Wiel's Super 16

Some 320 marques came under the spotlight for the inaugural Super 16 judging. Each vehicle's performance, handling, riding comfort, finish and accessories was assessed relative to its price – elements that buyers would consider in coming to their decision.

Wiel's awards claims its independence from competitors in that there is a broader range of categories under review.

"The existing categories were just too limiting," explained Wiel's editor, Ferdi de Vos. "To do justice to all the vehicles available, we decided to add categories for important niche models such as hot hatches, performance and super cars. We also took into account the growing trend towards crossover vehicles in the SUV and MPV categories, and felt the need to create a special category for double-cab bakkies, owing to the popularity of this vehicle in South Africa and our target market."

The final recommendations were based on the results of Wiel's road and comparative tests throughout the year (more than 100 vehicles were tested) and the team's detailed knowledge of vehicles they have driven or tested before.

The full results of the Super 16 are available in the Wiel's January issue.