For the first time in the 37-year history of the South African Car of the Year (COTY) competition (this year sponsored by Old Mutual), a double cab 4x4 bakkie was crowned as the country’s Car of the Year.
The Ford Ranger walked off with the silverware, underlining the fact that the popularity of SUVs and double cabs continues to grow, at the expense of sedans it seems. Double cab bakkies have become a very common choice for everyday commuting, family adventures and various work applications.
This year’s COTY competition saw 21 finalists selected from a pool of 55 qualifying vehicles representing various categories. The competition featured Budget, Compact, Compact Family, Midsize, Premium, Adventure SUV, 4x4 Double Cab, Luxury, Performance, and New Energy categories. However, the Budget category had no contenders…