ICOTY 2025: The 20th edition of the Indian Car of the Year awards once again spotlighted the most exceptional vehicles in the Indian automotive market. This prestigious event recognises the finest in design, performance, innovation, and value, with a diverse range of contenders vying for the prestigious title. The competition this year has been fierce, showcasing cutting-edge models across various segments, from electric cars to powerful SUVs. The awards, judged by a distinguished panel of automotive experts, including Dhruv Behl, Chairman of ICOTY and Founder/Editor-in-Chief of autoX, along with Ishan Raghava, Secretary of ICOTY and Managing Editor at autoX, highlight the changing dynamics of the Indian car industry.
In this article, we dive into the winners, the strong contenders, and everything else you need to know about the recently concluded awards.
ICOTY 2025: Winners
In a tightly fought contest for the coveted Indian Car of the Year title, the Mahindra Thar Roxx triumphed with 139 points. The competition was intense, with the Dzire narrowly trailing in second place with 137 points. Launched in August last year, the off-roader boasts LED headlights with C-shaped DRLs, a body-coloured grille, 19-inch dual-tone alloy wheels, a tailgate-mounted spare tyre, fog lights, and LED taillights. It comes with the option of a 2.0-litre mStallion turbo petrol engine or a 2.2-litre mHawk diesel engine. Transmission options include a six-speed manual and a six-speed torque converter automatic. The petrol variants are available only with rear-wheel drive, while the diesel variants offer an optional 4x4 system, complete with a low-range transfer case.
The Green Car of the Year category highlighted the importance of environmentally conscious mobility. The Windsor EV clinched the title with an impressive 157 points, with the BMW i5 (99 points) and BYD Seal (87 points) coming in as notable runners-up. The MG model, available in three variants (Excite, Essence, and Exclusive), is powered by an IP67-rated 38kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, and offers a range of 332 km. It houses a permanent magnet synchronous motor and delivers 134bhp and 200Nm of torque.
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class claimed the Premium Car of the Year title, scoring 140 points. The BMW 5 Series and Kia Carnival finished closed behind with 107 points and 65 points, respectively. The E-Class is available in two variants: the petrol-powered E 200 and the diesel-powered E 220d. The E 200 has a 1,999cc four-cylinder turbocharged engine, producing 201bhp and 320Nm. Meanwhile, the E 220d is equipped with a 1,950cc four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, generating 194bhp and 440Nm. Both variants feature a 48V mild-hybrid system and a nine-speed automatic transmission.
ICOTY 2025: Contenders
The final contenders for the prestigious Overall Indian Car of the Year award showcased a diverse array of vehicles competing for the highest honour.
- Mahindra Thar Roxx
- Maruti Suzuki Swift
- MG Windsor
- BYD eMAX 7
- Citroen Basalt
- Maruti Suzuki Dzire
- Tata Curvv/Curvv EV
- Tata Punch EV
In the Green Car of the Year category, several noteworthy models competed, showcasing the rapid growth of electric mobility in India. Here's a look at the contenders:
- BYD Seal
- BMW i5
- Mercedes EQS SUV/EQS Maybach
- MG Windsor
- Mini Countryman EV
- Tata Curvv EV
- BYD eMAX 7
- Tata Punch EV
The Premium Car of the Year category saw a strong lineup of prestigious contenders, including some of the most sought-after models in the automotive world. The contenders in this category included:
- Mercedes-Benz E-Class
- BMW 5 Series
- Kia Carnival
- BMW M5
- Mercedes-Benz EQS/EQS Maybach
- Mini Cooper S
- BMW i5
- BYD Seal
ICOTY 2025: Criteria to Pick Winners/Contenders
The ICOTY (Indian Car of the Year) 2025 is one of the most esteemed automobile awards in India, with a rigorous and transparent selection process. Judged by a panel of seasoned experts from leading automotive magazines in the country, the finalists for ICOTY 2025 are evaluated across several key criteria. These include factors such as pricing, fuel efficiency, styling, comfort, safety, performance, practicality, technical innovation, ergonomics, value for money, and their suitability for Indian road conditions. Each vehicle is also tested at the Buddh International Circuit to assess its real-world capabilities.
Since its inception, the ICOTY Awards has been proudly sponsored by JK Tyre. To ensure a fair and transparent process, Deloitte has been appointed as the official knowledge partner, overseeing the selection and verification of the winners and contenders.
ICOTY 2025: Scoring System
The Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY) scoring system follows a point-based approach, with each jury member receiving a total of 25 points to allocate. These points must be distributed among at least five of the shortlisted vehicles, ensuring a fair and well-rounded evaluation process. To prevent any bias, no vehicle can receive more than 10 points from a single jury member, and the points must be spread across multiple contenders. Additionally, the top two cars cannot be awarded equal points, ensuring a clear hierarchy.
Also Read: ICOTY 2025: MG Windsor EV Named Green Car of the Year; BMW i5, BYD Seal Finish as Runners-up
After all points have been allocated, a representative from Deloitte, the official knowledge partner, meticulously aggregates the scoresheets. The final results are kept confidential until the awards ceremony, maintaining the transparency and integrity of the entire selection process.
ICOTY 2025: The Jury Members
Coming to the jury members, this year’s panel comprised - Dhruv Behl (Chairman of ICOTY and Founder and editor-in-chief of autoX), Ishan Raghava (Secretary of ICOTY and Managing Editor at autoX), Yogendra Pratap (Auto Today), Dipayan Dutta (Auto Today), Aspi Bhathena (Car India), Joshua Varghese (Car India), Sirish Chandran (Evo India), Aatish Mishra (Evo India), Pablo Chaterji (Motoring World), Kartik Ware (Motoring World), Kranti Sambhav (Overdrive), Rohit Paradkar (Overdrive), Vikrant Singh (Carwale), Arpit Mahendra (TOI Auto), Ameya Dandekar (Cardekho/Zigwheels), Kushan Mitra (The Print), Abhay Verma (Turbocharged), Cyrus Dhabhar (Powerdrift), Bob Rupani, Ashish Masih (Times Drive), Sagar Bhanushali (Carwale).
Write your Comment