SA BAKKIE OF THE YEAR: WHAT WILL IT BE?

BotY 1

SA Bakkie of the Year to be Announced Saturday

Grandtrek

SA Bakkie of the Year Announced Saturday

The South African Bakkie of the Year competition has been in full swing over the past few months. The winner is to be announced at the Cape NAMPO Agricultural Show in Bredasdorp on Saturday.

Auto was party to the judging of the competition. Editor Michele and test editor Giordano Lupini acted as jurors. Another veteran motoring journalist, Dirk Gallowitz ran the evaluations. None other than Sarel van der Merwe led the judging panel. It comprised a group of media and other experts in the fields in which the bakkies were judged.

Bakkie

Bakkie of the YEar Finalists stringently tested

The double cab 4x4 bakkies were extensively tested on and off the road. They were put through a tough 4x4 regimen, tow tested on and off-road, and dynamically tested too. Each juror judged every vehicle on a broad set of criteria in each discipline over three cost belts. All that remains is to announce the winners on Saturday.

Auto has tested all nine finalists over the past months. Some are our own Best Bakkie winners in recent years. Which affords us the unique opportunity to present each of those tests below, as a final build-up to the big day. Enjoy!

*Some tests below may not be identical models to those judged in SABOTY

https://theauto.page/bakkie/mahindra-pik-up-s11-road-test/
Mahindra Pik Up
https://theauto.page/bakkie/bon-voyage-why-peugeot-landtrek-has-a-job-to-do-we-test-it/
Peugeot Landtrek
https://theauto.page/bakkie/p-series-a-bakkie-with-a-difference/
GWM P Series
https://theauto.page/bakkie/isuzus-d-max-3-0td-dc-ls-4x4-tow-test/
Isuzu D-Max
https://theauto.page/road-tested/mitsubishi-triton-road-test/
Mitsubishi Triton
https://theauto.page/bakkie/nissan-navara-2-5-le-4x4-tested/
Nissan Navara
https://theauto.page/bakkie/toyota-hilux-gr-sport-hulk-long-term-intro/
Toyota Hilux GR Sport
https://theauto.page/bakkie/ford-ranger-2-0-bt-xlt-dc-4x4-road-test/
We have not tested the 2-litre Amarok. The Ford Ranger is mechanically identical and this was our view on that vehicle. Interestingly, Ford abstained from entering SABOTY, deeming its Ranger SA Car of the Year success to be sufficient for the brand.
https://theauto.page/bakkie/making-sense-of-volkswagens-million-buck-amarok/
VW Amarok Aventura V6 DC 4Motion

Auto’s own Best Bakkie will return for 2024. We remain committed to The South African Bakkie of the Year competition, which will continue every second year going forward.

Dunlop Grandtrek