Announced at a gala event in Johannesburg on Tuesday evening (November 20th), the 25 member jury will over the next three months put the selected candidates through a series of tests based on the criteria mentioned below, with the eventual winner set to crowned in April next year.
For this year’s event, the finalists will be judged on the following aspects:
- Exterior Design
- Interior Design & Utility / Practicality
- Engine Performance
- Technology
- Transmission Performance
- Engineering Integrity, Build Quality and Noise Levels
- Ride Handling and Brakes
- Driver Assistance and Safety Systems
- Overall Excellence
- Affordability / Value for Money (automated score)
- Vehicle sales (automated score)
In additional first for the event in its 33 year history, is the introduction of categories consisting out of five divisions; Premium, Leisure, Lifestyle Utility, Urban Compact and Mid-Size, with a winner only be announcing if a suitable is identified.
Arranged in alphabetical order, the 12 finalists are:
| MAKE | MODEL |
| Alfa Romeo | Stelvio |
| Honda | Civic Type R |
| Hyundai | Kona |
| Lexus | ES |
| Mercedes-Benz | A-class |
| Mitsubishi | Pajero Sport |
| Nissan | Micra |
| Porsche | Cayenne |
| Renault | Duster |
| Suzuki | Jimny Swift |
| Volvo | XC40 |
