New Delhi: The SUV race continues to intensify as November threw up interesting results from sales. While Maruti has gained in terms of share, Tata Motors’ SUV lineup continues to dominate the sales chart occupying top two positions for the first time. It is also the first time that Mahindra’s iconic Scorpio SUV, sold in Scorpio-N and Scorpio Classic avatars, has managed to overtake one of the most popular compact SUVs Hyundai Creta to end November among the top five SUVs sold in the country.
Top 7 SUVs sold in November 2023
| Rank | Model | Units sold | % change (YoY) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tata Nexon | 14,916 | -6% |
| 2 | Tata Punch | 14,383 | +19% |
| 3 | Maruti Brezza | 13,393 | +18% |
| 4 | Mahindra Scorpio | 12,185 | +89% |
| 5 | Hyundai Creta | 11,814 | -10% |
| 6 | Kia Seltos | 11,264 | +25% |
| 7 | Hyundai Venue | 11,180 | +4% |
Source: [SUV sales in November 2023]
Tata Nexon and Punch lead the pack
Tata Motors has emerged as the leader in the SUV segment with its two models, Nexon and Punch, occupying the top two spots in the sales chart. The Nexon, which was launched in a new avatar in September, continues to remain the most popular model in the segment. However, its sales have declined by 6% compared to November last year and by more than 50% compared to the festive months of September and October this year.
The Punch, Tata’s smallest SUV, has jumped one place to second by beating Maruti Suzuki Brezza in November. The Punch, which was launched in October, has seen a 19% increase in sales compared to the same month last year. However, the sales have decreased marginally compared to October this year. Tata Motors is expected to launch the EV version of the SUV soon, which will further bolster its sales performance in the coming days.
Maruti Brezza slips to third, Mahindra Scorpio surges to fourth
Maruti Suzuki, which currently boasts as India’s top SUV maker, saw its most popular model in the segment drop one place to number three. The Brezza, which is offered with both petrol and diesel engines, managed to gain around 18% compared to the same month previous year. However, the sales have gone down compared to the festive months when Maruti sold more than 15,000 units of the Brezza in September and October.
The biggest gainer in the SUV segment last month was Mahindra Scorpio, which sold in Scorpio-N and Scorpio Classic versions. The Scorpio, which is one of the oldest and most iconic SUVs in India, found 12,185 buyers, registering a whopping 89% jump in sales compared to November last year. This is the first time that the Scorpio has overtaken popular compact models like Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos. The Scorpio-N, which was launched in August, offers a more modern and premium look and feel, while the Scorpio Classic retains the rugged and muscular appeal of the original Scorpio.
Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos face tough competition
Hyundai Creta, which has been the best-selling compact SUV in India for a long time, faced a tough challenge from Mahindra Scorpio and slipped to fifth position in the sales chart. The Creta, which is offered with multiple engine and transmission options, saw a 10% decline in sales compared to November last year and a 9% decline compared to October this year. Hyundai is all set to drive in the Creta in a new avatar in January next year and is expected to see a boost in sales through the 2024 version.
Kia Seltos, which is the sister model of Hyundai Creta and shares the same platform and engines, also faced stiff competition from Mahindra Scorpio and ended up in sixth position in the sales chart. The Seltos, which was launched in July this year, continued to grow in terms of sales with 11,264 units sold, up by more than 25% compared to November last year. Some of the variants of the SUV, which is also offered with ADAS technology, recently saw prices reduced to attract more buyers. It remains to be seen if it continues to grow even after its arch rival Hyundai Creta is launched in a new avatar next month.
Hyundai Venue remains steady at seventh
Hyundai Venue, which is the sub-compact SUV from the Korean carmaker, continues to lag behind its rivals like Tata Nexon and Maruti Suzuki Brezza. The Venue, which is offered with both petrol and diesel engines, saw a marginal gain of about 4% compared to the same month last year. The sales of Venue remain largely steady compared to October this year when Hyundai delivered 11,581 units. The Venue competes with models like Tata Punch, Maruti Suzuki Ignis, Nissan Magnite, and Renault Kiger in the sub-compact SUV segment.
