While the popularity of SUVs is reaching new highs every month, not everyone who aspires to own a big SUV ends up buying one. This is exactly what made compact SUVs find success in India. Due to compact city-friendly dimensions, nearly as many features as those in big SUVs, and affordable prices, the compact SUVs fit into the urban lifestyle better than the mid-size and full-size SUVs. Every month, we witness thousands of buyers choose compact SUVs over any other body type and so was the case in February 2024. Here are the top selling compact SUVs in India of February 2024.
Also Read – Sedan Cars In India
Model | February Sales - 2024 | February Sales - 2023 | Y-O-Y Growth |
Tata Punch | 18,438 | 11,169 | 65% |
Maruti Suzuki Brezza | 15,765 | 15,787 | 0% |
Tata Nexon | 14,395 | 13,914 | 3% |
Maruti Suzuki Fronx | 14,168 |
| |
Kia Sonet | 9,102 | 9,836 | -7% |
Hyundai Venue | 8,933 | 9,997 | -11% |
Hyundai Exter | 7,582 | ||
Mahindra Thar | 5,812 | 5,004 | 16% |
Mahindra XUV300 | 4,218 | 3,809 | 11% |
Tata Punch
While both Nexon and Punch have been radically successful, recently Tata Punch has begun beating the Nexon, emerging as the best-selling Tata car. February 2024 turned out to be the second month in a row wherein the Punch outsold every other Tata car and went on to grab the title of the second best-selling car in India. This time around, the Punch sold 18,438 units, gaining a 65 percent year-on-year growth. When it was launched in 2021, a car of its type was not in the picture, but its earth-shattering success drove Maruti and Hyundai to jump into the relatively new segment with Fronx and Exter respectively. Nonetheless, the Punch is still leading the segment as a value-for-money package and one of the safest cars.
What adds to Punch’s appeal is its versatility as it is available in petrol-powered, CNG-powered, and electric-powered variants. The ICE variants come with a 1.2-litre petrol engine paired with either a 5-speed manual gearbox or a 5-speed AMT. While the CNG variants deliver a mileage of up to 26.99 km/kg, the EV variants are available with a 25 kWh battery and a 35 kWh battery that offer claimed ranges of up to 315 km and 421 km, respectively.
Maruti Suzuki Brezza
For the number one carmaker, the Brezza is the long-standing champion in the lucrative space of compact SUVs. In competition with several capable contenders, the Brezza possesses an amply competitive package of premium interiors, space, and features. However, what favours it the most is the reputation and reliability that come with the Maruti Suzuki badge. All this has established the Brezza as one of the best-selling cars in India. Last month, the Brezza clocked sales of 15,765 units, and while this gave it negligible year-on-year growth, it successfully defeated its strongest rival and an established segment leader, Tata Nexon.
Powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine mated to either a five-speed manual or a six-speed torque converter automatic, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza delivers a mileage of 17.38 km/l from manual variants and 19.8 km/l from the automatic variants since the automatic variants benefit from the mild-hybrid technology. Moreover, Maruti also offers the Brezza in CNG variants that deliver 25.51 km/kg of mileage.
Tata Nexon
As mentioned, the Tata Nexon is the established leader in the compact SUV segment. This is the car that turned the fortunes for the Indian carmaker much before the Tata Punch arrived. With an appealing design, segment-leading ride comfort, and exciting performance, the Nexon delivers a fascinating value for its price and this is what keeps it strong amidst the ever-rising competition. What makes its offering even more appealing is a 5-star G-NCAP-rated strong structure that infuses passengers with an inexplicable confidence. As far as sales are concerned, the Tata Nexon has emerged as the best-selling car in India multiple times and is a permanent resident among the top 10 selling cars in India. In February 2024, Nexon registered sales of 14,395 units, which gave it a three percent year-on-year growth.
In terms of mechanicals, the Nexon is available with a 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine and a 1.5-litre turbo diesel engine. Both engines come paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox and a 6-speed AMT. Moreover, there is an optional 6-speed DCT automatic mated to the turbo petrol engine. The Tata Nexon EV comes with two battery packs. The 30 kWh battery pack offers a range of 325 km while the 40.5 kWh battery pack offers a range of 465 km.
Maruti Suzuki Fronx
The SUV derivative of the iconic Baleno, Maruti Fronx compact SUV has quickly risen to glory. Like its parent car, the Fronx is a nice mix of frugal mechanicals, refined drive, and premium passenger experience. Design is also something where the Fronx is largely similar to the Baleno and comes in as a great option for those who like Baleno and also take shine to compact SUVs. Since its launch last year, the Fronx has been putting up respectable figures on the sales chart and last month, like several times before, it emerged as one of the best-selling cars with sales of 14,168 units.
