With 3.7 lakh cars sold across segments, the colourful month of March was another successful run for the passenger car market. With a good 10% year-on-year increase in sales compared to March 2023, the month also marked the end of the financial year, thereby attracting consumers wishing to avail depreciation benefits and avoid potential price hikes. This translated to healthy sales figures, especially for popular models leading to an overall increase in sales for several OEMs. The month also witnessed a rather special turn of events, where the top two best-selling spots were dominated by non-Maruti models for the first time in a while. Nonetheless, Maruti did contribute six out of the ten best-sellers. With several surprising numbers, the sales report is as exciting as it gets. Here’s what the complete best-selling chart looks like for the month of March 2024.
Model | Units Sold in March 2024 | Units Sold in March 2023 | Y-O-Y Growth |
Tata Punch | 17,547 | 10,894 | 61% |
Hyundai Creta | 16,458 | 14,026 | 17% |
Maruti Suzuki Wagon R | 16,368 | 17,305 | -5% |
Maruti Suzuki Dzire | 15,894 | 13,394 | 19% |
15,728 | 17,559 | -10% | |
Maruti Suzuki Baleno | 15,588 | 16,168 | -4% |
Mahindra Scorpio | 15,151 | 8,788 | 72% |
Maruti Suzuki Ertiga | 14,888 | 9,028 | 65% |
Maruti Suzuki Brezza | 14,614 | 16,227 | -10% |
Tata Nexon | 14,058 | 14,769 | -5% |
Tata Punch
Known to have shattered several sales records time and again, the scale of the Punch’s popularity is such that it has already sold over 3 lakh units, with over 10,000 units sold almost every month since 2022. March 2024 was another golden month for the Punch, where it sold 17,547 units, securing the top best-selling spot with a mammoth 61% year-on-year growth. With this, the Punch finished as the best-selling compact SUV of the month, dethroning popular Maruti models for the win. Now with the Tata Punch EV in place, the Punch badge as a whole has become a never-ending success story.
What makes the Punch a runaway success is its compact bodyline, spacious interiors, impeccable safety and overall affordability. Powered by a 1.2-litre petrol engine, the Punch offers a five-speed manual or an AMT automatic. Much like several other Tata cars, the Punch also boasts a perfect 5-star safety rating. In its EV avatar, the Punch comes with two battery choices that include a 25 kWh battery pack and a larger 35 kWh one. While the smaller pack offers a range of 315 km the larger one offers a massive range of 421 km per charge.
Hyundai Creta
Missing from the top-ten list in January, the Hyundai Creta made a solid comeback to become the second-best-selling car of the month and the number one best-selling SUV of the month. Selling 16,458 units, with an impressive 17% year-on-year growth the Hyundai Creta dominated the segment like a boss. The biggest reason behind the Creta’s solid comeback is the launch of the 2024 Hyundai Creta Facelift, which has elevated the already massive popularity of the SUV. The month of March also marked the launch of the Hyundai Creta N-Line with sportier looks, stiffer suspension, better handling and tweaked exhaust.
Talking of the engines, while the pre-facelift Hyundai Creta managed to dominate the market with its 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol and 1.5-litre diesel engines, the facelift has finally added a 1.5-litre turbo petrol unit that is offered only with a 7-speed DCT automatic. As for the naturally aspirated petrol and diesel engines, transmission duties are carried on by a six-speed manual as standard, along with a six-speed CVT automatic for the petrol and torque converter automatic for the diesel. Mileage on offer goes up to 21.8 km/l for diesel and 18.4 km/l for petrol making the Creta a great pick in the segment, especially with the new turbo-petrol unit added to the list of engines.
Maruti Suzuki Wagon R
Maintaining a strong position yet again, the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R continued its best-selling streak like a boss, finishing at the number three spot this time. Hailed as one of India’s most iconic hatchbacks, the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R shines as a value-for-money package that is bred for the city. The quintessential tall boy of India, what makes the Wagon R a massively popular hatchback is its impeccably frugal engine, classic tall boy looks, balanced ride quality and spacious interiors. Selling 16,368 units in March 2024, the Wagon R, despite reporting a 5% year-on-year decline, still managed to emerge as the best-selling hatchback of the month, thanks to its undying popularity amongst both retail buyers and commercial fleet operators alike.
