With around 3.7 lakh passenger cars sold, March has been another exciting month for the industry as a whole. A big chunk of this sale comes from the SUV segment, which continues to be one of the hottest selling segments in the market. Be it space, comfort, features, utility or practicality, mid and full-sized SUVs offer a little extra for the entire family, which is the reason why they sell in huge numbers. This time around, with March being the last month of the financial year, several OEMs reported their highest-ever dispatches catering to customers seeking depreciation benefits. Moreover, with the new financial year bringing in potential price hikes, March became the perfect time for thousands of buyers to bring home a new SUV. With the Hyundai Creta leading from the front, here’s what the complete best-selling SUV chart looks like for the month of March 2024.
Model | Units Sold in March 2024 | Units Sold in March 2023 | Y-O-Y Growth |
Hyundai Creta | 16,458 | 14,026 | 17% |
Mahindra Scorpio | 15,151 | 8,788 | 72% |
Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara | 11,232 | 10,045 | 12% |
Mahindra Bolero | 10,347 | 9,546 | 8% |
Kia Seltos | 7,912 | 6,554 | 21% |
Mahindra XUV700 | 6,611 | 5,107 | 29% |
Toyota Hyryder | 5,965 | 3,474 | 72% |
Toyota Fortuner | 4,621 | 3,108 | 17% |
Honda Elevate | 3,277 |
| |
Tata Safari | 2,063 | 1,890 | 9% |
Hyundai Creta
Taking a short exit from the best-sellers list in January, the Hyundai Creta has bounced back stronger than ever before, managing to become not just the best-selling SUV of the month but also the second best-selling car of the month. Selling 16,458 units, the Hyundai Creta registered a healthy 17% year-on-year growth. All this can be credited to the success of the 2024 Hyundai Creta Facelift which has been very well received by both buyers and critics alike. With new and contemporary exteriors working their charm, the Hyundai Creta facelift hits the bull’s eye with its revamped interiors, a host of new features, a much-awaited engine addition and ADAS capabilities. That’s not all. March also marked the launch of the Hyundai Creta N-Line with sportier looks, stiffer suspension, better handling and tweaked exhaust. Overall, the month of March was nothing short of a celebration for the SUV.
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.
Mahindra Scorpio
Trailing behind the Hyundai Creta, the Mahindra Scorpio registered brilliant sales figures to proudly become the second best-selling SUV of the month, proving why it is one of India’s most iconic SUVs. Backed by a legacy that is spread across over two decades, the Scorpio has slowly evolved into an unbeatable machine, especially in the seven-seater SUV segment. Ever since the launch of the Scorpio N, both the Mahindra Scorpio Classic as well as the Scorpio N have together elevated Mahindra’s position in the market. Offering buyers a choice between the tough Scorpio Classic, or the contemporary Scorpio N, the Scorpio badge as a whole managed to sell 15,151 units in March 2024, with a significant 72% year-on-year growth that goes on to show the sheer scale of the SUV’s unparalleled popularity, helping it emerge as the seventh best-selling car of the month as well.
Talking of engines, while the Scorpio Classic comes mated to a sole 2.2-litre diesel unit paired to a six-speed manual, the Scorpio N 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 torque converter automatic onboard. Both SUVs together are worthy choices in the segment, with a tough, durable body and true-blue SUV performance.
Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara
Recently completing its first year in the market, it is evident that the Grand Vitara has risen to become one of India’s best-selling SUVs in no time. A tasteful blend of balanced design, high practicality, premium features and efficient performance, the Grand Vitara offers a lot more for a lot less. That’s precisely the reason why the SUV sold 11,232 units in March 2024, managing to outsell rivals such as the Seltos and XUV700, to become the third best-selling SUV of the month with a good year-on-year growth of 12%.
Being a true Maruti heir, the Grand Vitara comes with two highly frugal powertrains that include a 1.5-litre mild hybrid unit with a five-speed manual or a six-speed torque converter automatic and a 1.5-litre strong hybrid unit that comes with an e-CVT automatic. Talking of efficiency, the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara proudly stands as the most fuel-efficient car in its segment, offering a mileage of 21.11 km/l on the Mild Hybrid Manual, 27.97 km/l on the strong hybrid automatic and 26.6 km/kg on CNG. This alone has helped the Grand Vitara become a better choice than its competitors, especially when it comes to overall practicality.
Mahindra Bolero
For those looking for an SUV that is spacious, practical, tough and rugged, then the Mahindra Bolero is the answer. And ever since the Bolero Neo joined the Bolero portfolio, the SUV is no longer limited to its boxy, classic and tough avatar. With the Bolero Neo offering a modern touch to the classic package both the Bolero Neo alongside the classic Bolero are two of the most wanted SUVs in India that are suited to perform both in rural and urban terrains. Managing to sell 10,347 units in March 2024, with a good year-on-year growth of 8%, the Bolero became the fourth best-selling SUV of the month, with a good financial-year-end demand.
Known for its impressive reliability, the Bolero offers high practicality and comfort for up to 7 passengers with a bodyline that’s tough, rugged and ready for any challenge. In terms of engine, both the Bolero Neo as well as the Bolero come powered by a 1.5-litre diesel unit mated to a five-speed manual transmission, with the Neo offering more power and torque.
