The winner of the competition, run by the South African Guild of Motility Journalist (SAGMJ) and sponsored by Old Mutual Insure, will emerge from the 18 finalists, 921 last year, chosen by the judges of the 38th annual COTY competition.

The spotlight will not only be on the overall winner, but also on the different category winners with the big announcement during May. From this year, there will be a special category for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) as they are integrated into the different segments according to price and specification where they can compete.

In the meantime, the evaluation of all the finalists will take place at Zwartkops racetrack in Pretoria from 4 to 6 March. Here the judges will assess the vehicles, and the final scoring round incorporates data from Lightstone Auto, utilising automated scoring based on market segment sales volumes and spec-adjusted competitor pricing.

The Motor Enthusiast's Choice (public vote) returns for the 2024 COTY competition. Watch out for upcoming social media posts featuring each finalist and vote for your favourite by liking it. The vehicle with the most likes wins, and three fortunate voters will secure an off-road driving course sponsored by Old Mutual Insure and the SAGMJ.

A golf day where the vehicles will be on display with their COTY branding is planned for 23 February at Silverlakes Golf Club in Pretoria.

• Budget and Compact category: Representing affordable entry-level vehicles, the Suzuki Fronx from the Japanese company's Indian subsidiary, Maruti Suzuki, will compete with its French rival, the Citroën C3. Both models offer exceptional value for money.

• Compact Family category: This category features two Japanese contenders, the Suzuki Grand Vitara and the Toyota Urban Cruiser. This year, another Chinese competitor, the Omoda C5, will compete in this category, challenging the two Japanese brands.

• Family category: A new Chinese contender, the battery-electric vehicle (BEV) GWM Ora 03, the most affordable electric passenger car in the local market, will face off against a naturally aspirated German competitor, the BMW X1.

• Premium category: The Mercedes-Benz GLC and Lexus NX will compete for category honours in the Premium category.

• Luxury category: Here the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz EQS will take each other on.

• 4x4 Double Cab category: The Volkswagen Amarok is the only contender here.

• Adventure SUV category: The Lexus LX and Mahindra Scorpio N are the sole contenders in this category, offering a unique competition dynamic.

• Performance category: The Ford Ranger made history as the first double cab bakkie to win the title of 2023 SA Car of the Year. The performance version of the Ford Ranger Raptor is the first double cab to qualify for this category alongside the Toyota Corolla GR, BMW M2 and the Honda Civic Type R.