In a market obsessed with sports utility vehicles (SUV), a humble sedan has raced ahead to the top. Between January and September 2025, Maruti Suzuki’s Dzire emerged as the country’s bestselling car, clocking 153,543 units—an average of over 17,000 units a month.
Analysts FE spoke with said the fourth-generation Dzire, launched in November 2024, has struck a rare balance between mass appeal and modern sensibilities. Its dual five-star crash safety ratings, from Global NCAP late last year and Bharat NCAP this June, have repositioned the sedan as a credible choice for personal buyers, many of whom now place safety high on their priority list. Analysts also said that the car’s CNG variants remain a favourite among fleet operators. Although Maruti Suzuki doesn’t share detailed sales splits, a source told FE that roughly one-third of Dzire’s total sales come from the fleet segment.
Snapping at its heels is Hyundai’s Creta, with 152,243 units sold in the same period. The midsize SUV continues to be Hyundai’s strongest performer and is on track to achieve its highest-ever annual sales in 2025, surpassing last year’s record of 186,919 units.
The third spot went to another Maruti bestseller, the Wagon R, which found 146,074 buyers in the nine-month period. Together with the Dzire and Swift (135,220 units), the Wagon R reinforces Maruti Suzuki’s stronghold over the entry-level market. The Ertiga, with 139,155 units, demonstrates that MPVs still have room to thrive alongside SUVs, while the Brezza (131,587 units) and Fronx (127,127 units) ensure Maruti’s dominance in the compact SUV space.
Tata Motors, however, has mounted a fierce challenge. Its compact SUV duo – the Nexon (136,669 units) and Punch (121,959 units) – has matched Maruti’s Brezza-Fronx combination almost unit for unit. Collectively, the Tata pair sold 258,628 units, just 86 units fewer than Maruti’s compact SUV twins at 258,714 units.
Mahindra, meanwhile, continues to command the rugged SUV territory. Its Scorpio, both the Scorpio-N and Classic versions, ranked eighth with 127,607 units sold, reaffirming Mahindra’s dominance in the full-size SUV space.
Analysts said that at a time when SUVs dictate market trends, the Dzire’s return to the top proves that there still is room for a well-rounded, value-driven sedan.