BMW iX3 crowned World Car of the Year 2026 as EVs lead the way
The BMW iX3 has been named World Car of the Year 2026, with the announcement made at the New York International Auto Show on 1 April.
- Industry News
- 2 April 2026
South Africans have now joined other global drivers in experiencing and driving the award-winning, bold, futuristic and versatile new Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid.
What is it?
The Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid is a three-row SUV with seating for up to seven passengers. It’s dimensions feature an overall 1 900mm width, a 2 815mm wheel base and 4 830mm overall length.
Engine:
The SUV comes with a high-powered 132kW/265Nm turbocharged 1.6-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine with a 44kW/264Nm electric motor. The hybrid powertrain produces a total system output of 175kW and 367Nm all-wheel drive system.
Equipment:
The new Santa Fe Hybrid comes with a myriad of safety features and a broad range of advanced convenience technologies. There are 20 inch-alloy wheels, 6 airbags as well as upper and lower ISOFIX points in both the second and third rows.
Convenience is further improved with driver- and passenger-controlled central door locks and automatic safety locks, a 360°-View Monitor, Drive-Attention Warning, Blind Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, Blind-Spot View Monitor, Rear-Occupant Alert, Forward-Collision Avoidance Junction as well as the Lane-Follow Assist, among others.
Interior:
Inside the vehicle is trimmed in H-Tex®, a synthetic leather material, including heated and ventilated front seats as well as second row heated seats.
The Santa Fe features a large touchscreen display, with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto available as standard, all of which can pair wirelessly with your mobile device. The instrument cluster has been upgraded to a large 12.3-inch display and a Bose® premium audio sound system.
Exterior:
The radically transformed Santa Fe Hybrid introduces a high hood, eye-catching H-shaped LED headlamps and bold, sharp fenders.
The boxy design looks very different from its predecessor with its square looks, and it is also bigger than the previous generation allowing for more interior space.
A silver aluminium strip around the bottom on the side and in the front connects well with the headlight design.
Price:
The Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Elite AWD is priced at R1 249 900 – and comes with Hyundai’s 7-year/200 000km warranty. Furthermore, the hybrid battery pack is covered by a separate 8-year/160 000km warranty.
The BMW iX3 has been named World Car of the Year 2026, with the announcement made at the New York International Auto Show on 1 April.
Retail new vehicle sales continue to surge in South Africa despite global and regional conflicts, local floods and droughts.
South Africa’s new vehicle market delivered a standout performance in March 2026, extending its domestic growth trajectory to the strongest level seen in nearly two decades.
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