The 2025 Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY) awards ceremony will be held in January next year, where a jury of automotive journalists will select the most prestigious Indian Car of the Year – also known as the ‘Oscars’ of the Indian automotive industry – — as well as two other winners in their respective categories. The competition is contested by 20 judges from renowned publications, including ICOTY Chairman Dhruv Behl and ICOTY Secretary Ishan Raghava, with the finalists vying for the coveted title in a final countdown expected in less than a month.
In the 20th ICOTY Awards, 17 sedans and SUVs competed for the top spot, with 8 high-end sedans vying for the top spot. Here are the 2025 Premium Car Awards shortlist:
BMW 5 Series
The BMW 5 Series sedan is available in long wheelbase variant in India. It has the longest wheelbase in its class at 3,105 mm, which is 130 mm longer than the wheelbase of the previous-generation 5 Series. Launched five months ago, the current 5 Series is in its eighth generation and is designed to provide a premium driver experience. The new BMW 5 Series takes its look from the all-electric i5 and features a 2.0-liter twin-turbo petrol engine with 48V mild hybrid technology under the bonnet. The engine is combined with an eight-speed automatic transmission produced by ZF to produce 255 horsepower and 400 Nm of peak torque. The model is available only in 530Li variant and is priced at Rs 72.90 lakh (ex-showroom).
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
The BMW 5 Series is in its eighth generation, while the Mercedes-Benz E-Class is in its sixth generation – larger, more technologically advanced and more powerful than before. It is the other long wheelbase model (3,094mm) in the segment and is available in three variants with a choice of two turbo petrol and one diesel engines. All three engines feature a 48V mild-hybrid system that delivers an additional 23bhp and 205Nm. The range-topping E 450 only comes with the company’s 4Matic AWD system. The E-Class long wheelbase model is the first and only Indian-made Mercedes-Benz car to feature a front center airbag. Prices start at Rs 78.50 lakh (ex-showroom).
Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV/EQS Maybach
Mercedes-Benz launched the standard EQS SUV in September 2024 at a price of Rs 141 crore (ex-showroom). It has a minimalist design and is powered by a 122 kWh battery pack with dual electric motors. The combined power of these motors is 536bhp and 858Nm. This SUV is only available in 580 4MATIC version.
Launched before the standard version, the Maybach EQS 680 is the company’s flagship electric SUV. Like the standard SUV, the Maybach version is also available in a separate fully loaded version. It has the same battery and two electric motors but produces 649bhp and 950Nm, enabling the vehicle to accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in 4.4 seconds, 0.2 seconds faster than the EQS 580. The EQS is priced at Rs 2.25 crore (ex-showroom). The 680 is the second most expensive electric SUV in the country after the Lotus Eletre.
kia carnival
Kia will relaunch the Carnival MPV in India in October 2024 as the updated fourth-generation model. The MPV is available in a single Limousine Plus variant and is powered by a 2.2-litre four-cylinder CRDi turbodiesel engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The new Fiesta’s diesel engine is made of aluminum and produces 193 hp and 441 Nm of torque. The MPV, which has a new look with an updated SUV-like design, a completely revamped cabin and a host of equipment, is priced at Rs 63.90 lakh (ex-showroom). It is only available as a 7-seater.
seal world
BMW M5
The seventh-generation BMW M5 is powered by a 717bhp plug-in hybrid V8 engine and is the most powerful version of the high-performance luxury sedan to date. The sedan is priced at Rs 199 crore (ex-showroom), making it Rs 4 lakh more expensive (ex-showroom) than the Mercedes-AMG C 63, which is priced at Rs 19.5 crore. The sporty M5 is powered by a 4.4-liter turbocharged V8 petrol engine with plug-in hybrid technology, delivering 717 hp and 1,000 Nm of combined power. It is said that the pure electric range is 69 kilometers and the 0-100 km/h acceleration time is 3.5 seconds.
BMW i5
The BMW i5 electric sedan is a fully imported model priced at Rs 120 crore (ex-showroom). The i5 in M60 xDrive form has an 81.2kWh battery pack mated to twin electric motors, producing an overall 593bhp and 795Nm of torque. The sedan can accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds and has a WLTP claimed range of 516 km.
Mini Cooper S
The fifth-generation Mini Cooper S is a three-door version of the iconic hatchback. It has a 2.0-liter turbo-petrol engine under the hood; an electric powertrain will be added later. Powered by a turbo-petrol engine, the new hatchback produces 201 hp and 300 Nm of torque, an increase of 26 hp and 20 Nm over the old version. The engine is mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that transmits power to the front wheels. Mini claims a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 6.6 seconds. Price starts at Rs 44.90 lakh (ex-showroom)
Also read: autoX Awards 2024: BMW i5 M60 performance, quality and value for money rankings
The other finalists in the Indian Car of the Year (overall) and Green Car Awards categories are as follows:
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