Cars That Made A Mark Vs Cars That Could’ve Done Better In 2025

We are entering into the last days of the year, and needless to say, it’s been one exhilarating ride from start to finish. With a host of new cars across categories, the Indian auto sector was thriving with new offerings, while the consumer sentiment saw a major boost with government policies working in its favour. As we wind up the year, here’s a round-up for the cars that we liked driving, while some we think could do better.

The Good:

New-gen Hyundai Venue

Kicking off the list is the new-generation Hyundai Venue. The Venue was always a crowd favourite but lost in the sea of new launches in the subcompact SUV segment. The new-gen model rejuvenated the strengths of the model, while working on the flaws with slightly more legroom in the second row and a bigger boot too. The boxy proportions, futuristic styling, and a tech package loaded to the gills, has also helped the Venue cement its place as one of our favourites this year. It only helps that the jury went on to unanimously select the new Venue as ‘Car of the Year’ at the recently concluded 2026 Acko Drive Awards.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Maruti Suzuki made its second foray in the compact SUV segment in a two-pronged strategy to take on the Hyundai Creta. The new Victoris aims to win over customers alongside the Grand Vitara and the model has turned out to be a hit right off the bat. Despite sharing its powertrains with the Grand Vitara, the different styling, and a more tech-loaded cabin gives the model a significant differentiating advantage over its sibling. Moreover, the Victoris scored an impressive five-star rating in the Bharat NCAP crash tests for adult and child occupant protection, a massive step-up for the automaker. The compact SUV sums up as a good all-rounder, easy to recommend to the new-age family buyer.

Volkswagen Golf GTI

What’s the point of driving if you can’t have some fun with it? That was pretty much the idea behind bringing the Volkswagen Golf GTI to the Indian market. The hot hatch arrived in limited numbers and quickly sold out within no time. We drove the Golf GTI first at the NATRAX high-speed test track and the performance hatchback is a strong reminder of what the joy of driving is all about. A global icon, the Golf GTI steers precise, handles sharp, and burns rubber faster than any other. It’s also decently practical, but let’s be honest, that’s not the reason you would buy one.

Skoda Octavia RS

The sedan segment may seem like a dying breed, but true connoisseurs of the body style know how immensely fun they are to drive. The Skoda Octavia RS represents this category and it’s exactly what you would expect from the coveted ‘RS’ badge. Unhinged in performance with a stellar exhaust note, the Octavia RS turned heads as we took laps of it at the BIC. Both the VW Golf GTI and Skoda Octavia RS are powered by the 2.0-litre TSI petrol engine tuned for 261 bhp and 370 Nm of peak torque, making for one hot sedan. With that impressive price to power ratio, it’s no surprise that the Octavia RS was sold out even before you could take a test drive.

Kia Carens Clavis EV (fantastic package, also EV)

One of this writer’s personal favourites, the Kia Carens Clavis EV turned out to be impressive with not just its feature set, but with its practical cabin, all while also being an EV. Sharing underpinnings with the ICE Carens Clavis, the electric version retained all the strong bits like the dual screens, a panoramic sunroof, and a decently sized third row. But added its own improvements like the flat floorboard, floating centre console, and more. The Carens Clavis EV is fast with 0-100 kmph coming up in about 8.5 seconds, while the real-world range of over 350 km (51.4 kWh battery pack) gives it incredible everyday practicality. Yes, it’s a tad bit expensive on the top trims but there’s no denying that the Carens Clavis EV is a well-packaged EV for the family buyer.

Skoda Kylaq

Skoda entered the subcompact SUV segment this year with the Kylaq, its most accessible model in India yet. The Kylaq turned out to be impressive with not just its cleverly designed cabin but a genuine fun-to-drive quotient. While we don’t see models like the Rapid TSI and Fabia anymore, the Kylaq brought some of the driving fun back in a reasonably priced package with its 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine, paired with manual and torque converter transmission options. The GST-led reduction further made the Kylaq a sweet deal looking for a fun-to-drive small car under Rs 10 lakh. We don’t have many of those anymore.

Could Be Better:

Kia Syros

The Kia Syros raised eyebrows with its arrival, but not necessarily in a good way. The subcompact SUV scores big on the feature set and cabin space, but the one bit that has the room divided is its design. The corner headlamps have been seen as rather unusual, while the tallboy stance is often compared to the the Maruti WagonR. There’s also the rear suspension that’s a bit too soft to make the car comfortable on the highway. While the Syros will keep you cozy with its surprising spacious cabin, the task for Kia is getting buyers to look past the polarising design.

Honda Amaze

The Amaze remains a trusted choice for many first-time buyers and as the most accessible Honda in India, the car certainly has some merits to its name. That said, the third-generation model wasn’t a major step-up over the predecessor. The car saw upgrades in design and features, including a segment-first ADAS, but lacked any standout element to set it apart from competitors. Honda is known for playing it safe, but at a time when bigger risks are paying off carmakers, the Amaze feels a tad too relaxed in its comfort zone.

Mahindra BE 6

Possibly the most contentious name on the list, the Mahindra BE 6 has been winning accolades for its design and performance, but the one thing that really works against it is the interior. The cabin, though quite futuristic, loses out on space for what is a rather large body shell. The all-black cabin turns out to be claustrophobic, as users told us, which prompted Mahindra to bring a white headliner with the launch of the Pack Two trim earlier this year. While this may seem like a small caveat in an otherwise stellar package, it is an undoing of sorts for the sporty Mahindra EV. On the flip side, this prompted buyers to look at the XEV 9e instead, which offered a lot more in space and comfort, albeit at a slight premium.

Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line

The Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line brought some sporty performance in the SUV body style. And while it certainly delivers on the performance front, it lacks on key aspects when it comes to the feature stack. The Tiguan R-Line misses out on features like electrically adjustable front seats, ventilation, powered tailgate, keyless entry, and the lack of buttons for key functions, leaving you wanting for more. For an SUV that’s priced at Rs 45.73 lakh (ex-showroom), buyers come to expect certain features. It also doesn’t help that its Czech cousin, the new-gen Skoda Kodiaq appears to be a prudent choice at a similar price point.

Also read: ACKO Drive Awards 2026: Audi RS Q8 Wins 2026 Performance SUV TOTM