People’s Wheels Awards Results From the People… to the People
In the eyes of South Africa’s motoring public, German vehicle brands are tops – at least in terms of the number of votes they received in this year’s People’s Wheels Awards.
The results were announced today (November 21) by Master of Ceremonies Joey Rasdien at a breakfast function in Johannesburg. Leaders of South Africa’s automobile industry and associated service providers, the media and members of the public, attended the event.
Vehicles from Mercedes-Benz won seven of the 30 categories in the independent nationwide poll, while Volkswagen and sister brands Audi and Porsche scooped another 10 wins between them.
Further, two wins by Italian brand Lamborghini – another nameplate owned by the Volkswagen Group – brought the Wolfsburg-based company’s tally to 12. Add another win by Munich-based BMW and German victories accounted for exactly two-thirds of the categories, leaving Aston Martin, Ford, Kia, Maserati, Range Rover and Toyota to share the remaining spoils.
In the Ownership Survey, Mercedes-Benz topped the rankings for the third successive year, while Volvo filled second spot – the first time the Chinese-owned Swedish brand had been on the podium. Third place was shared between Korean nameplate Kia and Japanese counterpart Honda.
Initiated by Johannesburg-based publishers The Future Group in association with Standard Bank Vehicle and Asset Finance, research house TNS South Africa and media partner Sunday Times, the People’s Wheels surveys are aimed at drawing responses from ordinary motorists with regard to the vehicles they drive or those that they aspire to drive.
“The massive response from the South African public in choosing the People’s Wheels Awards winners this year has underlined the fact that our nation’s fascination with motoring extends from the most humble entry-level models to multi-million rand super cars,” says Sydney Soundy, Head of Vehicle and Asset Finance at Standard Bank, the sponsors of these Awards.
“Sponsorship of an initiative like this is ultimately about giving a voice to the opinions of motorists, listening to their aspirations and ensuring that our product offerings and services meet the needs of our customers.
“For Standard Bank, The People’s Wheels Awards are also about enabling motorists to review and evaluate fellow motorists’ vehicle experiences. The Awards are therefore about enabling motorists to use their experiences, and those of others to help them make informed comparisons and purchasing decisions,” said Soundy.
More than 101 400 votes and over 1 500 ownership responses were received in the poll, the biggest volume yet. The car that scored the most votes overall – dubbed the People’s Choice – was Volkswagen’s Polo Vivo, a model built in South Africa at the company’s assembly plant in Uitenhage, near Port Elizabeth.
The Polo Vivo was followed to the podium by a previous overall winner of the People’s Wheels Awards, Kia’s Picanto which, two years after receiving its crown, remained a popular choice. Porsche’s 911 Carerra Cabriolet, finished third in the overall vote-count rankings.
In the Ownership Survey, satisfaction levels were rated with regard to vehicles’ looks and styling, interior comfort, noise and vibration levels, build quality, standard features, cargo capacity, driving experience, performance, economy, reliability, safety features, aftersales service and ownership costs.
The most positive scores were achieved on reliability, driving experience, looks and styling and build quality, while noise and vibration, ownership costs, aftersales service and economy received the poorest scores. According to the analysis, aftersales service and noise and vibration problems ranked highest as the biggest issues faced by vehicle owners.
According to Neil Higgs, Senior Adviser and Head of Innovation at research house TNS South Africa: “The value of this study lies in informing prospective future buyers on how car brands are rated by their owners, coupled with extensive back-up data gathered by the Future Group on other aspects.
“The result is a wider look at the car category as a whole, which acts as a reference volume for people in the market for a vehicle in the next year.”
From the consumer perspective, the People’s Wheels Awards included other acknowledgements, too. Cars bought new in 2011 that best retained their value in 2013 – based on data supplied by Transunion Auto, which determines
its trade values on actual vehicle sales reported each month from the country’s dealer market – were headed by Range Rover’s Evoque, which in last year’s People’s Wheels Awards was crowned People’s Choice.
According to Transunion’s data, the 2011 diesel-driven Evoque 2,2 SD4 Dynamic was worth 80,82% of its original purchase price, while the petrol-fed 2,0 Si4 Dynamic was worth almost as much – 80,81%.
As part of the survey, the people’s most popular fuel brand, too, was recognised, Engen maintaining its No 1 spot in the rankings in terms of most votes received, with BP in second place and Shell in third. Similarly, the most popular tyre replacement brand as voted for by the people was again Continental, followed by Goodyear and Bridgestone.
A R25 000 prize – offered as a lucky draw incentive by The Future Group to all respondents who completed the People’s Wheels vote and/or the Ownership Survey – was won by Yvonne Swanepoel of Diep River, Cape Town.
Results of the People’s Wheels Awards 2014:
According to Neil Higgs, Senior Adviser and Head of Innovation at research house TNS South Africa: “The value of this study lies in informing prospective future buyers on how car brands are rated by their owners, coupled with extensive back-up data gathered by the Future Group on other aspects.
