The Jetour T2 stood out as one of the most impressive new releases in 2025

The South African Guild of Mobility Journalists has announced the 2026 South African Car of the Year (COTY) competition winner as the Jetour T2 at a prestigious event in Johannesburg on Wednesday night.

The Jetour T2 was one of seven Chinese brands and 18 vehicles competing, marking the first-ever victory for a Chinese brand in the history of the local competition.

The Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI took second place and the Audi RS Q8 took third place.

The Chery Tiggo 7 was crowned winner of the 2026 Old Mutual Insure Car of the Year Motor Enthusiast “People’s Choice” Award.

This year’s competition marks 40 years of recognising the very best new cars on South Africa’s roads. Since 1986, experienced jurors have recognised vehicles that offer true distinction through innovation, specifications, value for money and customer relevance.

Selected from more than 55 new and qualifying vehicles launched in 2025, the 18 finalists represent the best in their respective segments of the 2026 SA COTY awards.

There were several categories for 2026, including the People’s Choice Award. The winners for the categories were as follows:

Compact car: VW Golf 1.4 TSI

Family car: Omoda C7

Mid-Adventure: Jetour T2

Adventure: Land Rover Defender Octa

Premium: Audi A5

Performance: Audi RS Q8

People’s Choice: Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV

Best Design: Alfa Romeo Junior

Overall 2026 SA Car of the Year winner: Jetour T2

Shortlisted after extensive consideration by SA COTY’s expert jury, each vehicle was assessed for quality, safety, performance and suitability for South African conditions, and will now advance to a rigorous three-day evaluation at Zwartkops Raceway in Tshwane.

The 2026 SA COTY finalists represented a diverse mix of vehicles, from affordable compact hatchbacks to family-focused lifestyle SUVs and performance SUVs, ensuring buyers across multiple price points can choose class-leading cars that suit their needs.

The 2026 SA Car of the Year 18 finalists, in alphabetical order, were:

Alfa Romeo Junior

Audi A5

Audi RS Q8

BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe

BYD Dolphin Surf

BYD Shark

Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV

GWM Haval H7

Hyundai Santa Fe

Jetour T2

Land Rover Defender OCTA

Leapmotor C10 REEV

Lexus GX

Omoda C7

Opel Grandland

Volkswagen Golf 1.4TSI

Volkswagen Tayron

Volvo EX90