Powering the Wagon R are two highly refined and efficient engines that include a 1.2-litre petrol and a 1-litre petrol unit, both of which come mated to a five-speed manual/AMT. What makes the Wagon R a true success story is its impeccable efficiency of up to 25.19 km/l on petrol and 34.05 km/kg on CNG. However, considering that the hatchback in its current generation is almost half a decade old, a facelift or a generation upgrade can truly help the Wagon R double up on its popularity.
Maruti Suzuki Dzire
A sedan like no other, the Maruti Suzuki Dzire is truly an icon. The torchbearer of the sedan segment, Dzire has been the only sedan to feature in the best-sellers list for months. And this time around, it held on to its charm yet again to finish not only as the fourth best-selling car of the month but also as the best-selling sedan of the month. With an aggregate sales of 15,894 units in March 2024, the Dzire registered a good 19% year-on-year growth, asserting its unmatched dominance. What has helped the Dzire shine amongst all sedans, is its value-for-money package coupled with great comfort and high efficiency, offered with a decent pack of features and spacious interiors. The Dzire’s success in India is a testament to the fact that no matter how much the SUV craze grapples the nation, sedans are here to stay.
Being the sedan version of the Swift, the Dzire comes powered by a 1.2-litre DualJet petrol engine that is tastefully mated to a five-speed manual or AMT automatic. Efficiency figures of the Dzire go as high as 22.61 km/l for petrol and 31.12 km/kg for CNG. Considering the Dzire’s neverending popularity, a facelift can truly help the sedan’s sales growth further.
Maruti Suzuki Swift
With over 25 lakh units sold since its launch in 2005, the Maruti Suzuki Swift rules over a truly unparalleled legacy. The reason behind the hatchback’s massive success is its punchy and power-packed engine that offers exhilarating driving dynamics coupled with great efficiency, making the Swift one of the most worthy choices for those who seek exciting performance on a budget. Falling a few places to close in at number five this month, the Swift performed fairly well by selling 15,728 units in March 2024, despite a 10% decline in terms of year-on-year performance. And now that the India-bound 4th generation Swift has hit the Japanese market, it will be fun to see when and how the new Swift will arrive in India.
In terms of engine, the Maruti Suzuki Swift comes with a 1.2-litre DualJet petrol engine mated to a five-speed manual and an optional AMT for a convenient ride. With mileage figures as high as 22.56 km/l for petrol and 30.90 km/kg for CNG, the Swift is a superb option, especially in the under Rs. 10 Lakh price bracket, where it absolutely dominates.
Maruti Suzuki Baleno
Slipping down three places to close in as the sixth best-selling car of the month, the Baleno did well overall. With an exciting new generation boosting the hatchback’s overall sales since 2022, the Baleno has reached new horizons of popularity, reporting aggregate sales of 15,588 units that helped the hatchback outperform several competitors despite a 4% decline in year-on-year growth. Nonetheless, the secret sauce behind the hatchback’s never-ending popularity can be easily credited to the Baleno’s impressive list of updated features that include goodies such as heads up display, 360-degree camera, premium Arkamys sound set-up along with bold new exteriors. This has made the Baleno a hot choice when it comes to bringing home a premium hatchback.
Powered by a 1.2-litre DualJet petrol engine, the Maruti Suzuki Baleno offers a five-speed manual and a five-speed AMT automatic. All this comes topped with an impressive mileage figure of 22.94 km/l on petrol and 30.61 km/kg on CNG, making the Baleno a value-for-money hatchback that now feels even more contemporary.
