CAR OF THE YEAR 2026 GOES TO THE JETOUR T2

The South African Guild of Mobility Journalists (SAGMJ) voted the Jetour T2 as the 2026 Car of the Year (COTY).

The T2’s selection marks the first-ever victory for a Chinese brand in the yearly event’s 44-year history. The T2 was one of seven Chinese brands and 18 vehicles competing for honours. The vehicle also claimed victory in the Mild Adventure category. Another Chinese vehicle, the Omoda C7, was selected as the winner in the Family (on-road) category.

In the Compact category, the Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI claimed the gold medal. The Adventure category was won by the Land Rover Defender OCTA. The Audi A5 secured the win in the Premium category. In another boost for the German luxury brand, the Audi RS Q8 proved the best buy in the Performance category.