JOHANNESBURG - The very first South African Car of the Year competition, 36 years ago, was won by the Toyota Corolla Twincam, with its newer-generation GLI Executive sibling taking overall victory three years later in 1989, and now history has repeated itself.
The Toyota Corolla Cross is South Africa’s 2022 Car of the Year, as judged by a jury of 25 automotive writers as selected by the members of the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists.
Having morphed into a crossover SUV format, the Toyota Corolla Cross is a clever adaptation to the times, and it also brings frugal hybrid motoring to a wider audience.
The Toyota Corolla Cross was selected as overall winner, and it also won the Compact Family and New-Energy categories of the competition.
These were the category winners:
- Compact Category: Toyota Urban Cruiser
- Compact Family Category: Toyota Corolla Cross
- Midsize Category: Mercedes-Benz C-Class
- Performance Category: Volkswagen Golf GTI
- New-Energy Category: Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid
- Adventure SUV Category: Toyota Landcruiser 300
- Double Cab 4×4 Category: Nissan Navara
The winners were whittled down from a list of 25 finalists, all of which were launched during the year of 2021.
The competition results are a combination of juror scoring and a few automated scoring factors that take things like sales and spec-adjusted pricing into consideration. This automated scoring information is supplied by Lightstone Auto.
However, there is a Juror’s Excellence Award that is derived only from juror scoring and this year’s winner is the Mercedes C-Class, which also won the Midsize Category.
“One thing has remained true to this remarkable contest; it celebrates and rewards automotive excellence. Our jurors are experts in their field and clearly understand vehicles and the mobility sector,” says Graham Eagle, chairperson of the 2022 COTY committee.
“The ongoing scoring system was developed in 2017 to enable jurors to compare category contenders. Every year, we adapt the scoring system slightly to consider new global and local market trends to ensure the credibility and objectivity of our competition,” Eagle added.
There is also a Motor Enthusiasts Choice Category, whose results are derived from public popularity as seen on social media, and this year’s winner was the Peugeot 208.
Previous South African Car of the Year winners
2021: Peugeot 2008
2020: Jaguar I-Pace
2019: Mercedes-Benz A-Class
2018: Porsche Panamera
2017: Opel Astra
2016: Volvo XC90
2015: Porsche Macan S Diesel
2014: Porsche Cayman S
2013: Porsche Boxster
2012: Hyundai Elantra 1.8 GLS
2011: VW Polo 1.6 TDI and BMW 530d
2010: VW Golf 6 1.4 TSI Comfortline
2009: Honda Accord 2.4i Executive
2008: Mazda 2 1.5 Individual
2007: Honda Civic 1.8 VXi
2006: Audi A3 Sportback 2.0 TFSI
2005: Volvo S40 2.4i
2004: Renault Mégane 1.9 dCi
2003: VW Polo 1.4 TDI
2002: Audi A4 1.9 TDI
2001: BMW 320d
2000: Renault Clio 1.4 RT
1999: Alfa Romeo 156 T-Spark
1998: Ford Fiesta Fun
1997: BMW 528i
1996: Audi A4 1.8
1995: Opel Astra 160iS
1994: Opel Kadett 140
1993: BMW 316i
1992: Nissan Maxima 300 SE
1991: Opel Monza 160 GSi
1990 - BMW 525i
1989: Toyota Corolla GLi Executive
1988: BMW 735i
1987: Mercedes-Benz 260E
1986: Toyota Corolla GLi