Maruti Suzuki’s Dzire emerged as India’s best-selling car in calendar year 2025, even as sport utility vehicles tightened their grip on the market, accounting for a record 55.3% of total passenger vehicle sales.
The compact sedan sold around 214,000 units during the year, retaining its leadership position despite a sharp shift in consumer preference toward SUVs. The milestone underlines the continued relevance of value-led sedans in a market increasingly dominated by higher-riding vehicles.
Speaking at the company’s December sales briefing, Partho Banerjee, senior executive officer – marketing and sales, said the Dzire’s performance demonstrated that strong product fundamentals continue to matter even in an SUV-heavy market.
“Despite the clutter in the SUV segment, the Dzire has emerged as the number one model. It shows that if you build a strong product with the right value proposition, customers continue to choose it,” Banerjee said.
While SUVs now make up more than half of the overall passenger vehicle market, Maruti Suzuki’s own SUV contribution stood at 30.7% in the third quarter, up from 25.9% in the first half, reflecting a sharp increase in demand. The company’s SUV portfolio, led by the Grand Vitara and its derivative, the Victoris, crossed 500,000 cumulative sales during the year.
At the same time, the company said its hatchback portfolio continued to deliver scale. The Baleno emerged as the best-selling model in December 2025, with sales of 22,108 units, underlining continued demand in the premium hatchback segment even as SUVs dominate the broader market.
Maruti Suzuki said the recovery in entry and compact segments was supported by improved affordability following the GST reset and easing financing conditions. The mini segment now accounts for 6.2% of total sales, with first-time buyers returning to the market.
“We are seeing demand across segments, and the challenge is to balance production so that no one category is constrained at the cost of another,” Banerjee said.
The company added that inventory levels remain tight, with dealer stock at around three days, as it continues to calibrate production amid strong demand.
With SUVs gaining share and core hatchback and sedan models holding ground, Maruti Suzuki expects a more diversified demand mix to define the market in 2026.