Midrand - The finalists participating in the 2018 SA WesBank Car of the Year competition were put through their paces during a two-day test programme in Gauteng earlier this year.
The two test days marked the final round of the competition before the 26-member jury locked in their votes for this year's winner. The top cars follow a vote cast by Jury, from an original list of 35 eligible vehicles.
The 2018 winner will be announced on Tuesday, March 13, at a gala event in Midrand.
Readers poll
Audi has been leading the Wheels24 Readers' poll so far but competition has remained fierce between the Q5 and the Alfa Romeo Giulia's for the past few months.
Wheels24 will continue to run our annual Readers' SA Car of the Year poll until Tuesday 8:00am. Last chance to Vote here.
Last chance to enter our Readers' Car of the Year poll - Vote here.
Wheels24's Janine van der Post, part of the 26-member jury, shares her thoughts on the 2018 Car of the Year competition: Click here for the full story
Here are her thoughts on the 10 finalists: Click here for the full story
Audi Q5
Pros: Awesome technology, simplistic design, dynamic handling.
Cons: The Q5 did not rank as high as I thought it would; not that there was anything wrong with Audi's superb SUV, some rivals stood out more during testing.
Alfa Romeo Giulia
Pros: Absolutely beautiful. Extremely dynamic in terms of handling and performance.
Cons: Pricey compared to rivals, sells in limited numbers (although that could be a good thing).
BMW 5 Series
Pros: Excellent driver-assistance programmes, innovative technology, smooth driving, efficient.
Cons: Rivals give the 5 Series a run for its money in the looks department.
Porsche Panamera
Pros: Design, technology and creature comforts are exceptionally good. Opulent and terrific to drive.
Cons: Other than the price, there really is nothing else to crit this car on.
Kia Picanto
Pros: Affordable, offers great value for money and it's a solid performer. Easy to drive, and even easier to park!
Cons: Boot space is obviously limited - although it has extra space below the load tray - but that's a given due to its size and segment.
Suzuki Ignis
Pros: Adorable, funky, comes with stop/start technology and drives a charm.
Cons: Lacks some power especially going uphill.
Land Rover Discovery
Pros: Best-in-class offroading capabilities, luxurious to drive.
Cons: Styling has taken a new direction and for fans is an acquired taste.
Volvo S90
Pros: Extraordinarily beautiful; technology and design is top class.
Cons: Pricey and it's up against rival BMW 5 Series in its class.
Toyota C-HR
Pros: Thrilling 1.2-litre engine, packed with features.
Cons: Pricey, its disparate looks is not everyone's cup of tea.
Peugeot 3008
Pros: Beautiful design, innovative technology for Peugeot, quality finishes and materials.
Cons: Controls behind the steering could be more refined, such as smaller or more integrated paddle shifts and there's some wind noise that could use some tweaking.