People’s Wheels Awards 2015 – Finalists Announced

The 4th annual Standard Bank People’s Wheels Awards are due to be held on Thursday, November 13, at the Montecasino Ballroom in 4ways, Johannesburg.

Initiated by the Future Group in association with Standard Bank, research house TNS South Africa and media partner Sunday Times, the People’s Wheels Awards provide the automotive sector with a unique platform to reward vehicle excellence.

South Africans came out in numbers to vote for their favourite cars in the 2015 Standard Bank People’s Wheels Awards survey. The online polls were open for over 3 months, from June to August, and once again the results were impressive. About 60 000 votes were recorded across the competition’s 22 categories.

Furthermore, a record number of responses were received from vehicle owners in a survey designed to determine their satisfaction levels with regard to the cars and bakkies they drive every day.

“Standard Bank as one of the key financiers of car buyers and lovers in South Africa believes that all motorists should have a voice in deciding what our country’s most esteemed cars should be. Nobody can better assess the merits of vehicles than the people who drive them. The awards enable motorists to use their experiences, and those of others to help them to make informed comparisons and purchasing decisions,” says Nicholas Nkosi, Head of Vehicle and Asset Finance – Personal Markets at Standard Bank.

“The People’s Wheels Awards’ success undoubtedly rests on 2 major factors. It is an event in which all motorists can be heard and an event in which every vote counts.”

The results of the survey present crucial insight for marketers and offer relevant and useful information to consumers regarding ownership perceptions of vehicle brands, as well as reliability, durability and loyalty factors.

Wynter Murdoch, Automotive Editor-in-Chief at Future Group, says: “Ordinary motorists can have their voices heard. The People’s Wheels Awards is the ultimate leveler in the car awards stakes.  The results reflect feelings on the ground and allow all brands, regardless of inclusivity or exclusivity, to participate on an equal basis for various classes of accolades. Acceptance of a vehicle’s merits and the ‘wow’ factor it arouses within the people, rather than the size of marketing budgets, is what counts.”

So, who voted for what in the 2015 poll? While full results will be revealed at the awards ceremony, to whet your appetite, here is a list of the vehicles that voters selected as their top 6 nominees in each of the 22 categories.

Presented category by category in alphabetical order, they range from budget buys to family sedans, from premium class road warriors to exotic supercars, from SUVs, MPVs and crossovers to delivery vans and bakkies. The nominees are:

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Category 1                                          Category 2                              Category 3

Budget Buys	Compact Commuters	Compact Executive Cars
FORD – Figo	AUDI – A1/ Sportback	AUDI A3/Sedan/Sportback
HYUNDAI – i10	FORD – Fiesta	BMW – 1-Series
KIA – Picanto	KIA – Rio	FORD – Focus
RENAULT – Sandero	RENAULT – Clio	KIA – Cerato
TOYOTA – Etios	TOYOTA – Corolla Quest	MERCEDES-BENZ – A-Class/CLA
VOLKSWAGEN – Polo Vivo	VOLKSWAGEN – Polo	VOLKSWAGEN – Golf

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Category 4                                          Category 5                              Category 6

Family Friendly Cars	Mid-Sized Executive Cars	Premium Luxury Cars
AUDI – A4	AUDI – A6	AUDI – A8
AUDI – A5 Sportback	AUDI – A7 Sportback	JAGUAR – XJ
BMW – 3-Series	BMW – 5-Series	MASERATI – Ghibli
KIA – Optima	JAGUAR – XF	MERCEDES-BENZ – CLS
MERCEDES-BENZ – C-Class	LEXUS – GS	MERCEDES-BENZ – S-Class
VOLVO – S60	MERCEDES-BENZ – E-Class	PORSCHE – Panamera

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Category 7                                          Category 8                              Category 9

Super Luxury Cars	Sporty Drop Tops	Super Sports Cars
ASTON MARTIN – Rapide	AUDI – TT Roadster	ASTON MARTIN – DB9
BENTLEY – Continental Flying Spur	BMW – 4-Series Convertible	AUDI – R8
FERRARI – F12 Berlinetta	JAGUAR – F Type	FERRARI – 458 Spider
FERRARI – FF	MERCEDES-BENZ – E-Class Cabriole	LAMBORGHINI – Aventador
ROLLS ROYCE – Ghost	MERCEDES-BENZ – SLK	MERCEDES-BENZ – SL
ROLLS ROYCE – Phantom	PORSCHE – Boxster	NISSAN – GT-R

