The legend is back - VW introduces updated Golf GTI
Volkswagen will introduce the updated Golf GTI to the South African market in the last quarter of 2025. Well over 2.3 million GTIs have been sold worldwide.
- Product News
- 2 September 2025
The winners of the 2023/24 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards, sponsored by Absa (#CarsAwards), and the recipient of the prestigious Brand of the Year title, were announced at a black-tie gala event in Sandton.
The fourteen 2023/24 #CarsAwards trophy recipients:
BMW and Suzuki took the most category wins (3 apiece) in the 2023/24 #CarsAwards. BMW has the second most category wins in #CarsAwards history (12), followed by Toyota (11) and Suzuki (10), but Volkswagen (20) comfortably leads the #CarsAwards category trophies tally.
By winning the Brand of the Year consecutively, Toyota now leads the total #CarsAwards Brand of the Year wins tally with four trophies, followed by Suzuki (2) and Volkswagen (1).
Cars.co.za Managing Director Amasi Mwela announced the return of the #CarsAwards programme last year, which was paused in 2021. As before, vehicles will be judged against their peers in distinct categories, of which each has its own requirements. What’s more, 50% of the final scores will be based on brand-specific data incorporating direct feedback from South African car owners.
“The #CarsAwards underlines our commitment to helping our users understand the best way to spend their hard-earned rands when purchasing new vehicles,” Amasi says. “As new-car prices escalate, it emphasises the need to make educated and informed buying decisions. The Cars.co.za Consumer Awards, sponsored by Absa and galvanised by the endorsement from naamsa, allows Cars.co.za to take a leadership position in our industry.
“Partnering with the Cars.co.za Consumer Awards strongly resonates with our objective of endorsing innovative initiatives that bridge the gap between consumers, trusted dealers and manufacturers,” says Charl Potgieter, Managing Executive of Absa Vehicle and Asset Finance.
“This highly respected awards programme is not just about celebrating the automotive industry’s finest, it’s about strengthening the dynamic space in which the industry operates,” he adds.
“We continue to work very closely with all our partners to take the South African automotive industry to greater heights,” says naamsa Chief Executive Officer Mikel Mabasa.
“Business leaders and organisations involved in the motor industry can play a progressive role in turning the negative sentiment in the automotive market into positivity. (Naamsa believes that) the #CarsAwards represents a number of things that should be going right in the country.
Volkswagen will introduce the updated Golf GTI to the South African market in the last quarter of 2025. Well over 2.3 million GTIs have been sold worldwide.
Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles is back in the country and has just introduced its all-new Tiago.
The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) notes that August continued the positive trend for new-vehicle sales in South Africa, reflecting strong consumer demand and activity across the market.
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I always do like seeing other people dance in their cars. It's one of the things that makes me happy.
Ariel Gore
The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) notes that August continued the positive trend for new-vehicle sales in South Africa, reflecting strong consumer demand and activity across the market.
Although the tariff clouds are gathering over the South African economy with serious implications for the local automotive export industry, local sales of new vehicles are soldiering on at a decent pace.
Automechanika Johannesburg successfully hosted its final CEO Breakfast for 2025 at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, bringing together senior automotive industry leaders for strategic discussions as the co-located Festival of Motoring roared into life.