THE 2023 South African Car of the Year (Coty) competition is gearing up to crown the country’s ultimate vehicle champion at a gala event in June 2023.
Coty, which is sponsored by Old Mutual Insure and presented by the South African Guild of Mobility Journalists (SAGMJ), has a long-standing history dating back to 1986.
“Congratulations to our top 21 finalists! All the vehicles have already proven to be excellent contenders and we’re looking forward with anticipation to see which deserving vehicle will take home the coveted overall winner’s crown, as well as who the category winners will be,” said MD of Old Mutual Insure, Garth Napier.
“The 2023 Coty finalists showcase cutting-edge innovation and fierce competition in the quest to offer the best mobility solutions. These finalists are the cream of the crop in South Africa, and we can’t wait to see who comes out on top,” said chairman of the 2023 Coty committee Mabuyane Mabuza.
After intense deliberation, the Coty committee and the SAGMJ executive committee unanimously agreed that, instead of taking the top 12 scoring vehicles, a score cut-off was applied with the objective of including a broader spectrum of finalists without favouring categories.
“The team looked at a few options, but once the suggestion of a score-cut off was on the table, it just made sense. It evened the playing field,” said Mabuza.
The Coty categories include Budget, Compact, Compact Family, Midsize, Premium, Adventure SUV, 4X4 Double Cab, Luxury, Performance and New Energy. The Budget category does not have contenders on this year’s finalist list.
“The semi-finalist group was incredibly competitive, with several strong contenders narrowly missing the finalist cut. This year’s finalists include a larger selection of brands, making the competition much more exciting. The Coty committee is pleased with the vehicle selection of the final round and anticipates a tough decision for our expert jury panel,” Mabuza said.
