The 39 finalists (3in each of 13 categories) of the 2019/20 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards – powered by WesBank have been announced. They were selected out of 65 vehicles that Cars.co.za’s extended editorial team agreed were the best derivatives available in the South African new passenger vehicle market on 1 September 2019.

The #CarsAwards – now in its 5th year – was conceived to be South Africa’s definitive automotive awards programme and it has steadily grown in stature, reach and influence with the support of WesBank, South Africa’s largest vehicle finance provider. The 13 category winners and Brand of the Year recipient will be announced at a glittering awards ceremony in Johannesburg in February 2020.

Watch the #CarsAwards event live from 7:30pm 6th February 2020

VWagain leads the field, but 1st appearance for Haval

To determine the finalists, Cars.co.za’s extended editorial team trimmed the list of semi-finalists from 5 to 3 contenders per category by scoring each of them against specific pillars of success. As a result, 17 brands are represented in the list of finalists, with Volkswagen leading the nominations with 7derivatives, followed by BMW, Ford and Toyota (4apiece), Mazda and Suzuki (3 apiece).

Having previously made the semi-finalsof the #CarsAwards with its H2, Haval has gone one better with its H9 adventure SUV.

Significantly, fledgling Chinese SUV brand Haval makes its first appearances in the final stage of the #CarsAwards, while Jaguar and Land Rover return to the list after failing to make the last round in 2018/19.

Because candidates were selected from the entire new passenger-vehicle market (as opposed to only models launched during the past 12 months), there are eight defending category winners among the finalists, including the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, Toyota Fortuner, Volvo XC60, Volkswagen Polo, Amarok and Arteon, Range Rover Velar and Suzuki Swift, although in the case of the latter two, in different derivatives to last year.

A total of 16 finalists from last year’s programme will return for another round of judging in the 2019/20 programme, including the BMW X3 xDrive20d M-Sport, Mercedes-Benz C300 AMG Line and Volkswagen Golf GTI. There also different (or updated) versions of the BMW M2, Ford Everest and Fiesta, Mazda2, Volkswagen Polo Vivo and Volvo XC40.

2019/20 #CarsAwards finalists in the 13categories are (click on the headings for details on the categories and finalists):

Will the Suzuki Swift defend its title in the Budget Car category with its recently-launched 1.2 GLX derivative?

Budget Car

Kia Picanto 1.2 StyleSuzuki Swift 1.2 GLXVolkswagen Polo Vivo Trendline

Compact Hatch

Ford Fiesta 1.0 Trend AutoMazda2 1.5 Individual AutoVolkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI Comfortline

The Mercedes-Benz A200 AMG Line will face off with the Golf GTI yet again, but could the new Mazda3 2.0 Astina spring a surprise?

Premium Hatch

Mazda3 2.0 AstinaMercedes-Benz A200 AMG-LineVolkswagen Golf GTI

Executive SUV

BMW X3 xDrive20d M-SportRange Rover Evoque D180 R-Dynamic SEVolvo XC60 D5 R-Design

The Renault Duster faces a stern test against the updated Suzuki Vitara and all-new Volkswagen T-Cross.

Compact Family Car

Renault Duster 1.5 dCi PrestigeSuzuki Vitara 1.4T GLX AutoVolkswagen T-Cross 1.0 TSI 85kW Highline R-Line

Family Car

Mazda CX-5 2.0 Dynamic AutoPeugeot 3008 2.0 HDI AllureToyota RAV4 2.0 GX Auto

Toyota will be hoping that the Fortuner will win the Adventure SUV category of the #CarsAwards for a 3rd consecutive time.

Adventure SUV

Ford Everest 2.0 Bi-Turbo 4WD LimitedHaval H9 LuxuryToyota Fortuner 2.8GD-6 4×4 Auto

Premium SUV

Audi Q8 55 TFSI QuattroBMW X5 xDrive30d M-SportRange Rover Velar D300 R-Dynamic SE

The recently launched Audi Q3 will face off with the Jaguar E-Pace and Volvo XC40 in the new-for 2019 Crossover category.

Crossover

Audi Q3 35 TFSI S LineJaguar E-Pace D180 AWD R-DynamicVolvo XC40 D4 R-Design

Leisure Double Cab

Ford Ranger 2.0 BiTDi Wildtrak 4×4 AutoToyota Hilux 2.8 GD-6 Legend 50 4×4 AutoVolkswagen Amarok 3.0 V6 TDI Highline 4Motion

The Volkswagen Arteon will renew its rivalry with the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, but will it defeat the all-new BMW 3 Series?

Business Class

BMW 320d Sport LineMercedes-Benz C300 AMG LineVolkswagen Arteon 2.0 TSI 4Motion R-Line

Fun Hatch

Mini Cooper S Sports-AutoSuzuki Swift Sport 1.4TVolkswagen Polo GTI

The BMW M2 is a previous category winner, but the Competition M-DCT won't have it easy against the Ford Mustang and Toyota GR Supra.

Performance Car

BMW M2 Competition M-DCTFord Mustang GT 5.0Toyota Supra 3.0T

Next stop: Gerotek!

The next phase of the programme will take place on October 31 and November 1, when all thefinalistvehicles will be judged back-to-back (against the rivals in their categories) during a 2-day test session at Gerotek by a diverse judging panel, which includes the experienced motoring journalists of Cars.co.za’s extended editorial team, plus 14 respected and influential guest judges with a broad base of expertise.

The 21-member combined judging panel will put the finalists (including the Volkswagen Amarok) through their paces at Gerotek.

However, the findings of the 21 judges will only count for half of the finalists’ total scores – the remaining 50% will be based on rankings that the respective vehicles’ brands achieved in the Cars.co.za Ownership Satisfaction Survey, which is conducted in partnership with leading data specialists Lightstone Consumer. The data incorporates feedback from thousands of vehicle owners, based on their experiences of their own vehicles, which are less than five years old and serviced through franchised outlets.

“The #CarsAwards is designed to be a guide for all new passenger vehicle buyers, not only those who follow motoring publications," says Cars.co.za Consumer Experience Manager Hannes Oosthuizen. “With 50% of the final scores determined by brands’ rating in the survey, a vehicle only really stands a very good chance of winning if it is a good product in the eyes of the judges and if its brand delivers solid after-sales service.

In the 2018/19 programme, the experiences and perceptions of South African vehicle owners determined the final outcomes of 5 of the 13 #CarsAwards categories. And, importantly, their feedback will completely determine the 2019/20 Brand of the Year, which has been won by Toyota and Suzuki before (each of which has won it twice).SA's best brands for after-sales service. Have your say…

To access more information about the programme (including categories, judges and finalists) visithttps://www.carsawards.co.za

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