CLASS TOPPERS

The Maruti Suzuki Victoris was crowned Indian Car of the Year 2026, while the TVS Apache RTX claimed the Indian Motorcycle of the Year title. Meanwhile, the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Mahindra XEV 9e won the Premium and Green awards, respectively.

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The Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY) and Indian Motorcycle of the Year (IMOTY) Awards returned for their 21st edition in 2026, continuing their legacy as the country's most respected and comprehensive automotive honours.

Often regarded as the 'Oscars' of the Indian automotive industry, the awards recognise excellence across cars and motorcycles launched in India over the past year, following a rigorous, transparent, and independently adjudicated evaluation process.

At the pinnacle of this year's awards was the Maruti Suzuki Victoris, which secured the Indian Car of the Year 2026 title after the final round of jury deliberation. The Skoda Kylaq and the Mahindra XEV 9e completed the podium as first and second runners-up, respectively, underlining the closely contested nature of this year's ICOTY results.

The ICOTY 2026 jury evaluated a carefully shortlisted field of eight contenders that reflected the wide spread of powertrains and segments present in today's Indian car market. The finalists included 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. These contenders represented a mix of mass-market internal combustion models and new-generation electric vehicles. Each progressed through multiple rounds of evaluation, during which the jury assessed them on parameters such as pricing, fuel efficiency, design, comfort, safety, performance, practicality, and overall suitability for Indian roads and usage conditions before arriving at the final verdict.