Johannesburg - As the clock ticks down to our Best of the Best awards ceremony on 7 December, our judges have been hard at work sorting through the lengthy list of cars launched in South Africa in 2015.
At the end of each year our publication’s team of motoring journalists selects an overall winning Best of the Best vehicle as well as victors in the categories of Small/Budget Car, Family Car, Performance Car, Luxury Car, Adventure Vehicle, and Best-Styled Vehicle.
Although new-vehicle sales have come under pressure this year due to a slowing economy, it hasn’t stopped the motor industry from inundating the South African market with new cars, bakkies, SUVs and crossovers - and everything in between.
More than 70 all-new or upgraded vehicles have been launched in SA this year and our team of journalists has had a busy old time driving them all on local and international soil.
Our task is now to find the one that will replace our reigning Best of the Best champion from 2014, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class (which also subsequently went on to win the 2015 World Car of the Year award).
BEST STYLING: READERS’ COMPETITION
We will vote for all the other categories ourselves, but this year we’ve introduced an exciting new aspect to our annual awards in that the Best-Styled vehicle will be chosen by a readers’ vote.
Choose what you think is SA’s sexiest vehicle from the list alongside and email your vote to [email protected] with Best Styling in the subject line – you stand a chance of winning two tickets to our Best of the Best awards ceremony on 7 December.
Here are the eligible vehicles for our Best of the Best 2015 awards, alphabetically listed in their categories:
SMALL/BUDGET CAR
Audi A1 upgrade
Ford Figo
Honda Jazz
Hyundai i20
Kia Picanto facelift
Mazda2
Opel Corsa
Suzuki Celerio
Tata Bolt
Toyota Aygo
Volkswagen Polo sedan facelift
Volkswagen Up
FAMILY CAR
BMW i3
BMW X1
BMW 2 Series Active Tourer
BMW 3 Series upgrade
Chevrolet Cruze facelift
Citroën Cactus
Ford B-Max
Ford Focus upgrade
Ford Fusion
Ford Tourneo Connect
Hyundai Veloster turbo
Jaguar XE
Kia Grand Sedona
Kia Rio facelift
Mazda CX-5 facelift
Mercedes B-Class facelift
Opel Mokka
Peugeot 308
Suzuki Ciaz
Toyota Auris facelift
VW Golf SV
VW Passat
PERFORMANCE CAR
Audi RS6 Avant
Audi TT
BMW i8
BMW X5M, X6M
Ford Focus ST upgrade
Jaguar F-Type R AWD
Lexus RC350 F-Sport
Mazda MX-5
Mercedes-AMG C63
Mercedes-AMG GT
Mini John Cooper Works
Porsche Boxster Spyder
Range Rover Sport SVR
VW Golf GTI Performance Pack
VW Polo GTI
LUXURY CAR
Audi A6/A7 facelift
BMW 2 Series Convertible
Mercedes S-Class Coupé
Mercedes V-Class
Maserati Ghibli
ADVENTURE VEHICLE
Audi Q7
BMW X6
Fiat 500X
Ford Everest
Ford Ranger upgrade
Honda HR-V
Infiniti QX80
Jeep Renegade
Kia Sorento
Land Rover Discovery Sport
Lexus NX
Mercedes GLC
Mercedes GLE Coupé
Range Rover Sport SVR
Renault Captur
Suzuki Vitara
Subaru Outback
Volvo XC90