xDrive M Sport
Runners-up: Lexus NX 450h+ F Sport, Mercedes-Benz GLC 300d 4Matic AMG Line
Premium SUV
Winner: BMW X5 xDrive30d M Sport
Runners-up: Lexus RX 500h F Sport, Mercedes-Benz GLE 300d 4Matic
Adventure SUV
Winner: Land Rover Defender 110 D350 X-Dynamic HSE
Runners-up: Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 2.8GD VX-R, Ford Everest 3.0 TD V6 4WD Wildtrak
Leisure Double Cab
Winner: Toyota Hilux Double Cab 2.4GD-6 Raider 4×4 Auto
Runners-up: Isuzu D-Max Double Cab 1.9 TD LS 4×4 Auto, Ford Ranger Double Cab 2.0SiT XLT 4×4 Auto
Ultimate Double Cab
Winner: Ford Ranger 3.0T V6 Raptor 4WD
Runners-up: Toyota Hilux Double Cab 2.8GD-6 GR-Sport 4×4 Auto, Ineos Grenadier 3.0T Quartermaster Trialmaster Edition
Performance Car
Winner: BMW M2 Auto
Runners-up: Audi RS3 Sportback quattro, Mercedes-AMG A45 S Hatch 4Matic+
Electric Vehicle
Winner: Mini Countryman SE ALL4
Runners-up: BMW iX1 xDrive30 M Sport, Volvo EX30 Plus Twin Motor Performance
Brand of the Year: Toyota Dominates Again
Toyota claimed the prestigious Brand of the Year title for the third consecutive time, bringing their total to five wins.
Winner: Toyota (77.2%)
Runners-up: Mini (76.6%), Isuzu (75.3%)
This award is determined solely by consumer ratings on dealer experience, after-sales service, and long-term vehicle ownership satisfaction. Toyota’s consistent quality and extensive dealer network make it the most trusted brand among South African consumers.
Notable Highlights
Most Category Wins: BMW and Toyota led the pack with three wins each.
Volkswagen’s Consistency: With its latest victory, Volkswagen has now secured 21 category wins since the inception of the CarsAwards.
Biggest Winning Margin: Kia Sportage won the Family Car category by an impressive 4.7%.
Smallest Winning Margin: The BMW X5 barely edged out the Lexus RX 500h F Sport by just 0.02%.
Comeback Kings: Mini returned to the winners’ list for the first time since 2017/18, taking two trophies in the Premium Crossover and Electric Car categories.
The Future of the CarsAwards
The CarsAwards continue to be South Africa’s most comprehensive and trusted car awards, guiding consumers in making informed vehicle purchases. Following the awards ceremony, the winning vehicles were put on display at the Mall of Africa for three days, allowing potential buyers to experience these exceptional models up close.
The CarsAwards’ rigorous evaluation process ensures that each winner is not only the best in its class but also resonates with the people who matter most—South African car buyers.
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