Unsurprisingly, for such an up and down year, our list of the best new cars of 2024 has a little bit of everything in it. Much like South Africa’s year politically, it started kind of in the doldrums, stayed dormant either side of the May General Election, then the lights came on and we saw a steady uptick in the final quarter of the year. Of course, the best new cars of 2024 are not above inflationary pressures, and high prices did keep demand low for many cash-strapped South Africans.
Nevertheless, as we explored in our new-car price comparison of 2014 and 2024, some segments are struggling more than others. Namely, premium vehicles that are 40% more expensive than ten-years ago. However, certain performance cars bakkies and fan-favourite commuter offerings are actually cheaper in 2024 than they were a decade ago (when prices are adjusted for inflation). What we’re trying to say is, while it’s not all rose-tinted daffodils, the economy is not as bad as the doom-mongers would have you believe …
BEST NEW CARS OF 2024
As a result, we’ve collated a list of the best new cars of 2024. Now, this list is by no means definitive. The South African is not a specialist automotive title, as you know, and does not drive every new car available. Nevertheless, we’ve been blessed with excellent access to some of the best new cars of 2024. So, in no particular order (we’re going alphabetically), these are the vehicles that stood out from the crowd this year …
FORD RANGER TREMOR
Unarguably the best bakkie launched this year, the 2024 Ford Ranger Tremor took our best new cars of 2024 list by storm. Ford South Africa is adept at exploring every possible niche with its excellent Ranger bakkie. This year saw the Blue Oval fitting a Wildtrak X grille, steel bash plate, set of General Grabber 265/17 ATs (with cool white lettering) and the latest off-road technology to its Ranger XLT chassis. There’s also a 30 mm wider track, 24 mm higher ground clearance and top-notch Bilstein dampers (also from the Wildtrak X) for gratis. The result is the best-value sub-million-rand Ford Ranger at just R977 500.
GAC EMZOOM GS3
We’d be remiss not to include a Chinese entrant into the best new cars of 2024. So, while there are dozens upon dozens that flooded the market this year, we’ll include our favourite. Yes, the 2024 GAC Emzoom GS3 is, to some, rather unfancied against the likes of GWM, Haval, Chery, et al. However, like-for-like, the GAC was one of the best engineered vehicles we evaluated from China. Priced at just R549 900, it represents excellent value, too. A 1.5-litre turbo petrol produces a hearty 130 kW and it wasn’t as thirsty as we were anticipating. Granted, the R-Style exterior package is a little overkill, but you haveto acknowledge China as a rising automotive superpower. And cars like the GAC Emzoom are shifting popular buyers away from old, traditional values.
HONDA ELEVATE
Arriving in South Africa in the first quarter, the 2024 Honda Elevate really surprised us. Knowing very little about it beforehand, we were impressed at how Honda subverted the sub-4-metre legislation where it’s built in India, and produced a bigger car than its segment competitors. Priced from R429 900, the 1.5-litre petrol makes a well-rounded 89 kW and delivers Honda’s staples of quality, durability and reliability (QDR) in a great-looking package. That’s all there is to it. An honest, hard-working compact crossover that is worthy of the best new cars of 2024.
KIA SELTOS GT-LINE
Much like the Indian-sourced Honda, the often-overlooked 2024 Kia Seltos GT-Line makes our best new cars of 2024 list for being such an unexpected surprise. The new 1.5-litre turbo produces a surplus of power and the semi-autonomous driver aids are some of the best we’ve tested at this price range. On the surface, a R626 995 price tag seems high for a Kia but that’s only until you realise what a svelte, premium family crossover you have beneath you. Genuinely, the Kia’s adaptive cruise control, active steering, blindspot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert are some of the best-calibrated systems on the market. It’s like a million-Rand premium car wrapped up in a humble Kia bodyshell. And we love it for that.
RENAULT MEGANE RS 300 TROPHY
The best cars of 2024 must include some performance highlights, and they don’t get better than the 2024 Renault Megane RS 300 Trophy. In the face of electrification and general apathy from buyers towards hot hatches, this Megane RS 300 is well and truly the last of its kind. Which makes it all the more fitting that it’s also the best front-wheel-drive hot hatch to date. 221 kW and 420 Nm of torque from its 1.8-litre turbo engine only tells half the story of this performance legend. It’s economical, well equipped and comfy to drive every day. Then, when you want to devour a mountain pass, the clever four-wheel steering ensures scalpel-sharp handling. Yes, it costs R949 999 but it’s good money to spend on one of the greatest of all time.
SUZUKI EECO VANLIFE CONCEPT
Okay, this one makes our best new cars of 2024 list purely for being so memorable. Either side of the May General Election we had access to the remarkable, custom-built 2024 Suzuki Eeco Vanlife Concept. Of course, marketing exercises of this sort are purely to generate ink for the otherwise invisible Eeco Panelvan, which we also reviewed. But, you know what, that van was excellent, too. And we had a brilliant few weeks cruising the Western Cape peninsula searching for the best winter swells to surf. For just R212 900, the Suzuki Eeco makes just 59 kW from its compact petrol motor. But it is basic, dependable motoring and perfect for anyone running a small business on a budget.
WHAT DID WE MISS ON OUR 2024 LIST?
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