The prestigious title of the 2024 SA Car of the Year (Coty) has been claimed by the BMW 7 Series. The announcement came during a glamorous gala held on May 8th in Johannesburg. Among the 18 finalists vying for the coveted title, the 7 Series stood out impressively, capturing the attention of the Coty jurors from the South African Guild of Mobility Journalists (SAGMJ) throughout the rigorous evaluation process.
Securing second place overall was the Suzuki Fronx, while the BMW M2 clinched third position. The 2024 Coty competition witnessed 18 finalists meticulously chosen from a remarkable pool of 80 qualifying vehicles representing various hotly contested categories.
These categories encompassed Budget/Compact, Compact Family, Family, Premium, Adventure SUV, 4×4 Double Cab, Luxury, and Performance segments. Notably, this year’s competition saw a greater presence of EVs across different categories, leading to the elimination of the previous New Energy category.
The winners across different categories in the 2024 Coty competition were as follows:
– Budget/Compact: Suzuki Fronx
– Compact Family: Toyota Urban Cruiser
– Family: BMW X1
– Premium: Mercedes-Benz GLC
– Adventure SUV: Mahindra Scorpio-N
– 4×4 Double Cab: Volkswagen Amarok
– Luxury: BMW 7 Series
– Performance: BMW M2
Additionally, the Mahindra Scorpio-N clinched the “Motor Enthusiasts Choice” award, determined by public votes in a social media campaign led by Old Mutual Insure. This category, introduced three years ago, acknowledges the growing significance of public engagement in the Coty competition.
Another feather in the cap for BMW was the prestigious COTY Jurors Excellence Award bestowed upon the 7 Series. This accolade, recognizing the jurors’ admiration for its outstanding driving experience, vehicle quality, and craftsmanship, was based on their input scores.
Following the formal vehicle evaluation and jury scoring, Lightstone Auto, Coty’s competition partner, provides data-driven insights and online market intelligence. This ensures an objective measurement of factors like market relevance in terms of volume and segment share, as well as the product’s value relative to its competitors.
This approach has proven successful, with recent winners spanning diverse categories such as an EV, family crossovers, a 4×4 Double Cab, and now, a luxury sedan for the year 2024.
Reflecting on this victory, Mabuyane Mabuza, chairperson of the SAGMJ, remarked, “BMW now holds the record for the most overall wins in this prestigious showcase, having triumphed in six previous years: 1988, 1990, 1993, 1997, 2001, and 2011. It’s truly remarkable that the BMW 7 Series secures their seventh win in the competition.”
