At a plush award event on Wednesday night in Lagos, the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) declared the Changan CS55 to be the country’s new Car of the Year.
The Toyota Corolla and Kia Rio, two rivals nominated for the prized accolade, were defeated by the CS55, a small crossover sport utility vehicle (SUV).
Nigeria’s Car of the Year award is being given to a Changan automobile product for the first time. Mikano Motors sells and assembles Changan automobiles in Nigeria. Last year, the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association’s Car of the Year award went to the Honda HR-V, a Japanese vehicle that was also built in Nigeria. Both the Kia Rio and the Toyota Corolla have previously won the Nigerian Car of the Year award.
The Changan CS55, the current car of the year winner in Nigeria, is more than just a crossover; it is fashionable, adaptable, and has been causing a stir in the automotive world. With a 1.5L turbocharged engine that generates 178 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, the Changan CS55 gets 27 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the interstate. Other notable winners on the award night were Globe Motors winning the Most Resilient Company of the Year honor, CIG Motors winning Auto Company of the Year, and Toyota (Nigeria) Limited being named Auto Company of the Decade.
Through the Range Rover Autobiography, Coscharis Motors won the Luxury SUV of the Year and the Multi-Luxury Brand of the Year award. Alhaji Olarenwaju Shittu, the late chairman and founder of Lanre Shittu Motors, received a posthumous award, while Mr. Taiwo Shittu, the company’s current managing director and son, was awarded Auto Personality of the Year. With the JAC truck, the company also took home the Heavy Duty Truck of the Year award.
Continuing, the following product releases are honored: Suzuki Vitara, Nord A9 (Nord Automobiles), Toyota Belta and Rumion (TNL), Toyota Land Cruiser Prado (Toyota By CFAO), and Chery Tiggo 8 Pro (Carloha). Chief Chidi Anyaegbu, MFR, the founder of Chisco Transport, received the award for Transport Icon of the Year. The Auto Marketing Manager of the Year award went to Mrs. Karima Okunola of Mikano Motors.
Additional wins include Jet Systems, Minibus Assembler of the Year; Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing, Car Assembly Plant of the Year; and Sinotruk by Dangote, Heavy-duty Truck Manufacturer of the Year. Mercedes-Benz won the title of Luxury Brand of the Year, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class won the title of Luxury Car of the Year, R.T. Briscoe won Workshop of the Year, and Kia Sonet won Compact SUV of the Year.
Carloha (Chery) was awarded the Most Innovative Auto Company of the Year award, while Nord was named the CNG-powered Mini Bus brand of the year, Chisco was named the Transport Company of the Year, Toyota Land Cruiser Prado was named the Mid-size SUV of the Year, and CFAO Mobility was named the Most Enterprising Auto Company of the Year. The Toyota Hiace was selected as the year’s best minibus; Jetour was named the year’s fastest-growing auto brand; Yutong was named the year’s best luxury coach; and Massilia was named the year’s best after-sales service.
In an interview accessed by BrandSpur reporters following the awards, Dr. Oscar Odiboh, a consultant for the auto industry, praised NAJA for raising vehicle awareness and educating car customers.
According to him: “There is more awareness now about cars. Auto journalists are deeper now. Look at what they read about the Car of the Year. This is the first time details about the Car of the Year would be available like this. Now we talk about the transmission, the clutch, and everything that a car owner wants to know.”
He, however, claims that the efforts of the auto journalists have increased awareness of the Nigerian car sector.
