These are the semi-finalists ofthe 2019/20 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards – powered by WesBank. The 13 eventual category winners will be selected from this pool of 65 vehicles, which represent some of the bestpurchasing propositions in the new car market.

Conceived to be South Africa’s definitive automotive awards programme, which recognises the bestpurchasing propositions in respective categories of the new car market, #CarsAwards enters its 5th year – has steadily grown in stature, reach and influence with the support of WesBank, South Africa’s largest vehicle finance provider.

“Vehicle purchases are amongst the biggest that consumers are likely to make in their lifetime,” says Ghana Msibi, Executive Head of Sales and Marketing at WesBank.“Initiatives such as this offer credible opinions on the types of cars and features available in the market, and in so doing help consumers make informed decisions when choosing a new or used vehicle.”

The #CarsAwards is regarded as an energetic, impactful opening number on the automotive industry calendar.

The list of 65 semi-finalists includes model derivatives from no fewer than 24 brands represented in the South African market. All vehicles available on the South African market on September 1, 2019, were eligible, not only new products that were launched during the past 12 months.

The first phase of 2019/20 #CarsAwards saw the extended Cars.co.za editorial team select the 5best vehicles in the 13 categories, some of which werespecifically devised for this year’s programme. Careful attention was paid to the respective categories' "Filters of Eligibility"and the "Pillars of Success" in order to come to a consensus on the list of semi-finalists.

New categories reflect market changes

Compared with the 2018/19 #CarsAwards, the Executive Sedan category has been replaced with one that caters for premium-positioned crossovers. The former Hot Hatch category (now named Fun Hatch) encompasses more affordable contenders and the price caps for the Premium SUV and Performance Car segments have been raised.

“It is important to note that we analyse market changes proactively and adapt the categories to be better aligned with the South African consumer,” says Cars.co.za Consumer Experience Manager Hannes Oosthuizen. “With no new contenders in the Executive Sedan category, as well as very poor sales in that segment, we saw it fit to create a new category (to reflect growth and interest in upmarket crossovers) instead.

“Meanwhile there have been no new launches in the traditional hot hatch category, but there has been activity at a lower price point, so we've created a new category called Fun Hatch.Plus, given the rapidly rising prices of cars, we believe that sticking to a R1-million barrier for our Premium SUV and Performance Car categories is no longer practical.”

Volkswagen leads the charge again

Even though as many as 24 brands’ vehicles feature in the list of 65, 5marques have more than 3 semi-finalists in the running for category honours. As was the case at this stage last year, Volkswagen has the most representatives (8), followed by BMW (6) and Audi, which has 5, although the A1 Sportback 40TFSI S Line derivative is notably a semi-finalist in 2 separatecategories. Ford (5) andToyota (4) round out the major manufacturers.

To gaina greater understanding of how the #CarsAwards work,go here.

Full list of 2019/20 #CarsAwards semi-finalists

The recently introduced Suzuki 1.2 GLX replaces its sibling (and 2018/19 #CarsAwards category winner) in this year's list.

Budget Car

Kia Picanto 1.2 StyleRenault Sandero Stepway ExpressionHyundai Grand i10 1.0 FluidSuzuki Swift 1.2 GLXVW Polo Vivo Trendline

For more info on the category's criteria and semi-finalists, click here.

The mid-spec Kia Rio 1.4 EX has charmed its way into the semi-finalist line-up in the Compact Hatch category.

Compact Hatch

VW Polo 1.0 TSI ComfortlineNissan Micra turbo Acenta PlusMazda2 1.5 Individual AutoKia Rio 1.4 EXFord Fiesta 1.0 Trend Auto

For more info on the category's criteria and semi-finalists, click here

The Premium Hatchback- replaces the Premium Compact category; the new Mazda3 2.0 Astina is one of the semi-finalists.

Premium Hatch

VW Golf GTIAudi A1 Sportback 40TFSI S LineMercedes-Benz A200 AMG-LineMazda3 2.0 AstinaMini Cooper S Hatch 5-Door Sports Auto

For more info on the category's criteria and semi-finalists, click here.

Could the Range Rover Evoque supersede the Volvo XC60 as the champion in the Executive SUV category?

Executive SUV

Volvo XC60 D5 R-DesignAudi Q5 40 TDI Sport quattroBMW X3 xDrive20d M-SportRange Rover Evoque D180 R-Dynamic SEMercedes-Benz GLC 220d AMG-Line

For more info on the category's criteria and semi-finalists, click here.

The eagerly anticipated Volkswagen T-Cross was launched in South Africa shortly before our September 1 cut-off date.

Compact Family Car

Ford Ecosport 1.0 Titanium AutoOpel Crossland X 1.2 Turbo Enjoy AutoRenault Duster 1.5 dCi PrestigeSuzuki Vitara 1.4T GLX AutoVW T-Cross 1.0 TSI 85kW Highline R-Line

For more info on the category's criteria and semi-finalists, click here.

The 2.0 GX-spec Toyota RAV4 is a popular derivative on the new vehiclemarket… Will it unseat the Volkswagen Tiguan in this category?

Family Car

Mazda CX-5 2.0 Dynamic AutoPeugeot 3008 2.0 HDI AllureSubaru Forester 2.0i-S ESToyota RAV4 2.0 GX AutoVW Tiguan Allspace 1.4 TSI Trendline

For more info on the category's criteria and semi-finalists, click here.

Armed with a new 2.0-litre bi-turbodiesel and a host of onboard and safety technologies, the top-spec Ford Everest in a strong contender.