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Category 10                                        Category 11                            Category 12

Sport Coupés: 2-Door Hard Tops	Premium Class Coupés	Hot Hatches/Sedans/ Coupés
AUDI – TT Coupe	AUDI – A5 Coupé	AUDI – S3
BMW – 2-Series	BMW – 4-Series	FORD – Fiesta ST
KIA – Cerato Koup	BMW – 6-Series	FORD – Focus ST
SUBARU – BRZ	MERCEDES-BENZ – C-Class Coupe	MERCEDES-BENZ – A45 AMG/CLA 45 AMG
TOYOTA – 86	MERCEDES-BENZ – E-Class Coupé	VOLKSWAGEN – Golf GTI
VOLKSWAGEN – Scirocco	PORSCHE – Cayman	VOLKSWAGEN – Golf R

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Category 13                                        Category 14                            Category 15

Compact MPVs & People Carriers	Large MPVs & People Carriers	Small SUVs & Crossovers
CHEVROLET – Orlando	CHRYSLER – Grand Voyager	FORD – EcoSport
DODGE – Journey	HYUNDAI – H-1	JEEP – Compass
MAZDA – 5	MERCEDES-BENZ Viano	JEEP – Patriot
MERCEDES-BENZ – B-Class	MERCEDES-BENZ Vito	KIA – Soul
TOYOTA – Verso	TOYOTA – Quantum	MITSUBISHI – ASX
VOLKSWAGEN – Touran	VOLKSWAGEN – Kombi	NISSAN – Qashqai

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Category 16                                        Category 17                            Category 18

Compact SUVs & Crossovers	Premium Class SUVs & Crossovers	Luxury SUVs & Crossovers
BMW 3-Series GT	AUDI – Q5	AUDI – Q7
FORD – Kuga	JEEP – Grand Cherokee	BMW – X6
JEEP – Wrangler	KIA – Sorento	LAND ROVER – Range Rover
KIA – Sportage	LAND ROVER – Range Rover Evoque	LAND ROVER – Range Rover Sport
MERCEDES-BENZ – GLA	PORSCHE – Macan	PORSCHE – Cayenne
TOYOTA – Fortuner	TOYOTA – Land Cruiser Prado	VOLKSWAGEN – Touareg

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Category 19                                        Category 20                            Category 21

Hybrids/Electrics	Light Delivery Vehicles	Single Cab Bakkies
BMW – ActiveHybrid 3	FORD – Transit Custom	CHEVROLET – Utility
HONDA – CRZ	HYUNDAI – H-1 Panel Van	FORD – Ranger
INFINITI – Q50 Hybrid	MERCEDES-BENZ – Vito Panel Van	KIA – K2700
MERCEDES-BENZ – E-Class Hybrid	TOYATO – Quantum Panel Van	NISSAN – Navara
PORSCHE – Cayenne Hybrid	VOLKWAGEN – Caddy Panel Van	TOYOTA – Hilux
PORSCHE – Panamera Hybrid	VOLKSWAGEN – Transporter Panel Van	VOLKSWAGEN – Amarok

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Category 22

Double Cab Bakkies

FORD – Ranger

ISUZU – KB

LAND ROVER – Defender

NISSAN – Navara

TOYOTA – Hilux

VOLKWAGEN – Amarok

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ABOUT THE FUTURE GROUP

 

Future Group has a proud 17 year history of providing premium quality, well-respected products and services for the media, automotive, business travel, corporate, hunting and outdoor sectors. The business also provides strategic marketing communications, hosts leading events, and publishes industry-leading reference publications. A portfolio of events that includes: MTN Radio Awards; ON AIR Radio Conference; the Future of Media and Advertising Conference; Business Traveller Africa Awards;  People’s Wheels Awards as well as publications such as The Annual; the Redzone magazine; The Auto Annual; IMPERIAL Auto, Future Trucking & Logistics, Fleet, and Automobil.

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For more information, visit www.thefuturegroup.co.za / www.peopleswheels.co.za

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People’s Wheels Awards 2015 – Finalists Announced