Category 1: Budget Buys – Affordability First
Make Model % of Category Vote
1 Kia Picanto 36,79
2 Hyundai i10 25,01
3 Chevrolet Spark Lite 9,99
Category 2: : Urban Commuters – Cost-Conscious Runabouts
1 Volkswagen Polo Vivo 37,06
2 Ford Figo 21,00
3 Toyota Aygo 6,39
Category 3: Movers & Shakers – Compact Hatches/Sedans
1 Volkswagen Polo 20,54
2 Ford Fiesta 19,74
3 Renault Clio 10,48
Category 4: The Mod Squad – Contemporary Hatches/Sedans
1 Audi A1/A1 Sportback 19,23
2 Volkswagen Jetta 11,64
3 Mazda 3 10,96
Category 5: Mid-Sized Hatches/Sedans – More Family Versatility
1 Mercedes-Benz A-Class 16,10
2 Audi A3/A3 Sportback 14,68
3 Volkswagen Golf 12,54
Category 6: Premium Class Road Warriors
1 BMW 3-Series 18,97
2 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 16,72
3 Audi A4 16,66
Category 7: Cars For The Junior Executive – Big On Status
1 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 18,22
2 Jaguar XF 14,93
3 BMW 3-Series GT 13,81
Category 8: Cars For The Senior Executive – More Status Still
1 Porsche Panamera 21,64
2 Jaguar XJ 19,55
3 Mercedes-Benz CLS 13,82
Category 9: Luxury And Power – The Captain’s Choice
1 Aston Martin Rapide 22,55
2 Ferrari FF 14,28
3 Rolls Royce Ghost 11,66
Category 10: Wind In The Hair – Cabriolets And Convertibles
1 Audi A3 Cabriolet 27,61
2 BMW 1-Series Convertible 25,57
3 Mazda MX5 Roadster 11,53
Category 11: Trendsetters – Cabriolets and Convertibles
1 Mercedes-Benz SLK 20,69
2 Porsche Boxster 19,51
3 BMW Z4 10,37
Category 12: Designer Labels – Cabriolets and Convertibles
1 Porsche 911 Carerra Cabriolet 28,27
2 Mercedes-Benz SLK AMG 21,63
3 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet 11,22
Category 13: For the Really Rich – Cabriolets and Convertibles
1 Lamborghini Aventador Roadster 20,56
2 McLaren MP4-12C Spider 10,82
3 Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder 8,86
Category 14: Cool Coupes – Two-Door Hard Tops
1 Toyota 86 12,30
2 Audi A5 Coupè 12,07
3 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupè 11,74
Category 15: Hot Coupès – Fabulously Fast Lane
1 Maserati Gran Turismo 18,35
2 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupè 17,87
3 Nissan GT-R 15,77
Category 16: Dream Machines – The Supercar League
1 Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 15,53
2 Aston Martin V12 Vantage 9,91
3 Ferrari F12 Berlinetta 9,82
Category 17: Young Racers – Affordable Hot Hatches
1 Volkswagen Golf GTI 18,98
2 Ford Focus ST 15,09
3 Audi S3 12,63
Category 18: Track Day Specials – Super Hot Hatches/Coupes
1 Porsche Cayman S/R 19,34
2 BMW 1-Series MCoupè 15,80
3 Audi RS5 Coupè 12,87
Category 19: Upping The Pace – High Performance Expresses
1 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG 17,49
2 Jaguar XFR 14,52
3 Subaru WRX STi 9,28
Category 20: Station Wagons – New Style For The Traditional
1 Audi RS4 Avant 25,70
2 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate 10,53
3 Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake 10,32
Category 21: Compact MPVs & People Carriers – For The Family
1 Mercedes-Benz B-Class 22,67
2 Volkswagen Touran 19,93
3 Mazda 5 12,29
Category 22: Large MPVs & People Carriers – For The Extended Family
1 Mercedes-Benz Viano 19,88
2 Mercedes-Benz Vito 16,87
3 Volkswagen T5 Kombi 13,85
Category 23: SUVs and Crossovers – City & Suburban
1 Kia Sportage 16,46
2 Volkswagen Tiguan 14,48
3 Hyundai iX35 14,42
Category 24: SUVs and Crossovers – Urban & Peri-Urban
1 Toyota Fortuner 14,42
2 Ford Kuga 12,83
3 Audi Q3 12,64
Category 25: SUVs and Crossovers – Town & Country
1 Range Rover Evoque 24,71
2 Land Rover Freelander 13,34
3 Jeep Grand Cherokee 9,40
Category 26: SUVs and Crossovers – Luxury Tourers
1 Range Rover Range Rover Sport 14,55
2 Range Rover Range Rover 12,29
3 Porsche Cayenne 11,02
Category 27: Hybrids – Dawn of a New Age
1 Porsche Cayenne Hybrid 15,75
2 Porsche Panamera Hybrid 12,99
3 BMW ActiveHybrid 3 9,40
Category 28: Light Delivery Vans – Pick ’n Pack
1 Mercedes-Benz Vito Panel Van 26,18
2 Ford Transit 15,34
3 Volkswagen Caddy Panel Van 13,77
Category 29: Light Load Luggers – Single Cab Workhorses
1 Ford Ranger 18,18
2 Toyota Hilux 15,25
3 Volkswagen Amarok 14,03
Category 30: Adventure Bakkies – For Work ’n Play
1 Ford Ranger DC 24,90
2 Volkswagen Amarok DC 22,09
3 Toyota Hilux DC 11,61
THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE – OVERALL WINNERS, MOST VOTES CAST
1 Volkswagen Polo Vivo
2 Kia Picanto
3 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet
OWNERSHIP SURVEY: BRAND CHAMPIONS, SATISFACTION RATINGS
1 Mercedes-Benz
2 Volvo
3 Kia & Honda (tie)
PREFERED FUEL BRAND
1 Engen
2 BP
3 Shell
PREFERED TYRE BRAND
1 Continental
2 Goodyear
3 Bridgestone
Full results of the People’s Wheels Awards and Ownership Survey appear in the 2014 edition of the Auto Annual, on sale at selected bookshops from December
