Golf VI 1.4 TSI Comfortline is the SA Car of the Year

The Volkswagen Golf VI 1.4 TSI Comfortline was one of eight finalists who made the shortlist for South African Guild of Motoring Journalists/Wesbank Car of the Year competition.

The cars in the final running for the coveted award were:

• Alfa Romeo MiTo 1.4i Turbo Petrol
  
• Audi Q5 2.0 T S tronic
  
• Chevrolet Cruze 1.8 LS
  
• Hyundai i20 1.6 GLS
  
• Suzuki Alto 1.0 Litre GLS
  
• Toyota Prius 1.8 ECVT Advanced
  
• Volkswagen Golf VI 1.4 TSI 90 kW Comfortline
  
• Volvo XC60 3.0T Geartronic

The finalists were chosen by all the full members of the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists and a jury comprising 30 selected members of the SAGMJ.

The winner has passed the test

All the finalists were then put through a tough two-day test session at the Gerotek test facility near Pretoria which included high speed dynamic assessment; a test to mark manoeuvrability, parking prowess and general ease of control; driving tests under various conditions on track and road, in town and on gravel, all the while taking fuel economy into account.

A static evaluation of each finalist also contributed to the overall individual scores and included aesthetics, build quality and ergonomics, while considerations based on perceptions of value for money, cost of a spares' basket, safety features and environmental friendliness also contributed to overall points.

Other factors considered include running costs, the cost of spares, fuel consumption, practicality, features and performance measured against price.

South Africa's Car of the Year competition - sponsored for the past 25 years by WesBank, with additional support this year from Total, Hollard Insurance, Garmin and Varta - is unique in the world in that the victor is determined not by popular vote as in most countries, but by actual testing of the finalists to determine by what margins they meet criteria for COTY honours.

The Golf VI 1.4 TSI Comfortline takes over the crown from the reigning SA Car of the Year, the Honda Accord 2.4 Executive.