The Jaguar I-Pace
The all-electric Jaguar I-Pace EV400 AWD SE has been named the 2020 AutoTrader South African Car of the Year.
This is the first time the competition has been won by a Jaguar, and it is also the first win by an electric vehicle.
In another first, given the current lockdown, the winner of the 2020 competition was announced during a virtual awards ceremony.
The newest accolade is the latest in a long line of victories for the all-electric I-Pace.
It won the 2019 World Car of the Year, World Car Design of the Year and World Green Car award.
In fact, the I-Pace was the first model ever to win three World Car titles in the 15-year history of the awards.
It also claimed the European Car of the Year title last year.
The Mercedes-Benz GLE400d 4Matic came in second at the 2020 South African Car of the Year Awards, while the Toyota GR Supra 3.0T took bronze.
The local Car of the Year contest is organised by the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists.
The 2020 competition included a number of category winners.
The winner in the Urban category was the Hyundai Atos 1.1 Motion.
The Toyota Corolla Hatch 1.2T XR CVT took top honours in the Family category.
The third category – Leisure – was dominated by the Volkswagen T-Cross 1.0 TSI Comfortline 85 kW DSG.
The Lifestyle Utility Vehicles category was clinched by the Ford Ranger Raptor.
Top spot in the highly contested Premium Car Category went to the overall winner, the Jaguar I-Pace EV400 AWD SE.
The Mercedes-Benz GLE400d 4Matic walked away as the winner in the Premium Sports-utility Vehicle Category.
The final category – Sport/Performance – saw the Toyota GR Supra 3.0T clinch the gold medal.
The South African Car of the Year trophy has been a fixture on the motoring diary since 1986. This year’s winner was decided by a jury of 25 motoring journalists, as well as 220 000 public votes.