The South African Guild of Mobility Journalists reveals the 18 finalists for the 2026 South African Car of the Year, marking 40 years of recognising vehicles that matter to South African motorists. Chosen from more than 55 new vehicle launches in 2025, the finalists reflect excellence across innovation, safety, performance, value and real-world relevance.

Each finalist now advances to rigorous three-day testing at Zwartkops Raceway, where SA COTY’s expert jury will put them through their paces in one of the world’s few remaining hands-on Car of the Year evaluations.