South Africa’s premier automotive awards programme, the Cars.co.za Awards (#CarsAwards), sponsored by Absa, returned for its eighth iteration, celebrating the finest vehicles across 13 categories. Hosted at the prestigious Waterfall City Park at Mall of Africa in Johannesburg on 27 February 2025, the event recognized excellence in the automotive industry while reaffirming Toyota’s dominance as the recipient of the coveted Brand of the Year title for the third consecutive time.
Category Winners: The Best of the Best
The 2024/25 #CarsAwards winners reflected a mix of proven champions and surprising newcomers. BMW and Toyota emerged as the most successful brands of the evening, each securing three category wins. Below is a snapshot of the top-performing vehicles:
- Budget Car: Suzuki Swift 1.2 GLX
- Compact Hatch: Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI (85kW) R-Line Auto
- Budget Crossover: Toyota Urban Cruiser 1.5 XR Auto
- Compact Family Car: Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8 Hybrid XR
- Family Car: Kia Sportage 1.6CRDi GT Line Plus
- Premium Crossover: Mini Countryman S ALL4
- Executive SUV: BMW X3 30e xDrive M Sport
- Premium SUV: BMW X5 xDrive30d M Sport
- Adventure SUV: Land Rover Defender 110 D350 X-Dynamic HSE
- Leisure Double Cab: Toyota Hilux Double Cab 2.4GD-6 Raider 4×4 Auto
- Ultimate Double Cab: Ford Ranger 3.0T V6 Raptor 4WD
- Performance Car: BMW M2 Auto
- Electric Vehicle: Mini Countryman SE ALL4
- Brand of the Year: Toyota
Toyota’s Continued Reign
Toyota’s win in the Brand of the Year category further solidified its reputation as South Africa’s most trusted and well-regarded automotive manufacturer. With three category wins—Urban Cruiser, Hilux, and Corolla Cross Hybrid—Toyota showcased its ability to deliver reliability, efficiency, and innovation across various segments. Its latest triumph marks its fifth overall Brand of the Year victory, outpacing Suzuki (2) and Volkswagen (1).
Record-Breaking Performances and Industry Trends
Several key trends and milestones defined this year’s #CarsAwards:
- Volkswagen’s Five-Year Streak: The Polo 1.0 TSI 85kW R-Line Auto extended Volkswagen’s dominance in the Compact Hatch segment, marking its fifth consecutive win in this category.
- Suzuki’s Budget Car Supremacy: The Suzuki Swift 1.2 GLX continued the brand’s historic success, securing its sixth Budget Car category win in eight years.
- Mini’s Resurgence: After a long hiatus, Mini returned to the winners’ circle, securing victories in both the Premium Crossover and Electric Vehicle categories with its Countryman lineup.
- Land Rover’s High-Scoring Return: The Defender 110 D350 X-Dynamic HSE not only won the Adventure SUV category but also achieved the highest combined score among all finalists (81.1%).
- Kia’s Unparalleled Margin of Victory: The Sportage 1.6CRDi GT Line Plus successfully defended its Family Car title, beating its closest competitor, the Volkswagen Tiguan, by an impressive 4.7% margin.
- BMW’s Narrowest Win: The X5 xDrive30d M Sport secured the Premium SUV title by just 0.02% over the Lexus RX 500h F Sport, making it the closest competition of the evening.
A Judging Process Rooted in Expertise and Data
Unlike other awards programmes, the #CarsAwards employs a multi-layered judging system combining expert evaluation with consumer feedback. Of the final scores:
- 50% was determined by a panel of 19 judges who rigorously tested the vehicles at Gerotek in November 2024.
- 50% was based on real-world ownership experiences derived from a survey of almost 5,000 vehicle owners, conducted by data specialists Lightstone.
How Toyota Secured Brand of the Year
The Brand of the Year title is awarded based exclusively on customer satisfaction and long-term value retention. Toyota edged out Mini by just 0.6% in the final rankings, with Isuzu making a significant leap to third place. Toyota’s consistency in customer service, after-sales support, and resale value once again proved unbeatable.
A Celebration of Automotive Excellence
The Cirque du Soleil-themed event, hosted by comedian Nik Rabinowitz and radio personality Khutso Theledi, was a fitting tribute to an industry that continues to evolve and inspire. As Amasi Mwela, Managing Director of Cars.co.za, aptly stated:
“The Cars.co.za Awards provide consumers with trusted, data-driven insights, ensuring they make informed vehicle purchases that align with their needs and expectations.”
With its fair and transparent approach, the Cars.co.za Awards remain the benchmark for automotive excellence in South Africa. Looking ahead to the 2025/26 iteration, industry watchers will be keen to see if Toyota can extend its streak or if another challenger will emerge to claim the top spot.
