Top 5 Utility Vehicles in February 2016

The character of Indian roads is changing and UVs are coming back into the spotlight with more and more customers opting for multi-purpose vehicles rather than ones just meant for rudimentary commute, which was evident in the recent sales figures as well.

Even as the passenger cars segment reported a second consecutive month of de-growth in February, the utility vehicle segment grew sharply by almost 21% in the month to provide a buffer to the overall PV sales.

This resurgence of the UV segment in India is thanks to growing popularity of compact UVs coupled with the introduction of various new products by manufacturers to tap niche segments.

The top sellers in the month constitute a mix of urban and rugged SUVs, MPVs and a sub-four metre compact UV as well.

The Creta has sold 55,673 units in the domestic market till end-February. In India, there's a 10-month waiting period for the Creta diesel automatic version. Hyundai has been gradually increasing production of this popular model to cope with rising demand. Initially, the carmaker produced 5,000 units a month before increasing production to 7,000 units in October 2015 and then to 9,000 units in November. With growing demand for the SUV from overseas markets, the carmaker has announced that it plans to increase production by 30 percent to 13,000 units per month. Of the total production, 10,000 units would be allotted to the domestic market to help reduce the waiting period. 

The first Mahindra SUV that began the process of change from a utilitarian brand to a premium carmaker, the Bolero continues to surprise with its consistent sales. The Bolero has evolved over the years, incorporating a number of features and aesthetic changes, to match the lifestyle aspirations of its consumers. It is without doubt the overall No. 1 selling SUV of India, with over 850,000 vehicles on the road.

Next on the list is the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga. A popular fleet and family vehicle, this urban MPV based on the Swift platform has been a game changer for the country’s largest carmaker since its launch in 2012. Offered with a host of engine options ranging from petrol, CNG and diesel variants, Maruti Suzuki recently introduced a SHVS mild hybrid variant of the MPV and has managed to add incremental volumes in February. The carmaker despatched 5,620 units of the UV in the month. The vehicle has sold a total of 54,908 units in the ongoing fiscal year.

The country’s most sold MPV – Toyota Innova – took the fourth spot in the list in February with sales of 4,945 units.  The Innova, which was brought in India to replace the Qualis, became an instant hit since its launch in 2005 and managed to do what very few PVs are able to; being equally popular among fleet and private owners. Now with the next generation Crysta showcased at the Auto Expo 2016and the last batch of production for the current generation wrapped up on March 14, the Innova is set to be replaced soon. Positioned as a more premium model than the current-generation model, the new car is larger than its predecessor. For the 11 months of this fiscal, the Innova has sold 52,437 units. 

Last spot was taken by another Mahindra, and this time its newest offering – the KUV100. With looks more of a hatchback than an SUV, the KUV100 garnered sales of 4,486 units in February. The company is working on ramping up production for the KUV100 and hopes to see consistent demand for the compact UV crossover in the coming days, which could make it a regular feature in the Top 5 as well.

Meanwhile, the SUV story in India has just turned a lot more exciting with the all-new Maruti Vitara Brezza driving into the market. The SUV segment, which posted year-on-year growth of 20.71% in February 2016 (54,089 units) and 4.77% YoY growth for the April 2015 to February 2016 period (522,412 units), is seeing a new wave of demand and is proving to be a buffer to the slowing sales in the passenger car market.

The Vitara Brezza – Maruti’s first-ever compact SUV – has already got the competition worried and a few days after its launch, Ford India slashed the EcoSport’s price by up Rs 112,000. With sales commencing from the carmaker’s extensive 1,800-strong dealer network across the country, expect the Vitara Brezza to bite into the SUV competition’s numbers – and also vehicles from other segments.

With Maruti Suzuki India management announcing its intention for market leadership in SUVs, the battle has begun. As always, it will be the SU(V)-rvival of the fittest.   

Also read: Top 10 Passenger Vehicles in February 2016