Mahindra Scorpio
When it comes to true blue SUVs, the Mahindra Scorpio is an absolute legend. Equipped enough to tackle all kinds of terrains without breaking a sweat, the big daddy of SUVs boasts a rich legacy of over two decades. Ever since the new Scorpio N made its debut, both the Mahindra Scorpio Classic as well as the Scorpio N have together uplifted the carmakers’ position in the Indian market. Both Scorpios together managed to sell 15,151 units in March 2024, with one of the highest year-on-year growth of 72%, helping the SUV become the second best-selling SUV of the month, in addition to being the seventh best-selling car of the month.
Talking about the powertrain, the Scorpio comes mated to a sole 2.2-litre diesel unit paired to a six-speed manual, while the Scorpio N on the other hand offers a 2.0-litre turbo petrol unit in addition to the 2.2-litre diesel engine, both of which come mated to a six-speed manual or AMT onboard. Both SUVs together are worthy choices in the segment, with a tough, built-to-last bodyline and true-blue SUV performance.
Maruti Suzuki Ertiga
The MUV that has been in the game for over a decade now, the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga is the first choice of millions looking to buy a car that’s comfortable, spacious, efficient and practical, especially for the entire family. Achieving the prestigious sales milestone of selling over 10 lakh units in India, the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga is one of the most iconic seven-seater cars in India. Despite competition from the Kia Carens, the Ertiga held on to its charm with 14,888 units sold in March 2024, along with a massive 65% year-on-year growth. With this, the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga closed in as the eighth best-selling car of the month along with being the best-selling seven-seater car.
Powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine, the MUV is mated to either a 5-speed manual gearbox or a 6-speed torque converter automatic. What makes the Ertiga a massive success is its pocket-friendly efficiency of 20.3 km/l for petrol and 26.11 km/kg for CNG, making it one of the most efficient seven-seater cars in India.
Maruti Suzuki Brezza
Trailing behind the Ertiga, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza closed in as the ninth best-selling car of the month in addition to being the second best-selling compact SUV of the month. With 14,614 units sold in March 2024, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza registered impressive numbers despite a 10% decline in terms of year-on-year growth. Nonetheless, the growing popularity of the SUV can easily be credited to the success of the second-generation Brezza, which has helped the SUV rise above the competition. What works in favour of the second-generation Brezza is the fact that Maruti has intelligently improved upon all the major shortcomings of the car, along with incorporating much-awaited features like a sunroof, 360-degree camera and heads-up display to help the Brezza become much more modern and appealing.
Powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine that is mated to either a five-speed manual or a six-speed torque converter automatic, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza offers mild hybrid tech for maximum efficiency that can be as high as 20.15 km/l, with CNG elevating the Brezza’s overall affordability and value for money quotient with up to 25.51 km/kg of mileage.
Tata Nexon
Continuing its streak of being one of the best-selling compact SUVs of the month, it seems as if the Tata Nexon’s latest facelift has worked wonders, helping the SUV clock in impressive sales to finish as the tenth best-selling car of the month. An unparalleled leader in its segment, the Tata Nexon offers superb reliability, impressive practicality and best-in-class safety. Performing fairly well in the month of March, the SUV sold 14,058 units, albeit a 5% decline in year-on-year growth. Boasting a perfect 5-star safety rating, the Nexon is also one of the few cars in India that is offered with petrol, diesel and even electric powertrains. With the latest facelift giving the SUV a much more contemporary and futuristic look, the Tata Nexon has become truly irresistible.
Equipped with either a 1.2-litre turbo-petrol or a 1.5-litre turbocharged diesel engine, the Nexon comes mated to either a six-speed manual, a 6-speed AMT automatic, or a new 7-speed DCT automatic. The mileage figure onboard the Nexon facelift is now slightly better than its predecessor at 24.08 km/l for diesel and up to 17.44 km/l for petrol, making the Nexon a practical choice among the competitors. In its updated electric avatar, the Nexon EV comes with either a 30.2 kWh battery pack that now returns a range of 325 km per charge and a larger 40.5 kWh pack that now returns a range of 465 km per charge.
