May 07, 2025 2025 South African Car of the Year (COTY), SA Car of the Year, BMW X3, SAGMJ, Mabuyane Mabuza, Old Mutual Insure, Jerry Anthonyrajah,
2025 SA Car of the Year Winners
The 2025 South African Car of the Year (COTY) jurors have announced the SA Car of the Year and the individual category winners. Having completed two rigorous days of testing in March, the country's most respected motoring journalists have spoken, crowning the BMW X3 as the 2025 South African Car of the Year.
This marks a successive victory for the German manufacturer, with the G70 generation 7 Series winning the 2024 title. BMW holds the record for the manufacturer with the most number of SA Car of the Year titles, with honours dating back to 1988 when the 735i won the competition. This is the first time the X3 nameplate has been awarded the title.
Locally produced at the company's Rosslyn facility, the latest X3 is a beacon of the local industry's capabilities and exceptional manufacturing standards. The German sport-utility vehicle edged ahead in the scoring thanks to its high refinement levels, innovative design, high level of digitisation and relative value for money.
Suzuki managed a commendable effort with a respectable second-place ranking for their B-segment Swift. Completing the podium is the G90 BMW M5. The M5 was also deemed the top pick in the special Jurors' Choice award. In addition to the Top 3 overall victors, SA Car of the Year incorporates six main categories: Budget, Family, Premium, Executive, Adventure Utility and Performance. The BMW X3, Suzuki Swift and BMW M5 are the top finishers in their respective categories: Premium, Budget and Performance.
The category winners are –
Family category - Volkswagen Tiguan
Executive class - BMW, G60 5 Series
Adventure Utility - Land Cruiser Prado J250 series
Mabuyane Mabuza, Chairperson of the SAGMJ, congratulated all the winners and entrants, noting the strong representation of Mzansi's diverse market. "Each year brings better technology, improved quality, and a stronger focus on safety – showing manufacturers' commitment to safer roads."
The Mahindra XUV 3XO took the crown as the 2025 Old Mutual Insure Car of the Year Motor Enthusiast “People’s Choice” Award winner – and it’s easy to see why. Voted for by the public, this compact SUV ticked all the right boxes with its bold looks, feature-packed interior, great fuel efficiency, and unbeatable value for money.
Jerry Anthonyrajah, Chief Commercial Officer at Old Mutual Insure says this category, introduced four years ago, highlights the growing role of public engagement in COTY competition. "From dual 10.25 inch screens and advanced safety tech, to a panoramic sunroof and smooth drive, it brings big-car energy without the big price tag. It’s the kind of car that gets people talking, and driving. As a brand that is customer-centric and develops products to better service our customers, Old Mutual Insure is thrilled to yet again play a part in celebrating vehicles that resonate with everyday South Africans,” said Anthonyrajah.
Mabuza explained that the COTY expert panel evaluates each finalist on design, technology, engineering, performance, handling, ingenuity, and safety. Lightstone Auto contributes essential market intelligence and data-driven insights, including value-for-money assessments relative to market rivals and each finalist's category sales performance. An independent audit firm has formally verified the 2025 competition results to ensure fairness and transparency.
"We congratulate all the winners and participants on a successful 2025 COTY competition. As a proud sponsor of the awards for three years running, we celebrate excellence that goes beyond what meets the eye. As one of South Africa’s most established and reputable short-term insurers, we’re committed to helping motorists at every stage of their journey – whether they’re buying their first car or investing in a more sustainable, hybrid future. This competition showcases the innovation, safety and quality that matter most to our customers, and we’re honoured to support a platform that recognises vehicles making a meaningful difference on our roads," said Anthonyrajah.
"We deeply thank all manufacturers who took part in the 2025 COTY competition, and we're especially grateful to our sponsors, partners, and Guild members for honouring the spirit of South Africa's premier motoring event," Mabuza concluded.
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