SA Car of the Year candidates announced

The finalists were chosen by all the full members of the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists and a jury comprising 30 selected members of the SAGMJ.

The finalists in the running for honours in the country's premier motoring event are:
• Alfa Romeo MiTo 1.4i Turbo Petrol
• Audi Q5 2.0 T S tronic
• Chevrolet Cruze 1.8 LS
• Hyundai i20 1.6 GLS
• Suzuki Alto 1.0 Litre GLS
• Toyota Prius 1.8 ECVT Advanced
• Volkswagen Golf VI 1.4 TSI 90 kW Comfortline
• Volvo XC60 3.0T Geartronic

Two-day testing to follow

The next step in the process is to determine the winner from a two-day test session to be held in February 2010 at the Gerotek test facility near Pretoria, where the cars will be assessed independently by the jury members.

The evaluation includes high speed dynamic assessment; a test to mark manoeuvrability, parking prowess and general ease of control; driving tests under various conditions on track and road, in town and on gravel, all the while taking fuel economy into account.

A static evaluation of each finalist also contributes to the car's score in terms of aesthetics, build quality and ergonomics, while considerations based on perceptions of value for money, cost of a spares' basket, safety features and environmental friendliness contribute to overall points.

A unique honour to be selected as COTY

Other factors considered include running costs, the cost of spares, fuel consumption, practicality, features and performance measured against price.

South Africa's Car of the Year competition - sponsored for the past 25 years by WesBank, with additional support this year from Total, Hollard Insurance, Garmin and Varta - is unique in the world in that the victor is determined not by popular vote as in most countries, but by actual testing of the finalists to determine by what margins they meet criteria for COTY honours.

The winner will be announced at a gala function during the first quarter of next year.