Kia Seltos
With the Seltos facelift working its charm, the SUV has once again gotten back its turbo-petrol engine, and that too in a bigger 1.5-litre avatar, along with smart yet significant cosmetic changes and a bunch of new features. All this has helped the SUV become the fifth best-selling SUV. With 7,912 units sold in March 2024, the Seltos owing to its exciting package performed fairly well, reporting a healthy 21% year-on-year growth.
Talking of the engines, now that the facelift has finally held its ground, the SUV comes with a bigger and better 1.5-litre turbo-petrol unit that comes mated to a 6-speed iMT/7-speed DCT, along with a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol offered with 6-speed manual/CVT and a 1.5-litre diesel engine with 6-speed iMT/torque-convertor automatic.
Mahindra XUV700
The Mahindra XUV700 impressed everyone with a plethora of segment-first features that are now a norm for modern-day launches. Fast forward to 2024, the XUV700 has now secured a sturdy place for itself as one of India’s best-selling three-row SUVs in India, with a package that has an appeal that no other competitor offers. Much like every month, March was another successful month for the SUV, where it bagged the sixth spot on the list by selling 6,611 units, with an impressive 29% year-on-year growth over the 5,107 units it sold in the same month last year.
With its premium interiors, superb comfort, perfect 5-star safety rating and a power-packed drivetrain, the XUV700 reported an impressive aggregate sales growth of 14% in 2023, with 2024 looking even more promising. Equipped with the most powerful turbocharged engines in its class along with an AWD drivetrain on offer, the XUV700 comes with a 2-litre turbo-petrol and a 2.2-litre diesel engine, both mated to a six-speed manual or 6-speed torque converter automatic. Overall, the XUV700 is a tasteful blend of rugged performance and premium luxury.
Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder
Completing 18 months since its launch, the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder has been a tasteful addition to Toyota’s portfolio in India, owing to its hybrid powertrain and exciting package. Selling 5,965 units in March 2024, the Hyryder has finally managed to uplift its monthly sales figures, heading out in the right direction with its popularity picking up pace. Reporting a strong 72% year-on-year growth, the SUV showcased great numbers that are necessary for staying ahead of the competitors for long. With this, the Hyryder closed in at number seven.
Powered by two petrol engines, a 1.5-litre mild-hybrid system and a 1.5-litre strong-hybrid system, the Hyryder comes paired to a five-speed manual or a six-speed automatic with the mild-hybrid engine, in addition to an e-CVT automatic for the strong-hybrid one. Available with both FWD and AWD drivetrains, the Hyryder offers an efficiency of up to 21.11 km/l on the Mild Hybrid Manual, 27.97 km/l on the strong hybrid automatic and 26.6 km/kg on CNG.
Toyota Fortuner
Despite its hefty price tag, the Toyota Fortuner was and continues to be one of India’s most iconic SUVs. The big-boy SUV from Toyota has impressed millions of buyers ever since it was first launched in 2009. A heartthrob SUV that offers a mammoth road presence coupled with exceptional performance, power-packed engines, superior comfort and a build-to-last bodyline, the Toyota Fortuner is class apart. Capitalising on the financial-year-end charm, the SUV made yet another entry into the list emerging as the eighth best-selling SUV of the month with 4,621 units sold, despite a 17% year-on-year decline.
Powering the Fortuner are two sizable and power-packed engines that include a 2.7-litre petrol engine and a 2.8-litre turbo-diesel engine. Transmission duties are taken care of by a 5-speed manual for petrol and a 6-speed manual/6-speed automatic transmission for diesel. There’s also a 4WD diesel option that makes the Fortuner an unparalleled all-terrain powerhouse.
Honda Elevate
With the Honda Elevate’s grand entry into the SUV segment, the Japanese carmaker aimed to strategically capture a decent chunk of the market, and boy the trick has truly worked. With a muscular stance coupled with a refined engine, great comfort, big boot space and ample features, the Honda Elevate has won many hearts in no time. Completing six months in March 2024, the Elevate held on to its newly found charm with a sales figure of 3,277 units sold, becoming the ninth best-selling SUV of the month, surpassing veterans such as the Safari and Harrier.
Powered by a sole 1.5-litre petrol engine mated to a 6-speed manual transmission or a CVT automatic, the Elevate comes forth as a balanced, dynamic and responsive SUV. With a mileage of up to 16.92 km/l, the Honda Elevate is also a good option for city driving, especially with its impressively smooth CVT automatic.
Tata Safari
A name that boasts a legacy of over 24 years, the Tata Safari is a cult in itself. Pitched as a modern-day sizable SUV that caters to the entire family, the Safari stands tall as a comfortable, spacious and exciting product, that was in dire need of an upgrade, which was duly catered to by Tata with the launch of the new Safari Facelift. Considering that the pre-facelift Safari performed its worst during its last few months, it is evident that the facelift has worked wonders for the SUV helping it sell a good 2,063 units in March 2024, helping the SUV register a good 9% year-on-year growth, to close in at number ten.
Sharing its powertrain with the Harrier, the Safari also comes with a 2-litre diesel engine mated to either a six-speed manual or a six-speed torque converter. Much like the Harrier, the new and updated Safari facelift now brings in an updated infotainment system and Level-2 ADAS on board to spice up the competition. Mileage on offer is up to 16.14 km/l on the manual transmission.
