#CarTop12: Car Magazine's top 12 best buys

On Tuesday, 13 February 2018, Car Magazine, in association with Tracker, held its Top 12 Best Buys Awards event. Here are all the winners...

By Ilse van den Berg

13 Feb 2018

Best budget car (under R160,000): Suzuki Celerio 1,0 GA

CAR's Top 12 Best Buys has kicked off! The winner of the Budget Car category (under R160 000) is the Suzuki Celerio 1,0 GA, for the second year in a row! #CARtop12 pic.twitter.com/55VEtIpGIi— CAR magazine (@CARmagSA) February 13, 2018

Best small hatchback: Volkswagen Polo

The new Volkswagen Polo takes the crown as the best Small Hatchback for the sixth time! #CARtop12 pic.twitter.com/KfzfBIVPqP— CAR magazine (@CARmagSA) February 13, 2018

Best midsize hatchback: Refreshed Volkswagen Golf

The refreshed Volkswagen Golf makes it two in a row, holding on to the Midsize Hatchback crown! #CARtop12 pic.twitter.com/wzVWwNgiKT— CAR magazine (@CARmagSA) February 13, 2018

Best midsize sedan: Toyota Corolla Quest

The Toyota Corolla Quest claims its fourth consecutive win in the Midsize Sedan category. #CARtop12 pic.twitter.com/u8AHpRluII— CAR magazine (@CARmagSA) February 13, 2018

Top premium midsize car: BMW 3 Series

For the sixth time in a row, the BMW 3 Series is our top Premium Midsize Car, besting fresher rivals thanks to the sheer spread of its abilities. #CARtop12 pic.twitter.com/71VD1wSE0y— CAR magazine (@CARmagSA) February 13, 2018

Top luxury car: Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Thirteen wins in 19 years of this esteemed competition! The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is again our top Luxury Car buy... #CARtop12 pic.twitter.com/FmjGi4iWuO— CAR magazine (@CARmagSA) February 13, 2018

Performance car of the year: Porsche 911 GT3 PDK

And the Performance Car of the Year award goes to… the Porsche 911 GT3 PDK! #CARtop12 pic.twitter.com/SHWSlX8gKR— CAR magazine (@CARmagSA) February 13, 2018

Best small SUV/crossover: Honda BR-V

The Honda BR-V makes it two in a row in the Small SUV/Crossover segment… #CARtop12 pic.twitter.com/t10af6gJWM— CAR magazine (@CARmagSA) February 13, 2018

Best midsize SUV/crossover: Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen's Tiguan grabs the Midsize SUV/Crossover crown for the second consecutive year! #CARtop12 pic.twitter.com/sMZZu8u2Am— CAR magazine (@CARmagSA) February 13, 2018

Top premium midsize SUV/crossover (new 2018 category): Audi Q5

A new category for 2018, the Premium Midsize SUV/Crossover title goes to the Audi Q5! #CARtop12 pic.twitter.com/3DVEzB7ygo— CAR magazine (@CARmagSA) February 13, 2018

Best large SUV/crossover: Range Rover Sport

The Range Rover Sport claims the Large SUV/Crossover crown for the fifth time in a row. #CARtop12 pic.twitter.com/a0PXIX8eHW— CAR magazine (@CARmagSA) February 13, 2018

Best double-cab bakkie Ford Ranger

That’s seven in a row! The best Double-Cab Bakkie is again the Ford Ranger! #CARtop12 pic.twitter.com/8XeKE59LzC— CAR magazine (@CARmagSA) February 13, 2018

Special awards

Green Award: Volvo Cars South Africa

This year's Green Award goes to Volvo Cars South Africa. #CARtop12 pic.twitter.com/IqtPOEXKYS— CAR magazine (@CARmagSA) February 13, 2018

Most underrated product of the year: The Fiat Fullback double-cab bakkie

Best production car design of the year: Aston Martin Vantage

The Aston Martin Vantage wins the Best Production Car Design of the Year award... #CARtop12 pic.twitter.com/Rn1WFOq6DK— CAR magazine (@CARmagSA) February 13, 2018

Best concept car design of the year: Honda Urban and Sports EV Concepts

We have a pair of winners in the Best Concept Car Design of the Year category: the Honda Urban and Sports EV Concepts! #CARtop12 pic.twitter.com/tmq0LQtX5a— CAR magazine (@CARmagSA) February 13, 2018

Engine of the year: Porsche’s 3,0-litre, flat-six twin-turbo-petrol engine

Porsche’s 3,0-litre, flat-six twin-turbo-petrol claims our Engine of the Year award! #CARtop12 pic.twitter.com/MN0NaCXDkW— CAR magazine (@CARmagSA) February 13, 2018

Motorsport award: Audi factory driver Kelvin van der Linde

Audi factory driver @kelvinvanderlinde takes home our Motorsport Award for 2018! #CARtop12 pic.twitter.com/8P8496nMv1— CAR magazine (@CARmagSA) February 13, 2018

Company to watch in 2018: Haval South Africa

Coveted company of the year: Volkswagen South Africa

And the coveted Company of the Year title? That honour goes to Volkswagen South Africa! Look out for our March 2018 issue for the full article and rationale behind each decision... #CARtop12 pic.twitter.com/DyC2OSV4Dy— CAR magazine (@CARmagSA) February 13, 2018

Safety award: #SaferCarsForAfrica campaign

Our Safety Award this year goes to the #SaferCarsForAfrica campaign. Special mention here for AA South Africa and Global NCAP! #CARtop12 pic.twitter.com/X6dBqOJhul— CAR magazine (@CARmagSA) February 13, 2018

Ilse Burger

About Ilse van den Berg

Ilse is a freelance journalist and editor with a passion for people & their stories (check out Passing Stories). She is also the editor of Go & Travel, a platform connecting all the stakeholders in the travel & tourism industry. You can check out her work here and here. Contact Ilse through her website here.