Maruti Suzuki Victoris Won The Indian Car of the Year 2026, & TVS Apache RTX Won Indian Motorcycle of the Year 2026

The Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY) and the Indian Motorcycle of the Year (IMOTY) 2026 awards were announced on December 18, 2025. This celebrates automotive excellence in the Indian automobile market. These awards were distributed through rigorous jury evaluations by top automotive journalists. The recently launched Maruti Suzuki Victoris has been crowned as the Indian Car of the Year 2026, and the TVS Apache RTX won the Indian Bike of the Year 2026.

​Maruti Suzuki Victoris clinched the top car honor, beating Skoda Kylaq and Mahindra XEV 9e, while TVS Apache RTX dominated the bike category ahead of Ultraviolette X47 and KTM Adventure 390. These vehicle wins are highlighted based on innovation tailored for Indian roads and blending efficiency.

​Maruti Suzuki Victoris Claims ICOTY 2026 Crown

Maruti Suzuki Victoris secured the Indian Car of the Year 2026. Moreover, the Skoda Kylaq claims the second spot, while the Mahindra XEV 9e clinches third position. The ICOTY 2026 finalists include 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. All these cars were shortlisted after thorough evaluation by the ICOTY jury.

Jury members praised its spacious cabin, 210 mm ground clearance, 10.1-inch touchscreen with Infinity audio, ventilated seats, 360-degree camera, and AWD in top variants for family versatility on Indian roads. The Victoris swept overall, while the Mahindra XEV 9e took Green Car honors for its 542-656 km range and up to 282 HP RWD electric powertrain.

​TVS Apache RTX Clinches IMOTY 2026

TVS Apache RTX won Indian Motorcycle of the Year 2026, among top contenders like Ultraviolet X47 and KTM Adventure 390. The bike was launched at Rs 1.99 lakh (ex-showroom) in India. Talking about its powertrain, the bike comes with a 299 cc liquid-cooled DOHC engine that produces 35.5 HP of power and 28.5 Nm of peak torque.

The bike’s most prominent features include a 5-inch TFT with map mirroring, GoPro control, four ride modes (Tour, Rally, Urban, and Rain), cornering ABS, traction control, cruise control, and TPMS, plus 32 kmpl mileage.

Also Read: Maruti Suzuki introduces Assured Buyback Program and BaaS to make e-Vitara more Affordable

Jury Process and Significance

A 19-member ICOTY jury of editors from CarWale, autoX, Evo India, Overdrive, and more allocated 25 points across at least five cars (max 10 per car), prioritizing performance, safety, value, and India-fit. IMOTY followed suit with experts like BikeWale's Vikrant Singh evaluating design, engineering, practicality, and game-changing appeal.

Awards like the Volkswagen Golf GTI (Premium Car) further spotlight diversity, with Deloitte ensuring transparency since its inception. These nods boost credibility, influencing sales as Victoris and RTX embody efficient, fun mobility for India's evolving market.

Why These Vehicles Won

The Victoris excels for urban families with low ownership costs via Maruti's service network, hybrid efficiency, and premium tech like ambient lighting and drive modes. Apache RTX appeals to adventure enthusiasts seeking versatile performance without premium pricing, marking TVS's third IMOTY win.

Runners-up like Kylaq and XEV 9e pushed boundaries in compact SUVs and EVs, signaling intense competition. As electrification accelerates, these 2026 victors prove that winners balance innovation, affordability, and real-world usability for Indian buyers.

Conclusion

The ICOTY-IBOTY 2026 crowns Maruti Suzuki Victoris and TVS Apache RTX as beacons of Indian automotive brilliance, blending innovation, affordability, and road-ready prowess. These triumphs inspire buyers to embrace efficient hybrids and versatile ADVs, shaping a dynamic future for mobility in India.