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2026 ICOTY and IMOTY Winners Announced: Overview
- Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY) 2026 was awarded to Maruti Suzuki Victoris, with Skoda Kylaq as first runner-up and Mahindra XEV 9e as second.
- Premium Car of the Year goes to Volkswagen Golf GTI, ahead of Toyota Camry (first runner-up) and BMW iX1 LWB (second).
- Green Car of the Year was claimed by Mahindra XEV 9e, followed by Kia Carens Clavis EV (first) and BMW iX1 LWB (second).
- Indian Motorcycle of the Year (IMOTY) 2026 won by TVS Apache RTX 300, with the KTM 390 Adventure as first runner-up and the Ultraviolette X47 second.
- Prestigious awards hosted by JK Tyre and judged by eminent journalists from leading auto publications across India.
The Grand Celebration of Automotive Excellence: 2026 ICOTY and IMOTY Awards Unveiled
Every year, the Indian automotive industry pauses to honor its finest creations through the highly respected Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY) and Indian Motorcycle of the Year (IMOTY) awards. On December 19, 2025, these coveted titles were announced, recognising vehicles that excel in design, performance, innovation, value for money, and overall appeal to Indian buyers. Organised by JK Tyre since their launch in 2005 (ICOTY) and 2007 (IMOTY), the awards bring together a distinguished jury of automotive journalists from top publications nationwide. Their rigorous evaluation process involves extensive testing, debates, and scoring, ensuring only the most deserving contenders emerge victorious.
This year’s competition was exceptionally tough, with a diverse lineup of launches spanning mainstream family cars, premium luxury models, cutting-edge electric vehicles, and thrilling motorcycles. The jury, comprising experts like Dhruv Behl (Auto X), Yogendra Pratap (Auto Today), Aspi Bathena (Car India), Sirish Chandran (Evo India), Kranti Sambhav (Overdrive), Vikrant Singh (Carwale), Pablo Chaterji (Motoring World), and Kartik Ware, among others, faced difficult choices. Presented by Dr Raghupati Singhania, the ceremony celebrated not just winners but the passion, engineering, and customer focus that drive India’s vibrant auto sector.
ICOTY 2026: Maruti Suzuki Victoris Emerges Victorious
| Award | Winner | First Runner-Up | Second Runner-Up | Other Finalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Car of the Year | Maruti Suzuki Victoris | Skoda Kylaq | Mahindra XEV 9e | Hyundai Creta Electric, Hyundai Venue, Kia Carens Clavis EV, Kia Syros, Tata Harrier EV |
The Maruti Suzuki Victoris claimed the top honor, impressing the jury with its balanced package of space, features, efficiency, and Maruti’s legendary reliability. In a segment packed with strong contenders, the Victoris stood out for its everyday usability and value proposition, making it a worthy successor to past ICOTY greats.
Premium Car of the Year: Volkswagen Golf GTI’s Thrilling Triumph
| Award | Winner | First Runner-Up | Second Runner-Up | Other Finalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premium Car of the Year | Volkswagen Golf GTI | Toyota Camry | BMW iX1 LWB | BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz G-Class, MG Cyberster, Skoda Kodiaq, Skoda Octavia RS |
The Volkswagen Golf GTI roared to victory in the premium category, reminding everyone that pure driving joy still matters in an SUV-dominated world. Its hot-hatch performance, sharp handling, and engaging character edged out refined sedans and luxury crossovers, proving enthusiasts have a voice.
Green Car of the Year: Mahindra XEV 9e’s Electric Excellence
| Award | Winner | First Runner-Up | Second Runner-Up | Other Finalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green Car of the Year | Mahindra XEV 9e | Kia Carens Clavis EV | BMW iX1 LWB | BYD Sealion 7, Hyundai Creta Electric, MG Cyberster, Tata Harrier EV, Tesla Model Y |
Sustainability shone bright with the Mahindra XEV 9e taking the Green Car of the Year. This bold electric offering impressed with its range, features, and aggressive styling, signalling Mahindra’s serious intent in the EV space. It beat a strong field of zero-emission contenders, highlighting India’s growing electric maturity.
IMOTY 2026: TVS Apache RTX 300 Races to the Top
| Award | Winner | First Runner-Up | Second Runner-Up | Other Finalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Motorcycle of the Year | TVS Apache RTX 300 | KTM 390 Adventure | Ultraviolette X47 | Honda CB 125 Hornet, KTM Enduro R, Royal Enfield Classic 650, Yamaha XSR 155 |
The two-wheeler crown went to the TVS Apache RTX 300, a performance machine that blends track-ready thrills with street usability. It outpaced adventure bikes, electric offerings, and retro classics, rewarding TVS’s engineering prowess in a hotly contested field.
The Jury Behind the Prestige
These awards derive credibility from the expert panel:
- ICOTY Jury: Dhruv Behl & Ishan Raghava (Auto X), Yogendra Pratap & Dipayan Dutta (Auto Today), Aspi Bathena & Gaurav Davare (Car India), Tushar Kamath (Car Dekho), Sirish Chandran & Aatish Mishra (Evo India), Kranti Sambhav & Rohit Paradkar (Overdrive), Vikrant Singh & Sagar Bhanushali (Carwale), Arpit Mahendra (TOI Auto), Kushan Mitra (The Print), Abhay Verma (Turbocharged), Bob Rupani, Pablo Chaterji & Kartik Ware.
- IMOTY Jury: Shivank Bhatt & Kunal Mathur (AutoX), Rahul Ghosh & Abhinav Jakhar (Auto Today), Aspi Bathena & Saeed Akhtar (Bike India), Sirish Chandran & Karan Ramgopal (Evo India), Kranti Sambhav & Rohit Paradkar (Overdrive), Vikrant Singh & Rishabh Bhaskar (Bikewale), Abhay Verma (Turbocharged), Arpit Mahendra (TOI Auto), Kartik Ware & Manaal Mahatme.
Their collective expertise ensures winners truly represent the best for Indian conditions and buyers.
What These Awards Mean for India’s Auto Landscape
The 2026 victors mirror evolving tastes:
- Mainstream reliability and value (Victoris).
- Pure driving passion (Golf GTI).
- Bold electrification (XEV 9e).
- Performance accessibility (Apache RTX 300).
For buyers, these endorsements guide purchases with trusted validation. For manufacturers, they set benchmarks in a market blending ICE tradition with EV future. As India targets greener roads and global exports, awards like ICOTY/IMOTY spotlight innovators leading the charge.
The ceremony was a celebration of progress—from family haulers to thrill machines—proving India’s auto industry is diverse, dynamic, and delivering world-class products.
Source: motoringworld.in
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