But that’s not where it ends..

After a night at the lodge, with much friendly banter and catching up with fellow journalists and other industry players, the third testing day included test drives on public roads surrounding the venue while fine-tuning and finalising our scores for each vehicle.

Should there be any second guessing on a score from the fast-paced track day, another spin along the road test route tends to bring some finality.

Armed with extra perspective, this is also when I filled in most of the ‘value’ related scores that make up the final section of the score sheet, which also has questions on overall excellence and innovation, as well as price competitiveness.

There is a great deal of data to input, through 32 questions on each car, but in the end, much thought and consideration goes into the scoring of each model. A small percentage of the overall score is also determined by automated aspects, such as sales figures and value-related data inputted by Lightstone Auto.

These are the 2025 Car of the Year finalists in alphabetical order

BMW 5 Series Sedan
BMW M5
BMW X3
Ford Mustang GT
GAC GS3 EMZOOM
GWM P500 HEV
Jaecoo J7
Mahindra XUV 3XO
Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance
Mercedes-Benz E-Class (E 220d)
MINI Countryman
Mitsubishi Triton
Omoda C9
Suzuki Swift
Toyota Land Cruiser Prado
Volkswagen Tiguan
Volvo EX30

While the overall Car of the Year prize is most coveted, organisers also announce category winners for segments such as Compact/Budget, Family, Premium, Luxury, Adventure 4x4 and Performance Vehicle.

This year's contest feels as closely-fought as ever, and the winners for 2025's competition will be announced at a glitzy event in early May.

And that’s the South African Car of the Year evaluation process in a nutshell. May the best vehicle win!

Previous South African Car of the Year winners

2024: BMW 7 Series
2023: Ford Ranger
2022: Toyota Corolla Cross
2021: Peugeot 2008
2020: Jaguar I-Pace
2019: Mercedes-Benz A-Class
2018: Porsche Panamera
2017: Opel Astra
2016: Volvo XC90
2015: Porsche Macan S Diesel
2014: Porsche Cayman S
2013: Porsche Boxster
2012: Hyundai Elantra 1.8 GLS
2011: VW Polo 1.6 TDI and BMW 530d
2010: VW Golf 6 1.4 TSI Comfortline
2009: Honda Accord 2.4i Executive
2008: Mazda 2 1.5 Individual
2007: Honda Civic 1.8 VXi
2006: Audi A3 Sportback 2.0 TFSI
2005: Volvo S40 2.4i
2004: Renault Mégane 1.9 dCi
2003: VW Polo 1.4 TDI
2002: Audi A4 1.9 TDI
2001: BMW 320d
2000: Renault Clio 1.4 RT
1999: Alfa Romeo 156 T-Spark
1998: Ford Fiesta Fun
1997: BMW 528i
1996: Audi A4 1.8
1995: Opel Astra 160iS
1994: Opel Kadett 140
1993: BMW 316i
1992: Nissan Maxima 300 SE
1991: Opel Monza 160 GSi
1990: BMW 525i
1989: Toyota Corolla GLi Executive
1988: BMW 735i
1987: Mercedes-Benz 260E
1986: Toyota Corolla GLi