Maruti has equipped Fronx with a 1.2-litre Dualjet petrol engine and a 1.0-litre turbocharged Boosterjet petrol which is widely acclaimed for its exciting performance. Both engines come mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox, while there is a 5-speed AMT for NA engine and a 6-speed torque converter AT for turbo engine. Like most Maruti cars, the Fronx is also available in CNG variants that come with a 5-speed manual transmission and deliver a mileage of 28.51 km/kg.
Kia Sonet
As a capable contender from the Korean carmaker, the Kia Sonet has played a huge role in establishing Kia as one of the leading carmakers in India. With typical attractions of Korean cars such as good looks, refined and reliable engines, and a host of premium features, the Sonet has been doing great business since its launch in 2020. Moreover, after getting facelifted last year, the Sonet has begun occasionally overtaking its elder sibling and Kia’s best-selling car in India, Seltos. In February 2024, the Sonet once again did so by selling 9,102 units, despite seeing a 7 percent decline in its year-on-year performance.
The Kia Sonet is powered by a 1.2-litre NA petrol engine, a 1.5-litre diesel engine, and a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine. For manual transmissions, a 6-speed iMT is available with the turbo-petrol engine and the diesel engine, however, the diesel engine also gets a 6-speed manual gearbox. For automatic transmission options, a 7-speed DCT automatic and a 6-speed torque converter automatic are offered with the turbo-petrol engine and the diesel engine respectively.
Hyundai Venue
The second Korean car on the list, Hyundai Venue is a consistent player in its segment. Being the younger sibling of the Hyundai Creta, the Venue sits at a more accessible price point and thereby makes for a great deal as a premium Hyundai compact SUV. The main attraction of the Venue lies in its upmarket features and the refined powertrains that make it deliver a premium experience as one expects of a Hyundai car. All the same, the recent growth in demand for its direct sibling, Sonet, seems to have slightly cut Venue’s sales, given both cars share the same platform but differ in their design. In February 2024, the Hyundai Venue sold 8,933 units, seeing an 11 percent year-on-year decline.
Like the Sonet, the Hyundai Venue comes with multiple powertrain options. A 1.2-litre petrol engine comes paired with a 5-speed manual, a 1-litre turbo-petrol engine comes paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox or an optional 7-speed DCT (dual-clutch automatic) and a 1.5-litre diesel engine comes mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox.
Hyundai Exter
While the Hyundai Exter is yet to beat the Tata Punch, it is posing a great challenge to the segment leader with its rapidly rising popularity. With a practical design for a better usability, the Exter brings the trademark Hyundai qualities such as good wealth of upmarket features and refined powertrains. Sharing its underpinnings and interiors with the Grand i10 Nios and the Aura, the Exter is an appealing offering as an affordable Hyundai compact SUV and this is clear from its sales figures. On the latest sales chart, the Exter put up sales of 7,582 units, outperforming some veterans in the segment.
Hyundai offers the Exter with a 1.2-litre petrol engine that transmits power via either a 5-speed manual gearbox or a 5-speed AMT. Like the Grand i10 Nios and the Aura, the Exter is also available in CNG variants that deliver a mileage of 27.1 km/kg while its petrol mileage is 19.4 km/l.
Mahindra Thar
The age-old king of off-roading, Mahindra Thar is one of the most reputed cars in India. Like the Mahindra Scorpio and Toyota Fortuner, the Mahindra Thar does not remain in high demand only for its capabilities and most want Thar for the sheer domination its road presence exudes. In other words, the demand for Thar as a status symbol outstrips the demand for it as a capable off-roader. This has started to become even more evident since Mahindra has launched two-wheel drive variants of the Mahindra Thar. All the same, the Thar’s off-roading calibre makes it outshine more expensive cars. In terms of sales, the Mahindra Thar comfortably makes it to this list every month, and last month, it did so by registering sales of 5,812 units and seeing a 16 percent year-on-year growth.
The 4×4 variants of the Mahindra Thar come with a 2-litre turbo-petrol engine and a 2.2-litre diesel engine, both mated to either a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 6-speed torque converter automatic. The RWD models come with a 1.5-litre petrol engine paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox.
Mahindra XUV300
Following the Thar is another Mahindra car, the XUV300 with sales of 4,218 units in February 2024. With such sales, the XUV300 saw an 11 percent growth in its year-on-year performance. The segment’s most spacious cabin, an unparalleled premium aura, and a strong 5-star safety rating from the Global NCAP consistently keep the Mahindra XUV300 among the group of best-selling compact SUVs. All the same, lately the XUV300 has not been selling as well as it used to, given buyers are waiting for its facelift which is expected to go on sale soon.
Currently, the Mahindra XUV300 is offered with three engines: a 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine, a 1.5-litre diesel engine, and a TGDI 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine. All engines are mated to a 6-speed manual, while the diesel engine and the turbo-petrol also get a 6-speed AMT option.
Excellent and compact review .
I am enriched with many information which I was not aware before