Hyundai Motor Co.’s Elantra won the Car of the Year prize of the 2012 annual competition of the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists on Wednesday, the company said Friday.

After a two-day evaluation of the finalists, Hyundai’s medium luxury sedan was named the SAGMJ and WesBank’s choice of the year. This year is the first a Korean model has won the prize.

“We are extremely proud of the recognition that a world-class product such as the Hyundai Elantra has received from the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists,” said Alan Ross, managing director of Hyundai Automotive South Africa, after receiving the Car of the Year trophy. Hyundai’s Avante is exported as Elantra in North America, South Africa and Europe.

The success follows a series of other achievements Elantra enjoyed in the year, including winning the North American Car of the Year at the Detroit Motor Show and an overall prize in the Canadian Car of the Year competition.

“This award, and the fact that we had no less than two finalists in the previous competition, is confirmation of the giant strides that the Hyundai brand has made locally and globally.

It is also recognition of the quality and emotional appeal that the Hyundai products have developed as part of the brand’s ‘Modern Premium’ strategy,” Ross said.

By Cynthia J. Kim (cynthiak@heraldcorp.com)