Bernard Hellberg

Launched in 1986 — when the Toyota Corolla Twin Cam won — the annual Car of the Year competition continues to generate tremendous interest among importers and manufacturers as well as the public. It will be hard to pick a winner from the seven finalists of the 2004 competition.

Already a proven mega-seller, the RunX 160RX, with its funky name and racy looks, has its sights set on this year’s Car of the Year title. Following on its successful Conquest/ Tazz range with a car as sound and tough as its forebears will certainly see Toyota keeping its sales-nose in front of the competition.

From the world’s biggest engine manufacturers — 15,5-million units annually — comes the Honda Jazz, a potent little 1,4-litre super-minivan/ hatch that, together with big brother Accord, has to carry the flag for an importer that has never won Car of the Year.

When shopping for wheels in the entry-level sector of the medium-sized performance saloon market, you basically have two serious choices: opt for the undoubtedly dominating traditional German saloon, or reward your obviously superior intellect by acquiring a fully imported and very, very styling Accord Type-S.

Nissan swept the boards at the 2003 Southern African Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (Savrala) Awards recently, walking off with the overall title of Manufacturer of the Year and emerging as the gold award-winner in both the leasing and rental sections of the prestigious competition.

The BMW 530d is easily the most expensive car in this year’s competition. Should 2004 turn out to be the year of the luxury limo, this could count in its favour. With its straight-six, common-rail diesel engine developing 160kW of power and eye-popping torque of 500Nm, this powerful oil-burner takes no prisoners.