Maruti Suzuki Swift gets ICOTY award; here is why

The extremely popular Maruti Suzuki Swift car has earned several distinctions besides becoming the only Indian car to have won ICOTY (Indian Car of the Year) awards for all its three generations in 2006, 2012 and 2019. Maruti Swift's dynamic features, global styling, sporty, solid and bold stance and power-packed on-road performance has made it the preferred choice of Indian customers. 

India’s first premium hatchback, Swift has not only topped the sales charts to become most popular premium hatchback in the country, but has also created the compact premium segment for India’s young generation, said a company statement, adding that it exemplifies peppy and fun to drive vehicle and continues to be relevant for the youth by evolving over the years. 
 
The 3rd generation of all-new Swift continues to capture the hearts of the ever evolving and aspiring young customers.

Thanking the jury for ICOTY awards, Kenichi Ayukawa, Managing Director and CEO of Maruti Suzuki, said: “Swift has been one of the most loved premium hatchbacks and it is an honor to receive such a high accolade yet again. Brand Swift has consistently made us proud and has been among the top 5 best-selling cars in India for over a decade. The journey with Swift has been extraordinary and we are overwhelmed by its popularity among customers."

Swift, was first launched in May 2005, and the third generation was unveiled in February 2018, retaining the car’s symbolic character and carried forward its lineage of global design language.

The third generation new Swift also achieved the fastest one lakh sales in 145 days of the launch, stating its stronger connect with customers and its brand lineage. The convenience of Auto Gear Shift (AGS) offered in the latest Swift avatar found quick acceptance and now contributes over 20% of Swift sales, said the statement.

ICOTY award was introduced in India to evaluate cars on criteria of price, fuel-efficiency, styling, comfort, safety, performance, practicality, and technical innovation, value for money, and suitability and relevance to Indian driving conditions being particularly important factors in deciding the winner.