Maruti Vitara Brezza, TVS Apache RTR 200 the big winners at Autocar India Awards 2017

The Autocar India Awards 2017 – the automotive Oscars of India – held at the Sofitel Mumbai BKC yesterday, rewarded the movers and shakers of the Indian automobile industry.

A strong turnout comprising the who's who of the Indian automotive industry saw the Maruti Vitara Brezza and the TVS Apache RTR 200 win the top accolades even as other products launched in 2016 made their presence felt.  

The Vitara Brezza, Maruti’s first compact SUV has been a runaway hit since its launch in March 2016. A family car that is both practical and economical to run, it drove away with the coveted 2017 Car of the Year award. Between March 2016 to December 2016, the Vitara Brezza has gone home to 85,168 owners in India and currently commands a waiting period of over six months. Available as a diesel only, the Brezza has quickly risen to overtake its rivals to become the best-selling model in the compact SUV segment. 

Team Maruti Suzuki India with the 2017 Car of the Year, the Vitara Brezza.

Apart from taking home the top honours, the Vitara Brezza also proved popular amongst Autocar India readers, being crowned as the Reader’s Choice Car of the Year. The Brezza’s accomplishments, however, didn’t end as it bagged the Compact SUV of the Year award too.

Team TVS celebrates the Apache RTR 200's success as the 2017 Bike of the Year.

TVS Motor Co’s flagship Apache RTR 200, a strong package with fresh and attractive styling, fast performance and able handling, won the 2017 Bike of the Year title. It was also adjudged the Reader’s Choice Bike of the Year. 

The Renault Kwid, the 2016 Car of the Year, in the form of the new 1.0-litre AMT model won the 2017 Variant of the Year award. In the compact car segment, it was the Tata Tiago that took home the prize with the hatchback also proving to be the best car for the buck by being adjudged the winner in the Value for Money Car of the Year. Since its launch in February 2016, the Tiago has sold a total of 40,740 units, bringing back the zing into Tata Motors’ sales.

For 2017, it was Hyundai Motor India that was adjudged as the ‘Manufacturer of the Year’ with the automaker’s new Elantra sedan voted the Sedan of the Year.

Among the other awards, the Toyota Innova Crysta dethroned the Renault Lodgy as the MPV of the Year, while Honda Cars India’s latest Accord was adjudged the Green Car of the Year. In the performance categories, the Volkswagen Polo GTI and Audi R8 were awarded the Performance Hatchback of the Year and Performance Car of the Year awards, respectively, with the iconic Ford Mustang slipping in to bag the award for Sportscar of the Year.

Other winners in the four-wheeler categories included the Ford Endeavour, the luxurious Mercedes GLC, the new Volvo S90 and the Skoda Superb.

In the two-wheeler categories, the stylish and aggressively priced Aprilia SR 150 was awarded the Scooter of the Year, while the laden with performance and oomph Ducati 959 took the award for the best import bike.

This year also included a motorsports award with Mahindra Racing chosen for its string of successes in motorsport events on the global stage.

THE 2017 AUTOCAR AWARDS WINNERS

Car of the Year – Maruti Vitara Brezza
Bike of the Year – TVS Apache RTR 200
Readers' Choice Car of the Year – Maruti Vitara Brezza
Readers' Choice Bike of the Year - TVS Apache RTR 200
Best Design & Styling – Volvo S90
Best Value for Money Car of the Year – Tata Tiago
Variant of the Year – Renault Kwid 1.0 Easy-R
Manufacturer of the Year – Hyundai Motor India
Green Car of the Year – Honda Accord Hybrid
Performance Car of the Year – Audi R8 V10 Plus
Compact Car of the Year – Tata Tiago
Performance Hatchback of the Year – Volkswagen GTI
Sedan of the Year – Hyundai Elantra
Entry Luxury Sedan of the Year – Skoda Superb
Premium Luxury Sedan of the Year – Volvo S90
MUV of the Year – Toyota Innova Crysta
Compact SUV of the Year – Maruti Vitara Brezza
Premium SUV of the Year – Ford Endeavour
Luxury SUV of the Year – Mercedes GLC
Sportscar of the Year – Ford Mustang GT
Scooter of the Year – Aprilia SR 150
Premium Bike of the Year – Triumph Bonneville Street Twin
Import Bike of the Year – Ducati 959 Panigale
Motorsport Award – Mahindra Racing