India’s utility vehicle market, which currently has 70 models comprising SUVs and MPVs and spanning mind-boggling 870 variants, continues to benefit from unabating demand particularly for compact SUVs (below 4000mm length) and midsize SUVs. Of the estimated wholesales of 2.42 million passenger vehicles (up 1% YoY), UV sales of 1.56 million units (up 13%) accounted for 65% of total passenger vehicle dispatches in April-October 2024. This is a marked increase from the 57% share UVs had in April-October 2023.
Compact SUVs have a stranglehold on the UV market with an estimated 796,575 units in April-October 2024 (up 13% YoY). This constitutes 51% of the 15,69,297 UVs sold and translates into every second SUV sold being a compact model. Nevertheless, demand for midsize SUVs is also rising as is reflected in the fact that the Hyundai Creta, Mahindra Scorpio and Maruti Grand Vitara are among the Top 10 best-selling SUVs in the first seven months of FY2025.
At 471,461 units, cumulative wholesales of the 10 best-selling midsize SUVs in April-October 2024 are up 11% YoY (April-October 2023: 425,819 units). However, while five models have registered strong double-digit YoY growth, the other five has seen their sales decline. Here’s looking at each of them in detail.
No. 1 – Hyundai Creta: 113,913 units, up 18% YoY
The Hyundai Creta, India’s best-selling midsize SUV (which was the No. 4 UV in FY2024 and now at No. 2 position in the first seven months of FY2025) has sold 113,913 units, up 18% YoY. The Creta accounts for 47% of Hyundai Motor India’s total UV sales of 241,282 units. The Creta received a sales booster in January 2024 with the launch of the MY2024 facelifted Creta, which has helped accelerate demand.
In October 2024, the new Creta clocked its highest-ever monthly dispatches yet – 17,497 units – which shows Hyundai ensured its showrooms were not found wanting for delivery in the festive season. The rapid pace of demand for the model has meant that the new Creta cruised to 100,000-unit sales in just six months. This makes it the fastest in its segment to hit the 100,000 milestone and in half the time the Maruti Grand Vitara took. From January 2024 to October 2024, the Creta has clocked wholesales of 158,859 units.
No. 2 – Mahindra Scorpio N / Scorpio Classic: 96,970 units, up 32% YoY
Mahindra is firing on all cylinders in FY2025 and is well set to achieve 500,000-unit sales for the first time in a fiscal. At 314,714 units in April-October 2024, the SUV maker has already achieved 68% of its record wholesales of 459,877 units in FY2024. Leading the charge are the Scorpio twins with 96,970 units, followed by the XUV 3XO (60,063 units), Bolero (56,381 units), XUV700 (53,927 units), Thar and Thar Roxx (42,726 units), XUV400 (4,531 units) and the Marazzo (114 units).
Mahindra’s best-selling UV continues to be the Scorpio in the form of the popular Scorpio N and the Scorpio Classic. The Scorpio – the No. 6 UV in FY2024 – is the No. 2 midsize SUV with 96,970 units, up 32% on year-ago dispatches of 73,427 units, which constitutes 31% of M&M’s total SUV sales of 314,714 units (up 22% YoY). In terms of fuel-wise sales split, the diesel-engine Scorpios have sold 89,210 units while the petrol-powered siblings sold 7,760 units. Clearly, the consumer verdict is in overwhelming favour of diesel which comprises 92% of the sales. Between the Scorpio N and the Classic, demand is understood to be sizeably more for the Scorpio N.
No. 3 – Maruti Grand Vitara: 69,834 units, down 1% YoY
The Maruti Grand Vitara, which continues to be a key contributor to Maruti Suzuki’s premium Nexa sales channel, has registered total wholesales of 69,834 units in the April-October 2024 period, down marginally by 1% on its year-ago sales of 70,572 units.
Maruti Suzuki India’s flagship model remains popular with SUV buyers with its fuel-efficient hybrid system, clever packaging and interior quality but seems to be feeling the heat of new competition. In early July 12024, this premium Nexa model, which was the fastest midsize SUV to hit the 100,000 sales in 12 months, raced past the 200,000 milestone in 22 months.
No. 4 – Mahindra XUV700: 53,927 units, up 17%
Mahindra & Mahindra’s feature-laden and big-on-safety flagship SUV, which is available with petrol and diesel engines and over 40 variants, remains a top draw for executive SUV buyers. The XUV700 has led M&M’s new sharpened focus to be a leading player in its core business of SUVs and the results are there to see.
At 53,927 units, the XUV700 has registered 17% YoY growth (April-October 2023: 45,933 units). This total comprises 40,507 diesel-engine variants and 13,420 variants which constitutes a 75:25% ratio in favour of diesel (as compared to 92% in favour of diesel for the Mahindra Scorpio).
The XUV700 – ranked No. 14 in FY2024 (79,398 units) – is currently ranked No 13 with 53,927 units, up 17% YoY. This constitutes 17% of M&M’s total SUV sales of 314,714 units (up 22% YoY) in April-October 2024 and 68% of its FY2024 dispatches.
