Maruti Suzuki Victoris wins ICOTY 2026, TVS Apache RTX wins IMOTY: All details here

The highly anticipated 2025 Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY) and Indian Motorcycle of the Year (IMOTY) awards have been announced. Instituted in 2005 for ICOTY and 2007 for IMOTY, the awards are decided by a nationwide jury of automotive journalists who collectively evaluate and vote on the winners based on their expertise and real-world assessments.

The judging process takes into account key parameters such as performance, safety, fuel efficiency, technology, overall value and other relevant factors. Since their inception, the awards have been supported by JK Tyre. The ICOTY honours are presented across three categories: Indian Car of the Year, Premium Car of the Year and Green Car of the Year. The final results were determined following an exhaustive assessment of the shortlisted models by the ICOTY jury. The judging panel, comprising seasoned automotive journalists from across the country, also included our editor, Arpit Mahendra, who was part of both the ICOTY and IMOTY juries.

Indian car of the year 2026

At this year’s ceremony, the Maruti Suzuki Victoris was crowned Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY) 2026 after a closely fought evaluation process conducted by a jury of leading automotive journalists. Skoda Kylaq is the first runner up, while the Mahindra XEV 9E secured third place to complete the podium. The shortlist for ICOTY 2026 featured the Hyundai Creta Electric, Hyundai Venue, Kia Carens Clavis EV, Kia Syros, Mahindra XEV 9E, Maruti Suzuki Victoris, Skoda Kylaq and the Tata Harrier EV.

Premium car of the year 2026

Volkswagen’s Golf GTI has been named Premium Car of the Year at the ICOTY 2026 awards, standing out in one of the most competitive categories this year. The jury was impressed by how the hot hatch manages to balance performance-driven character with day-to-day comfort and usability, making it a compelling all-rounder.

The Golf GTI ultimately finished ahead of rivals such as the BMW iX1 LWB, BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz G-Class, MG Cyberster, Skoda Kodiaq, Skoda Octavia RS and Toyota Camry. Each model was judged across a wide range of criteria, including driving performance, build quality, technology, safety, comfort, luxury and value, with the GTI’s breadth of ability tipping the scales in its favour.

Green car of the year 2026

Mahindra’s XEV 9e has been awarded Green Car of the Year at the ICOTY 2026 ceremony, prevailing in a category packed with electric and environmentally focused models. The electric SUV finished with the highest aggregate score, underlining its strong showing across key areas such as driving range, onboard technology, comfort and overall value. The contest proved to be a close one, with the XEV 9e edging past a varied lineup of rivals from both Indian and international brands. Competing for the Green Car of the Year title were the BMW iX1 LWB, BYD Sealion 7, Kia Carens Clavis EV, MG Cyberster, Hyundai Creta Electric, Tata Harrier EV and the Tesla Model Y.

Indian Motorcycle of the Year 2026

The TVS Apache RTX has secured the Indian Motorcycle of the Year (IMOTY) 2026 title. The Apache RTX made it to the final round from a shortlist of eight motorcycles, with the finalists spanning multiple segments such as sporty commuters, modern classics, adventure tourers and an electric offering. The varied lineup highlighted the breadth of two-wheelers introduced in the Indian market over the past year. The final shortlist of motorcycles featured a diverse mix that included the Honda CB 125 Hornet, Kawasaki KLX 230, KTM 390 Adventure, KTM Enduro R, Royal Enfield Classic 650, TVS Apache RTX 300, Ultraviolette X47 and the Yamaha XSR 155.