Changan CS55 has been named Nigeria’s Car of the Year by the Nigeria Auto Journalists’ Association (NAJA) during a prestigious award ceremony held on Wednesday evening in Lagos.

This compact crossover SUV triumphed over two strong contenders, the Toyota Corolla and Kia Rio, to secure the esteemed title.

This marks the inaugural win for a Changan vehicle in Nigeria’s Car of the Year awards. Changan automobiles are marketed and assembled in Nigeria by Mikano Motors.

In the previous year, the Honda HR-V, another vehicle assembled in Nigeria, received the Car of the Year accolade from the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association.

Both the Toyota Corolla and Kia Rio have previously claimed the Car of the Year title in Nigeria.

The newly crowned champion, Changan CS55, is not just a crossover; it boasts a stylish and versatile design that has garnered significant attention in the automotive sector.

Equipped with a 1.5L turbocharged engine, the CS55 delivers 178 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, achieving a fuel efficiency of 27 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway.

Other notable recognitions during the award ceremony included Toyota (Nigeria) Limited, honored as Auto Company of the Decade; CIG Motors, named Auto Company of the Year; and Globe Motors, awarded Most Resilient Company of the Year. Coscharis Motors received accolades for Multi-Luxury Brand of the Year and Luxury SUV of the Year for the Range Rover Autobiography. Additionally, Alhaji Olarenwaju Shittu, the late founder and Chairman of Lanre Shittu Motors, was posthumously recognized, while his son, Mr. Taiwo Shittu, was awarded Auto Personality of the Year. The company also won Heavy Duty Truck of the Year for the JAC truck.

Product launches celebrated at the event included the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado (Toyota By CFAO), Toyota Belta and Rumion (TNL), Nord A9 (Nord Automobiles), Chery Tiggo 8 Pro (Carloha), and Suzuki Vitara.

The Transport Icon of the Year award was presented to Chief Chidi Anyaegbu, MFR, the founder of Chisco Transport. Mrs. Karima Okunola from Mikano Motors was honored as the Auto Marketing Manager of the Year.

Additional accolades included Heavy-duty Truck Manufacturer of the Year awarded to Sinotruk by Dangote, Car Assembly Plant of the Year going to Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing, and Minibus Assembler of the Year recognized as Jet Systems. Mercedes Benz was celebrated as both the Luxury Brand of the Year and the Luxury Car of the Year for the S-Class model. R.T Briscoe received the Workshop of the Year award, while the Compact SUV of the Year was awarded to the Kia Sonet.

The title of Most Innovative Auto Company of the Year was given to Carloha (Chery), with Nord recognized as the CNG-powered Mini Bus Brand of the Year. Chisco was named Transport Company of the Year, and the Mid-size SUV of the Year went to the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. CFAO Mobility was acknowledged as the Most Enterprising Auto Company of the Year. The Toyota Hiace was designated Minibus of the Year, Jetour was recognized as the Fastest Growing Auto Brand of the Year, Yutong was awarded Luxury Coach of the Year, and Massilia received the Outstanding After-sales Service of the Year award.

In a discussion with journalists following the awards, Auto Industry Consultant Dr. Oscar Odiboh praised NAJA for enhancing awareness about vehicles and fostering a more discerning automobile consumer base. He remarked, “There is now greater awareness regarding cars. Auto journalists have become more insightful. For the first time, detailed information about the Car of the Year is available, covering aspects such as transmission and clutch, addressing the needs of car owners.”

He noted that the efforts of auto journalists have significantly contributed to the increased recognition of the Nigerian automobile market.