2025 CarsAwards: Best Compact Family Car in SA
Looking for a spacious, reasonably affordable small crossover? Compact family cars rule the roost these days and, in one of the most competitive categories of the 2025 CarsAwards, the Toyota Corolla Cross defended its title, but this time, in hybrid guise.
With household budgets stretched to breaking point, a reasonably affordable compact family car needs to wear many hats. The winner of the Compact Family Car category of the 2024/25 Cars.co.za Awards, sponsored by Absa (2025 CarsAwards) excels at being a compact urban runabout, a sufficiently spacious school-run vehicle and, on occasion, a source of transport for weekend getaways.
Practicality and spaciousness are important considerations, but so are safety, technology, fuel efficiency and load-carrying flexibility.

The Compact Family Car category
The Compact Family Car category of the 2025 CarsAwards was guided by both eligibility factors and pillars of success.
Eligibility factors included a list price between R400 000 to R600 000 at the time of semi-finalist voting, an anti-lock braking system (ABS) and electronic stability control (ESC), a minimum of 4 airbags, aircon and a service plan.
Pillars of success for this category included powertrain flexibility, fuel economy, space and practicality, design and quality appeal, comfort and safety.
WINNER:

Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8 Hybrid XR
Toyota took its time to enter the small crossover market, but now offers several models in that segment. The locally-assembled Corolla Cross is the crowning achievement in that line-up; by going the raised body route with the Corolla platform, the nameplate has captured a new audience.
The Corolla Cross 1.8 Hybrid XR, which achieved a combined score of 76.1%, offers the best of Toyota: spaciousness and comfort, allied with excellent reliability, service and backup.
Watch Ciro de Siena’s video review of the 2022 Corolla Cross:
The Corolla Cross 1.8 XR won this category in the 2023/24 programme, but in 2024/25 it was its Hybrid sibling’s turn to take home the silverware. It is powered by a 1.8-litre 4-cylinder petrol-electric hybrid drivetrain that delivers 90 kW and excellent fuel efficiency (claimed fuel consumption is 4.3 L/100 km).

The Corolla Cross is backed with a 3-year/100 000 km warranty (plus an 8-year/195 000 km warranty for the hybrid battery) and the cost of the first 6 services is covered.
View the Price & Specs of the Toyota Corolla Cros 1.8 Hybrid XR
Read a review of the Toyota Corolla Cross
Find a Toyota Corolla Cross for sale on Cars.co.za
RUNNERS UP:

Kia Seltos 1.5 CRDi EX+
Another recently-refreshed segment favourite is the Kia Seltos, which achieved a combined score of 73.2%. Rivalling the Corolla Cross in size, the Seltos looks a bit more SUV-ish, with its higher ground clearance.
It is also unique among the 3 finalists in being the only turbodiesel offering. The 1.5-litre 4-cylinder mill offers great torque around town, combined with excellent fuel consumption (a claimed 5.2 L/100 km).

The Kia comes with an impressive 5-year/unlimited km warranty and a 4-year/60 000 km service plan.
View the Price & Specs of the Kia Seltos 1.5 CRDi EX+
Find a Kia Seltos for sale on Cars.co.za

Volkswagen T-Cross 1.0 TSI R-Line
Recently refreshed, the ever-popular Volkswagen T-Cross may be one of the smaller cars in its segment, but it punches above its weight by delivering a sophisticated, comfortable ride quality, good looks and surprising spaciousness. It achieved a combined score of 69% in the 2025 CarsAwards.

The flagship (and selected finalist) T-Cross 1.0 TSI R-Line, is powered by an 85-kW 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbopetrol engine that delivers a good balance of performance and efficiency, with a quoted average consumption figure of 5.6 L/100 km.
It is backed with a 3-year/120 000 km warranty and a 3-year/45 000 km service plan.
View the Price & Specs of the Volkswagen T-Cross 1.0 TSI R-Line
Volkswagen T-Cross – What it’s like to live with
Find a Volkswagen T-Cross for sale on Cars.co.za
More about the #CarsAwards
The winners of the 2024/25 Cars.co.za Awards, sponsored by Absa (as well as the recipient of the prestigious Brand of the Year title) will be announced on 27 February 2025.
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