Maruti Suzuki Victoris Is The Indian Car Of The Year 2026! Take A Look At What Other Contenders Came Close…

In a proud achievement for Maruti Suzuki, the Victoris has won the prestigious title of being the Indian Car Of The Year 2026(ICOTY)! Furthermore, ICOTY has also announced winners for the 2026 Green Car Of The Year and 2026 Premium Car Of The Year, but who all competed for these titles? Let’s take a look:

Maruti Suzuki Victoris: Indian Car Of The Year 2026

Mirroring the shift in market preferences, all the finalists, except one, in the Indian Car Of The Year category are SUVs! That said, they are a diverse group of cars which carry petrol, diesel, electric and even strong-hybrid powertrains and cater to various segments of the market. However, despite the close competition, it is Maruti Suzuki Victoris that takes home the trophy!

Behind the Victoris, the second runners-up position is owned by the Mahindra XEV 9e, while the Skoda Kylaq came the closest to the Victoris in claiming the top spot, with a first runners-up position.

Mahindra XEV 9e: 2026 Green Car Of The Year

The contenders this year for the 2026 Green Car Of The Year category range from two-door sportscars, to electrified versions of popular crossovers and even an MPV. Beating out others by a small margin, it is the Mahindra XEV 9e which has bagged the title this year! Here are the finalists:

In the Green Car Of The Year category, it was the BMW iX1 LWB which clinched the second runners-up, while the Kia Carens Clavis EV took the first runners-up spot. 

Volkswagen Golf GTI: 2026 Premium Car Of The Year

The sustainability theme carried forward to the final list of contenders vying for the 2026 Premium Car Of The Year Title. However, enthusiasts got fair representation too, with as many as 3 performance-oriented machines on the list. That said, after many rounds of evaluation, ICOTY has declared the Volkswagen Golf GTI as the 2026 Premium Car Of The Year!

In the Premium Car Of The Year category, it was the BMW iX1 which came about as the second runners-up, while the Toyota Camry ranked a close second position as the first runners-up

ZigSays…

Maruti's Victoris has already proven its mettle to the ICOTY judges, with the most points so far earning it the prestigious title of the Indian Car Of The Year 2026! With a wide range of powertrain options including petrol, strong-hybrid and CNG options, along with the country's largest dealership network, it stands testament to the fact that while other players have emerged, Maruti Suzuki still offers some of the most complete and balanced products in the industry. 

What is your favourite variant-powertrain combo on the Victoris? Comment down below!