As far as space, comfort, and utility are concerned, SUVs are unanimously the most ideal category of cars. However, in the last decade or so, Compact SUVs with their city-friendly character and a good dose of full-fledged SUV feel at relatively affordable prices, have emerged as the favourite alternatives of the larger mid-size and full-size SUVs. Every month, Compact SUVs make thousands of buyers choose them over any other body type and so was the case in September 2024. Here are the top selling Compact SUVs in India of September 2024.
Model | September Sales - 2024 | September Sales - 2023 | Y-O-Y Growth |
Maruti Suzuki Brezza | 15,322 | 15,001 | 2% |
Maruti Suzuki Fronx | 13,874 | 11,455 | 21% |
Tata Punch | 13,711 | 13,036 | 5% |
Tata Nexon | 11,470 | 15,325 | -25% |
Kia Sonet | 10,335 | 4,984 | 107% |
Hyundai Venue | 10,259 | 12,204 | -16% |
Mahindra XUV 3XO | 9,000 | 4,961 | 81% |
Mahindra Thar | 8,843 | 5,417 | 63% |
Hyundai Exter | 6,908 | 8,647 | -20% |
Also Read – Sedan Cars In India
Maruti Suzuki Brezza
In its eight years of career, Maruti Brezza has proven itself to be a sublime success and has done great business for Maruti Suzuki. Whether it’s space, features, or interior quality, the Brezza is at par with all segment standards for a modern Compact SUV. However, what it brings as a bonus, is the reliability of the Maruti Suzuki and an impeccable engine refinement along with an appealing mileage. Moreover, unlike most of its rivals, the Brezza is available in CNG variants. For a considerable while now, the Brezza has been consistently outselling its arch-rival, Tata Nexon, and last month, it went even further and took the throne of the best-selling compact SUV. Moreover, with 15,322 units sold in September 2024, the Brezza saw a 2 percent uptick over its sales during the same period last.
Maruti offers Brezza with a 1.5-litre petrol engine that comes paired with either a 5-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed torque converter automatic. Moreover, with the mild-hybrid tech standard in all variants, the Brezza returns a mileage of 17.38 – 19.8 km/l. Whereas, the CNG variants return a mileage of 25.51 km/kg.
Also read: Top selling SUVs in India
Maruti Suzuki Fronx
Maruti has a knack for making successful cars and the Maruti Fronx is yet another example. Launched last year, this Indo-Japanese Compact SUV was quick to climb onto the list of best-selling cars and is seemingly on the way to becoming one of the most successful Maruti cars. Adding one more month to its success streak, the Fronx became the second-best-selling compact SUV in September 2024, with sales of 13,874 units, which translated into a 21 percent year-on-year growth. The Fronx is based on the iconic Baleno and carries similar interiors, features, and even most design elements. Moreover, its price does not differ much from that of the Baleno especially in lower variants, making it an extremely appealing Maruti compact SUV.
Maruti has equipped Fronx with a 1.2-litre Dualjet petrol engine and a 1.0-litre turbocharged Boosterjet petrol engine. A 5-speed manual gearbox comes with both engines, while there is a 5-speed AMT for NA engine and a 6-speed 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.
Tata Punch
The Tata Punch has been on a roll since day one in the market and is the best-selling Tata car today. Its macho appeal, premium interiors, high-set seating, and high riding stance that replicate those of larger Tata SUVs, make the Punch an exceptional value-for-money offering. Moreover, the Punch has bagged a full 5 stars on the global NCAP safety test and is one of the safest cars in India. The runaway success of the Tata Punch also became the trailblazer for the Hyundai Exter and the Maruti Fronx. In September 2024, the Punch sold 13,711 units and grew its sales by 5 percent over the sales it did in the same month last year.
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.
