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It's Mother's Day on Sunday, 14 May! In honour of this special occasion, we've gone on a hunt for the very best cars for moms – and we've discovered three vehicles that have received the thumbs-up from the authoritative Women's World Car of The Year (WWCOTY) jury. They are the Nissan X-Trail, Audi RS3, and Ford Ranger.
The X-Trail was recently named the best large SUV in the world by the 65 WWCOTY judges, who collectively represent 47 countries. The RS3 was named the world's best performance car, while the Ranger was named the planet's best 4x4.
News24 Motoring editor Janine Van der Post says the Audi RS3 and Ford Ranger are also two of the 21 finalists in this year's South African Car of the Year (Coty) competition. As one of the jury members for the competition, Van Der Post says both vehicles performed exceptionally well in each of their categories.
While safety and functionality remain high requirements when it comes to what women want in a car, Van der Post also notes that gone are the days of conventional "mommy vans" as these three picks demonstrate that women's priorities have altered significantly over the last few years.
"The Nissan X-Trail is a fine updated SUV too in the new car market; stylish, loaded with new tech and safety features - factors that are still very important to female car buyers and owners.
"While the new X-Trail builds on its lasting legacy and has been refined into an even better SUV offering practicality and more than sufficient driving dynamics on the road, the previous model is still sets the benchmark for this vehicle.
"In the same breath, the Audi proves that exquisite looks and performance also rank high when it comes to box-checking in the cars that women want.
"The RS3 is almost intoxicating when you're behind the wheel, and those sonorous exhaust notes make you want to lean onto that pedal in the far right. It's a whole lot of fun to drive, with ridiculous levels of sportiness and wicked good looks," says Van der Post.
It's also no surprise that women rated the new Ford Ranger as the best 4x4, she says. "The Ranger scored rather well during the testing days for Coty, and it's a vehicle that left jury members hard to fault.
"Bakkies are not just for the more masculine gender, but when you look on the road in traffic, it's more than likely the bakkie next to you is being driven by a woman. The Ranger is also loaded with tech and driving systems - 25 new ones, to be exact.
"The massive iPad-like infotainment screen is enormous but makes navigating systems much easier and faster. Driving the Ranger is very comfortable, whether on the school run, driving to work, or going on a weekend away with the family. Its new transfer box and driving systems can also make any novice look and drive like a pro when off the beaten track."
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So, what do these cars cost in the used market in South Africa – and what makes them so special? Buyers can choose between the all-new Nissan X-Trail, which only went on sale in South Africa in April this year, or the previous generation 2022 X-Trail. That nearly new model is listed on AutoTrader for an average of R512 117 and with an average mileage of 3 804km.
According to Charleen Clarke, who represents South Africa on the WWCOTY jury, the X-Trail won the award thanks to its abundance of interior space and the option of seven seats. This makes perfect sense for mothers who need the additional space for their children's in-flight entertainment, and that additional seat for kiddie school runs.
"My fellow judges were also impressed with the latest model's e-power technology. But the previous generation model is also a very good buy. After all, the same well-established DNA runs through all four generations," she notes.
When it comes to the Audi RS3, jury members gave it the thumbs up thanks to the fact that it is a very sporty model that incorporates all the technology that Audi has developed in circuit racing. "Mothers insist on a vehicle that is safe and practical. However, they also want a car that is an absolute blast to drive. Its road manners must be exemplary, and every time they go for a drive, they want to do so with a smile on their faces.
The Audi RS3 delivers on these desires," Clarke points out. The 2022 Audi RS3 is listed on AutoTrader for an average price of R1 546 715 and with an average mileage of 1 145km. The latest RS3 was launched in South Africa in September last year.
The third model that makes up the threesome is the Ford Ranger, which is built in South Africa. Clarke says that the WWCOTY judges believe that it is a reliable, stylish and charismatic bakkie.
"It can tackle any terrain, and it is also super practical thanks to its cargo box – and women are big fans of practicality," she points out. And when it comes to mothers, practicality is key. The 2022 Ford Ranger is listed on AutoTrader for an average price of R649 178 and an average mileage of 5 517km. The next-generation Ranger went on sale in South Africa in December last year.
While Clarke credits women as being fans of practicality, George Mienie, AutoTrader CEO, points out that South African motorists – both men and women – are big fans of the Ranger. "According to the 2022 AutoTrader Car Industry Report, the Ford Ranger was the fourth most viewed model in South Africa last year. This is irrespective of body type, and it shows the level of interest from both genders in this iconic South African bakkie," he concludes.
