The sub 4 meter SUV segment (3.8 to 4 metres) witnessed steady growth in March 2026, with total sales reaching 1,22,710 units as compared to 1,12,714 units sold in March 2025, registering a growth of 8.87% year-on-year. Even on a month-on-month (MoM) basis, the segment registered a growth of 7.14%, highlighting the sustained demand in one of India’s most competitive SUV categories.
Sub 4 meter SUV sales March 2026
Tata Motors continued its dominance in the sub 4 meter SUV segment with both the Punch and Nexon. Tata Punch (including EV) emerged as the best-selling model with 20,977 units, a growth of 18.42% YoY. The strong performance can be attributed to its wide appeal in both ICE and electric versions. Tata Nexon (including EV) stood second with 19,810 units, registering a YoY growth of 21.04%. Nexon continues to benefit from its strong brand recall, multiple powertrain options and frequent updates.
Maruti Brezza recorded sales of 16,130 units, a marginal decline of 2.51% YoY. Maruti Suzuki, on the other hand, performed well with 15,540 units, up 13.69% YoY, reflecting strong market acceptance. Among Korean rivals, Kia Sonet recorded the highest growth among the top players with sales rising 55.90% year-on-year to 12,012 units. This sharp increase indicates strong traction after the recent update.
Hyundai Venue maintained steady growth at 11,147 units, up 6.76% year-on-year, while Hyundai Exeter also registered a growth of 9.78% year-on-year with sales of 6,478 units. Mahindra XUV3XO (including EV) saw a healthy growth of 30.39% with sales of 9,199 units in March 2026. Among other players, results were mixed. The Skoda Kailak recorded a decline of 12.33%, while the sales of Toyota Tasar and Nissan Magnite also saw a decline of 18.83% and 18.16% respectively.
Renault Kiger, however, posted a strong growth of 55.38% year-on-year, albeit on a lower base, with sales of 1,184 units. Maruti Jimny recorded the highest percentage growth of 151.34% YoY, although volumes remained low at 656 units. Meanwhile, the Kia Sciros saw a sharp decline, reflecting a significant decline in volumes compared to last year.
MoM trends highlight momentum
On a month-on-month basis, Tata Punch and Frontex witnessed double-digit growth, while Kia Sonet also registered a strong growth of 23.20%. Hyundai Exeter led the way with 54.24% MoM growth, indicating rising demand. Renault Kiger also made a notable jump of 68.90% MoM, from a small base. On the downside, Maruti Brezza witnessed a decline of 9.70%, while Nissan Magnite and Kia Ciros also declined.
Performance as per OEM
On an OEM basis, Tata Motors continued its dominance in the sub-compact SUV segment, registering combined sales of 40,787 units in March 2026, up 19.68% year-on-year. The strong performance was driven by continued demand for the Punch and Nexon, which are available in both ICE and EV formats. Maruti Suzuki stood second with 32,326 units, registering a marginal growth of 6.07%, supported by steady demand for the Brezza and Frontex.
Hyundai maintained a steady position with 7.85% YoY growth at 17,625 units thanks to consistent sales of Venue and Exeter. While Kia saw strong growth with the Sonet, its total declined slightly to 12,071 units due to a sharp decline in Sciros volumes, resulting in a decline of 5.10%. Among others, Mahindra recorded a strong growth of 30.39% with the XUV3XO, while Renault also saw notable gains on a smaller base. In contrast, brands like Skoda, Toyota and Nissan have reported year-on-year declines, indicating pressure at the lower volume end of the segment.