Also read: Top selling cars in India
Tata Nexon
In September 2024, the Tata Nexon sold 11,470 units and saw a 25 percent decline in its year-on-year sales. While the Nexon is not at the peak of its popularity, it cannot be overlooked that 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 keeps it strong in the game 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 always remained one of the most dominant players in the Compact SUV segment. Moreover, Tata has recently launched the Tata Nexon CNG, which is expected to significantly boost its sales in the coming months.
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. Meanwhile, the Tata Nexon CNG is equipped with the same 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine, making it the first CNG car with a turbo engine. The CNG variants of the Nexon come with a 6-speed manual transmission and deliver a mileage of 24 km/kg.
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.
Also read: Top selling car brands in India
Kia Sonet
The Kia Sonet sold 10,335 units in September 2024, which grew its year-on-year sales by a walloping 107 percent. Kia’s compact SUV has been in the game for nearly four years and has carved a substantial space for itself. Like its sibling Hyundai Venue, the Sonet is known for its attractive wealth of features and refined powertrains that make it deliver a premium experience. Earlier this year, the Sonet received its first facelift which has given it some cosmetic tweaks while the chief highlight is the addition of the Level-1 ADAS features that have upped its safety quotient.
Powering the Kia Sonet are a 1.2-litre NA petrol engine, a 1.5-litre diesel engine, and a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine. For transmission options, a 6-speed iMT is available with the turbo-petrol engine and the diesel engine, however, the diesel engine 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 September 2024, the Hyundai Venue sold 10,259 units, seeing a 16 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.
Mahindra XUV 3XO
In the compact SUV segment, Mahindra recently levelled up its game with the launch of the Mahindra XUV 3XO which essentially is the facelifted Mahindra XUV300. While the new name and design were enough to freshen things up, Mahindra equipped the compact SUV with a Level-2 ADAS safety suite, rocking the market. This step from the Indian carmaker not only spiked the sales of its compact SUV but also upped the standards of the segment. In Segment 2024, the XUV 3XO sold 9,000 units, growing its year-on-year sales by 81 percent.
The new Mahindra XUV 3XO carries forward its engines. It is equipped with a 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine, a 1.2-litre direct injection turbo-petrol, and a 1.5-litre diesel engine. All three engines come mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox as standard, while there is a 6-speed torque converter automatic unit for both petrol engines and a 6-speed AMT for the diesel engine.
Mahindra Thar
While Mahindra Thar is the age-old king of off-roading, through the decades it has become a style statement especially due to its macho aura. Specially, for this reason, Mahindra rolled out the rear-wheel-drive variant of the Thar, catering to urban buyers who do not need the 4×4 system for their urban commutes. All the same, the serious off-roading capabilities that the four-wheel-drive Mahindra Thar offers at affordable prices are still a worry for all off-roader manufacturers. With an illustrious legacy and unmatchable calibre, the Mahindra Thar is the best-selling off-roading car in India and in September 2024, it held on to this title with sales of 8,843 units, gaining a 63 percent growth in its year-on-year sales. What makes these sales figures even more special is the fact that the 3-door Thar pulled such sales despite the mania created by the recently launched 5-door Mahindra Thar Roxx.
The four-wheel-drive variants of the Thar come with a 2-litre turbo-petrol engine and a 2.2-litre diesel engine. Both engines come mated to either a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 6-speed torque converter automatic. Whereas, the RWD models come with a 1.5-litre petrol engine paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox.
Hyundai Exter
The Hyundai Exter has spent over a year in the Indian car market and it’s fair to say that the car has turned out to be another success for the Korean carmaker. While the Exter is yet to beat its rivals, the Maruti Fronx and the Tata Punch, it is posing a great challenge to both of them. With a practical design for better usability, the Exter brings the trademark Hyundai qualities, such as a 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. However, last month, like many cars, the Exter saw a drop in sales as compared to its sales in September 2023. On the latest sales chart, the Exter put up sales of 6,908 units, which translated into a 20 percent decline in its year-on-year sales.
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.
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