No. 5 – Kia Seltos: 44,983 units, down 23%
The Seltos midsize SUV, Kia’s first product in India which helped make a relatively unknown Korean brand in the country in 2019 a household name, seems to be feeling the heat of the competition. The longstanding best-seller for the company has been replaced by sibling Sonet, which has outsold the Seltos for 10 straight months since January 2024.
The midsize SUV, which comes with refined petrol and diesel engines and a premium and feature-laden cabin, has seen demand drop 23% YoY to 44,983 units (April-October 2023: 58,214 units).
Kia India, in effort to rev up demand for the model, which has achieved over 500,000 cumulative sales since its launch in August 2019, introduced the Aurora Black Pearl colour option for Seltos X-Line trim in August 2024 . This was followed by the launch of the Seltos Gravity Edition in September.
No. 6 – Toyota Hyryder: 36,220 units, up 52%
Toyota India entered the midsize SUV market much later compared to most of its rivals but the Hyryder seems to be making up for lost time. The petrol-only SUV is available in 13 variants – 8 petrol, 2 CNG and 3 strong hybrid – and priced from Rs 13.10 lakh (on-road Delhi) for the base E variant through to Rs 23.22 lakh (on-road Delhi) for the top-end V Strong Hybrid eCVT variant.
The Hyryder has sold 36,220 units, a strong YoY increase of 52% (April-October 2023: 23,826 units). This model’s USP is its strong-hybrid petrol powertrain, aimed to fill the void created by the lack of a diesel engine and to also bridge the gap between petrol and EVs. With a claimed fuel efficiency figure of 27.97kpl, the Hyryder is one of the most fuel-efficient vehicles available in India and benefits from technology which is able to minimise losses in a pure IC engine by electrification to leverage benefits such as brake-energy recuperation and turning off the engine while idling excessively (see Toyota Hyryder driving impression).
Of the four badge-engineered models in India bearing the Toyota logo – the Hyryder is currently the best-selling of the four rebadged models compared to the Glanza (29,994 units), Taisor (16,558 units) and Rumion (12,464 units).
No. 7 – Toyota Fortuner: 18,297 units, down 8%
The rugged Toyota Fortuner has sold an estimated 18,297 units in April-October 2024, down 8% YoY. Now in its second generation, the Toyota Fortuner is available in a wide variety of options with petrol-manual, petrol-auto, diesel-manual and diesel-auto versions on offer. The diesels can additionally be had with four-wheel drive. The Legender variants is set apart by some cosmetic differences from the regular Fortuner.
Autocar India’s commentary on the Fortuner states: “With prices ranging between Rs 33.43 lakh – Rs 51.44 lakh, the Fortuner is more expensive than all its rivals by a fair margin. The cabin doesn’t feel as special, and in many ways, it still drives and feels like the hard core off roader that it is. That said, it’s an effortless mile-muncher, its off-road prowess is unmatched and you obviously get the reliability of the Toyota badge.”
No. 8 – Tata Safari: 12,562 units, up 25
Tata Motors’s flagship SUV is witnessing demand and its April-October 2024 wholesales of 12,562 units are up 25% YoY (April-October 2023: 10,030 units). The updated feature-laden model, launched in 2023, has ensured that the new Safari is attractive, plush and with a genuinely useable third row. The Safari is priced between Rs 15.49 lakh and Rs 26.79 lakh.
What helps is its strong road presence, effectiveness as a three-row family SUV and the recent five-star crash safety rating from Bharat NCAP. The Safari is powered by a 1956cc diesel engine which develops 170hp and 350 Nm of torque and comes with manual and automatic gearbox options.
In early September, as part of a festive season offer till Octobear 31, Tata Motors slashed prices of its passenger vehicle range by up to Rs 180,000 with the Safari getting the highest price cut. This would have helped drive up the numbers in September and October.
No. 9 – Tata Harrier: 12,148 units, down 12%
Just 414 units behind its sibling Safari, the Tata Harrier has seen estimated wholesales of 12,148 units in the first seven months of FY2025, down 12% YoY. Like the Safari, the Harrier is powered by the same 170hp, 2.0-litre diesel engine, which comes with manual and automatic gearbox options.
As per Autocar India’s buyer’s guide, “The 2023 update has made the Harrier a lot more complete. The sharper styling is complemented by a nicer interior, there’s a lot more tech now and the new steering makes the Harrier easier to live with in town.”
Like the Safari, the Tata Harrier also aced the Bharat NCAP crash test with a top five-star rating. In early November, Tata Motors updated the Harrier and Safari line-up with two new colour options, and an expanded Autonomous Driving Assistance System (ADAS), which now includes lane-keep assist and lane-centering assist.
No. 10 – Honda Elevate: 12,607 units, down 6%
The Elevate midsize SUV, which brought Honda back into the SUV game in FY2024 with 33,642 units, has seen demand slow down in the current fiscal. Between April and October, the Elevate has sold 12,607 units, down 6% on the 13,464 units sold in the year-ago period. In fact, its exports to Japan at 26,712 units in the current fiscal are twice that of its domestic market sales.
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