Hyundai is 2012 Car of the Year for South Africa

The sleek medium sedan was also voted US Car of the Year.

The Elantra is the first Korean car to be named the SA Coty though Hyundai has had two finalists - the ix35 and Sonata in 2011 - and the i20 was a finalist in the 2010 Coty competition.

'Giant Strides'

Alan Ross, MD of Hyundai Automotive SA, said after receiving the Car of the Year trophy: “We are extremely proud of the recognition that a world-class product such as the Hyundai Elantra has received from the guild.

“This award, and the fact that we had two finalists in the previous competition, is confirmation of the giant strides Hyundai has made locally and globally. It is also recognition of the quality and emotional appeal that the Hyundai products have developed as part of the brand’s ‘Modern Premium’ strategy.”

Since its South African launch in August 2011, the current Elantra has become a leader in its model segment and gained recognition as a sedan more than sufficiently equipped to take the brand to “the next level”.

Choosing the SA Car of the Year involves dozens of members of the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists, the men and women who monitor the local auto trade throughout the year on your behalf, driving dozens of cars as part of their job and gaining a deep insight into the state of modern automotive technology.

Previous Years

The competition has a heavy weighting towards value for money - not always easy to decide among the 10 finalists whittled down from perhaps hundreds of possibilities from more automakers than ever before in this country. The judges' data is carefully monitored and analysed; the individuals trying hard not to be swayed by high performance, super-luxury and extrovert gadgetry.

Which is why in previous years super-sedans have lost out to small family cars.

Below are the 10 2012 finalists as shown in the voting list for Wheels24's own readers' survey which ran for nearly six months that show how the public voted as a percentage of the total vote and the actual votes cast. If you were among the voters, we thank you for your participation; if you feel strongly about the results of the Wheels24 survey and the results of the SAGMJ judging, tell us about it in the Readers' Comments section below this report.

1. Hyundai Elantra 28% 7474
2. Ford Focus 25% 6522
3. Alfa Romeo Giulietta 11% 3006
4. Volkswagen Jetta 11% 2874
5. Audi A6 7% 1891
6. Mercedes-Benz SLK 5% 1365
7. Kia Picanto 4% 1123
8. Suzuki Kizashi 4% 1104
9. Citroen DS4 3% 803
10. Peugeot 5008 1% 239

The SAGMJ jury voted this way..

1. Hyundai Elantra
2. Kia Picanto
3. VW Jetta
4. Suzuki Kizashi
5. Alfa Romeo Guiletta
6. Audi A6
7. Ford Focus
8. Citroen DS4
9. Peugeot 5008
10. Mercedes-Benz SLK