Maruti Suzuki Victoris Claims ICOTY 2026 After Beating Strong New Rivals

The Maruti Suzuki Victoris has been awarded the prestigious Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY) 2026, one of the most respected honors in the Indian automobile industry. The model secured the title after competing against several strong new launches across different segments. The competition included electric vehicles, compact and midsize SUVs and family focused cars. Despite the wide range of contenders the Victoris stood out for its balanced mix of efficiency, useful technology and strong overall value for Indian buyers

The award reflects how well the Victoris meets daily driving needs while also offering modern features and reliable performance

Skoda Kylaq Secures First Runner-Up Position

The Skoda Kylaq finished as the first runner up at the ICOTY 2026 awards. The car impressed the jury with its solid build quality, clean design and driving comfort. While it narrowly missed the top spot, the Kylaq’s strong showing highlights Skoda’s growing focus on the Indian market and its ability to deliver competitive products

This result places the Kylaq among the most well regarded new cars evaluated this year

Previous Winner: Indian Car Of The Year 2025

Before the Victoris claimed the crown, the Indian Car of the Year (2025) title was won by the Mahindra Thar Roxx. That win underlined the popularity of rugged lifestyle vehicles and their growing appeal among Indian buyers. The transition from Thar Roxx to Victoris also shows how different body styles can succeed when they deliver value and usability

Why Maruti Suzuki Victoris Won ICOTY 2026

The Victoris emerged as the winner in a year filled with major launches. From electric-only models to feature-rich SUVs and practical family cars, the competition was intense. The Victoris gained an edge because it offered a well rounded package rather than focusing on just one strength

Key reasons behind its win include:

• Strong balance between performance and fuel efficiency
• Useful and easy-to-use technology
• Comfortable driving experience for daily use
• Pricing that matches buyer expectations

These factors helped the Victoris appeal to a wide range of Indian customers

Complete List Of ICOTY 2026 Finalists

The ICOTY 2026 shortlist included vehicles from multiple segments, reflecting the diversity of today’s Indian car market

Finalist models were:

• Hyundai Creta Electric
• Hyundai Venue
• Kia Carens Clavis EV
• Kia Syros
• Mahindra XEV 9E
• Maruti Suzuki Victoris
• Skoda Kylaq
• Tata Harrier EV

Each of these vehicles went through detailed testing and evaluation before making it to the final list

ICOTY 2026 Jury And Evaluation Process

The ICOTY 2026 jury consisted of experienced automobile journalists and reviewers from leading Indian automotive publications. Their role was to assess each car on factors that matter most to Indian buyers including design, safety, performance, efficiency and value

The jury members included:

• Vikrant Singh and Sagar Bhanushali from Carwale
• Dhruv Behl and Ishan Raghava from autoX
• Yogendra Pratap and Dipayan Dutta from Auto Today
• Aspi Bhathena and Gaurav Davare from Car India
• Sirish Chandran and Aatish Mishra from Evo India
• Pablo Chaterji and Kartik Ware from Motoring World
• Rohit Paradkar and Kranti Sambhav from Overdrive
• Arpit Mahendra from TOI Auto
• Tushar Kamath from Cardekho.com
• Abhay Verma from Turbocharged
• Bob Rupani
• Kushan Mitra from The Print

This wide and diverse jury ensured that the final decision was fair, detailed and based on real world usability

The ICOTY 2026 results highlight the growing focus on balanced and practical vehicles. The victory of the Victoris shows that buyers value cars that deliver consistent performance, useful features and long term ownership comfort. This trend is likely to influence future launches across the Indian automobile market