Adventure SUV

Ford Everest 2.0 Bi-Turbo 4WD LimitedHaval H9 LuxuryIsuzu M-UX 3.0 4WDMitsubishi Pajero Sport 2.4 D4 4×4Toyota Fortuner 2.8GD-6 4×4 Auto

For more info on the category's criteria and semi-finalists, click here.

The newMercedes-Benz GLE features myriad improvements over its predecessor, but picking a winner in this category is tough.

Premium SUV

Audi Q8 55 TFSI quattroBMW X5 xDrive30d M-SportRange Rover Velar D300 R-Dynamic HSEMercedes-Benz GLE 400d 4Matic AMG-LineVolvo XC90 T8 Twin-Engine R-Design

For more info on the category's criteria and semi-finalists, click here.

Lexus returns to the #CarsAwards semi-finalists list with its new UX, which has garnered notable critical acclaim.

Crossover

Volvo XC40 D4 R-DesignAudi Q3 35 TFSI S LineJaguar E-Pace D180 AWD R-DynamicLexus UX 200 EXMini Countryman Cooper S sports-auto

For more info on the category's criteria and semi-finalists, click here.

The Toyota Hilux Legend 50 and updated Ford Ranger hope to unseat the defending champion, Volkswagen's Amarok 3.0 V6 TDI.

Leisure Double-Cab

Toyota Hilux 2.8 GD-6 Legend 50 4×4 AutoFord Ranger 2.0 BiTDi Wildtrak 4×4 AutoMitsubishi Triton 2.4 DI-D 4×4 AutoVW Amarok 3.0 V6 TDI Highline 4MotionIsuzu D-Max 3.0 TD 4×4 LX Auto

For more info on the category's criteria and semi-finalists, click here.

With its new G20-generation 3 Series, BMW has not 1, but 2, semi-finalists in the Business Class category.

Business Class

BMW 320d Sport LineBMW 330i Sport LineMercedes-Benz C300 AMG LineVW Arteon 2.0 TSI 4Motion R-LineAudi A5 40 TFSI Sport

For more info on the category's criteria and semi-finalists, click here.

The new Audi A1 Sportback is a bigger, more sophisticated and characterful offering. The40 TFSI S Line is a semi-finalist in 2 categories!

Fun Hatch

VW Polo GTISuzuki Swift Sport 1.4TAudi A1 Sportback 40 TFSI S LineOpel Corsa GSiMini Cooper S Sports-Auto

For more info on the category's criteria and semi-finalists, click here.

The Ford Mustang utilises a mix of olde-worlde charm and bags of nostalgic appeal to combat the might of Germany (and Japan).

Performance Car

Toyota GR Supra 3.0TBMW M2 Competition M-DCTBMW Z4 M40iFord Mustang GT 5.0Porsche Cayman GTS

Visit CarsAwards.co.za for more info on all the #CarsAwards categories & semi-finalists.

In the next round (due to take place in October 2019), the extended Cars.co.za editorial team willscore the semi-finalists individually, taking into account variouscriteria set out for each of the respective categories. Following that, the top three finalists per category will be announced and subjected to back-to-back testing at Gerotek in Gauteng by the combined judging panel (the 7 Cars.co.za editorial team members and 14 respected guest judges from various backgrounds and fields of expertise) in November 2019.

2019/20 #CarsAwards combined judging panel (in alphabetical order):

Aluta Maqoko(The Kolloquium), Ashley Oldfield (Cars.co.za), Brenwin Naidu (Sowetan & Sunday Times), Ciro de Siena (Cars.co.za), Claire Mawisa (Carte Blanche), Dasen Thathiah (eNCA), David Taylor (Cars.co.za), Ernest Page (SA Car Fan), Gero Lilleike (Cars.co.za), Jacob Moshokoa (947/EWN), Juliet McGuire (Freelance), Khulekani Dumisa(Khulekani on Wheels), Khutso Theledi (YFM), Kojo Baffoe (freelance), Lerato Matebese(Driven), Mike Fourie (Cars.co.za), Nafisa Akabor (Tech Journalist), Phuti Mpyane(The Petrosexual), Thami Masemola (In4Ride), Wendy Knowler (Consumer Specialist) and Wezile Bonani (Bay FM). To learn more about the judges' backgrounds, click here.

The 21 judges’ scores for each of the 39 finalists will only count for 50% of the final standings, however. The other 50% will be based on rankings that the respective vehicle brands represented by the finalists achieved in the Cars.co.za Ownership Satisfaction Survey, conducted in partnership with data specialists Lightstone Consumer. The data incorporates feedback from thousands of vehicle owners, based on their experiences of their vehicles (less than five years old and serviced through franchised outlets).

Cars.co.za editorial and guest judges test #CarsAwards finalists back to back, but the public has an equally-big say.

“The Cars.co.za Consumer Awards – powered by WesBank is designed to be a guide for all new passenger vehicle buyers, not only those who follow motoring publications," Oosthuizen concludes. “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.

It goes without saying that ongoing public participation in theOwnershipSatisfaction Surveyenables Cars.co.za to deliver the most relevant and accurate data-driven insights to consumers. The survey also represents a golden opportunity for owners to have a say in the outcome of the 2019/20 #CarsAwards.

Do you want to participate in the survey(even if you have before, you’re can do so again provided you've either bought a new vehicle/or had a service experience)?Ifyou own a vehicle that is less than 5 years old and serviced by a franchised dealer? Click here

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