Having been rigorously tested at Gerotek, all 39 #CarsAwards finalist vehicles starred in theCars.co.zaConsumer Awards Roadshow at the Mall of Africa where, for the first time, the public had the opportunity to experience the cars – and judges – in the flesh.

You’d think that for the 6th year of evaluating the finalist vehicles of the Cars.co.za Consumer Awards at Gerotek (the programme is now in its 7th iteration), co-ordinating two days of back-to-back testing would pose little challenge for SA’s leading motoring website… and the 20-strong panel of car judges.

The #CarsAwards finalists and judges took over the Mall of Africa earlier this month.

The 2023/24 #CarsAwards posed a bigger challenge, however. The test days were immediately followed by a mega 2-day Cars.co.za Consumer Awards Roadshow at the Mall of Africa in Midrand, where, for the first time, automotive consumers could experience the #CarsAwards for themselves with the opportunity to see and touch all 39 of the finalist vehicles up close, interact with the judges, win prizes and more.

Before the fun part could happen, however, the test programme had to be completed!

Cars.co.za utilises the vast Gerotek Testing Facility in Gauteng for judges to thoroughly test and compare the contenders (in each of the categories they’ve been assigned) in a safe and controlled environment.

#CarsAwards adopts a rigorous test regimen

All 39 finalists are subjected to a rigorous testing regimen.

Each finalist is subjected to a comprehensive set of obstacles that are designed to test various facets of the vehicle’s performance ability. Finalists in any given category are driven back-to-back in the same conditions, affording the judges a unique opportunity to evaluate and pass judgment based on how the cars perform.

Passenger cars, for example, must complete a course that incorporates a skid pan gymkhana, emergency brake test, slalom test, a suspension track (consisting of various road surfaces to evaluate suspension performance), handling track (wet and dry) and an extensive mountain track to test the vehicle’s ride quality, braking and cornering ability. Moreover, the test routine also includes acceleration tests, emergency lane changes and incline starts.

But that’s only the start…

Judges also have the opportunity to evaluate interior build quality and features, occupant comfort and overall practicality. To add authenticity to the luggage-capacity test, judges are provided with boxy containers, prams and cut-outs of surfboards to load into the vehicles.

And those judges who are assigned to evaluate the double-cab bakkies and off-road-oriented Adventure SUVs really have to roll up their sleeves!

They must pilot the contenders, all of which have 4-wheel-drive capability and low-range transfer cases, through a deep trough of sand, a technical off-road course, as well as an incline ascent (of 25 degrees) and descent (31 degrees), the latter of which provides an appropriate test of their hill-descent control systems.

To top it off, the off-roaders are subjected to a trailer tow test around Gerotek’s “mountain” course. The trailers carry the maximum unbraked load motorists can legally tow (750 kg).

As you might have gathered, the test procedure and judging process is intensive; the judges (including members of the Cars.co.za editorial team and guests from various backgrounds and fields of expertise) jot down their scores in individualised scoring books that list only the categories to which they’ve been assigned and, as soon as they have finished testing, say, a trio of budget hatchbacks, they could next sample an entirely new class of vehicle, such as premium SUVs – it requires the utmost of concentration.

The finalist vehicles are lined up and ready for testing at Gerotek.

All the finalist vehicles are filmed and photographed throughout the complex while the judges are also interviewed about their experiences of #CarsAwards testing and what they have learned about the vehicles by driving them back-to-back on the same day and course.

#CarsAwards Takes Over Mall of Africa

There was little time for rest after the test programme concluded on Friday 3 November… The 39 finalist vehicles left Gerotek that evening and were relocated to the Mall of Africa, which was decked out in Cars.co.za’s distinctive red liveries for the Roadshow, which would take place on the weekend.

Consumers had the chance to interact with the cars and the judges.

In a first for the #CarsAwards programme, the Roadshow was an activation event designed to allow all visitors of the Mall of Africa on the weekend of November 4 and 5 to experience a part of the #CarsAwards for themselves, as opposed to exclusively online or on social media.

All 39 of the finalist vehicles were displayed in four areas of the Mall of Africa complex. The prominently branded exhibits featured red carpets (of course), multimedia displays and selfie ring lights; motoring enthusiasts and prospective car buyers alike were encouraged to get up close to their favourite finalist vehicles, as well as engage with the judges and ask questions.

Lots of prizes were up for grabs!

Buyers who were interested in purchasing any of the finalists (or any car for that matter) were swiftly directed to the Cars.co.za App and the Cars.co.za website where you can easily book a test drive and connect with relevant dealers.

There were spot-prize giveaways and a competition to win a weekend getaway worth R20 000 and #CarsAwards judges Jacob Moshokoa, Juliet McGuire, Kumbi Mtshakazi, Muzi Sambo, Mpho Mahlangu, MrHowMuch, Brendon Staniforth and Cars.co.za’s Ciro De Siena, Ashley Oldfield, David Taylor and Gero Lilleike were on hand to engage with mallgoers, many of whom may never have seen electric vehicles, such as the BMW iX and GWM Ora 300, in the metal before.

SA’s best cars all in one place!

Cars.co.za added the Cars.co.za Consumer Awards Roadshow component to the 2023/24 #CarsAwards to increase consumer awareness of the 7-year-old programme, which is critical to itssuccess, as well as provide prospective car buyers with exposure to the top vehicles that they should consider purchasing in 13 of the most important categories of the new-vehicle market.

In future, the #CarsAwards may host such activations in other malls across the country. In the immediate future, the winners of the 2023/24 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards (including the recipient of the coveted Brand of the Year title) will be announced in late February 2024.

Juliet McGuire and Jacob Moshokoa were at the Mall of Africa to entertain mallgoers.

Remember, the judging panel only has half of the say in what vehicles will win their categories. The judges’ inputs are weighted (based on category) – that makes up 50% of the finalist vehicles’ scores; the other 50% takes into account customer data from the Cars.co.za Ownership Satisfaction Survey, conducted by Lightstone Consumer.

That data is based on feedback from thousands of South African motorists who own vehicles that are less than 4 years old and serviced through franchised dealers’ service departments.

Follow the #CarsAwards on Cars.co.za, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

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