The Top 10 compact SUV model list for the first month of FY2026 is led by the Maruti Brezza, the oldest compact SUV in India, and is wrapped up by the two newest models, the Skoda Kylaq and Kia Syros. These best-selling models accounted for 97,638 units and 42% of the total 234,516 utility vehicles sold last month.
17 May 2025 | 652 Views | By Ajit Dalvi
That small can also be big is what most SUV manufacturers have realised in the booming Indian SUV market. Of the nearly 100 UVs and 1,000-plus variants in the domestic market, compact SUVs account for 20 models and a humongous number of variants. Of these 20 compact SUVs, 10 have ...
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That small can also be big is what most SUV manufacturers have realised in the booming Indian SUV market. Of the nearly 100 UVs and 1,000-plus variants in the domestic market, compact SUVs account for 20 models and a humongous number of variants. Of these 20 compact SUVs, 10 have made their mark in April 2025, accounting for an estimated 97,638 units and 42% of the total 234,516 utility vehicles sold last month. While the oldest compact SUV (Maruti Brezza) has topped the chart, the two youngest models (Skoda Kylaq and Kia Syros) have wrapped up the Top 10.
Let’s take a closer look at the Top 10 movers and shakers in this sub-segment where the SUVs are less than 4,000mm long.
The Maruti Brezza compact SUV, which was launched in March 2016 and has clocked cumulative sales of 1.26 million units since then, continues to win over buyers. The Brezza has opened FY2026 with 16,971 units and topped the Top 10 ranking albeit demand is marginally down by 1% (April 2024: 17,113 units). In FY2025, the Brezza was ranked fourth (189,163 units) on the UV scale and No. 2 on the compact SUV scale.
No. 2 – Tata Nexon: 15,457 units, up 38%
The Tata Nexon compact SUV, once Tata Motor’s longstanding best-seller which was out-staged by sibling Punch, has opened FY2026 on a strong note – the 15,457 units are a 38% YoY increase (April 2024: 11,168 units). Not only does this make the Nexon the company’s No. 1 model for April 2025, contributing 34% to Tata’s 45,199 overall PV sales but it is also India’s second best-selling compact SUV for the month.
Will the Nexon, which was India’s best-selling SUV for three straight years in FY2024, FY2023 and FY2022 but ranked seventh in FY2025 (163,089 units) see a resurgence in demand in FY2026? April’s good showing, which puts it at No. 5 in the Top 10 utility vehicles for the month, could offer a clue to that.
No. 3 – Maruti Fronx: 14,345 units, flat sales (0)
Third on the podium is the Maruti Fronx. The 14,345 units sold in April 2025 constitute flat sales (April 2024: 14,286 units), which could be a result of Maruti Suzuki optimising this SUV’s inventory levels at its dealerships. In FY2025, the Fronx was the fifth best-selling SUV with 166,216 units.
No. 4 – Tata Punch: 12,496 units, down 35%
The Tata Punch, India’s best-selling SUV in FY2024 (196,567 units) has opened FY2026 on a slow note and in seventh position on the overall utility vehicle Top 10 list. The 12,496 units in April 2025, down 35% YoY (April 2024: 19,158 units) are the lowest this compact SUV has clocked since July 2023 (12,019 units). The Punch is available with petrol, CNG and electric powertrains.
No. 5 – Kia Sonet: 8,068 units, up 2%
The Sonet, Kia India’s first compact SUV and its best-selling UV since January 2024, sold 8,068 units in April, an increase of 2% YoY, and accounted for 34% of the company’s sales of 23,623 UVs last month. In FY2025, the Sonet with 99,805 units had clocked 23% YoY growth. Launched in January 2024, the feature-laden SUV has clocked cumulative sales of 420,934 units to date. The Sonet surpassed the 400,000 milestone in early February,
No. 6 – Hyundai Venue – 7,953 units, down 13%
The Hyundai Venue, the first compact SUV from Hyundai Motor India which sold 119,113 units in FY2025 and down 8% YoY, continues to be in the negative sales territory. April 2025 salesat 7,953 units were down 13% (April 2024: 9,120 units). Demand has been flagging for the Venue, particularly after its sibling compact SUV, the Exter was launched a little under two years ago. With the next-gen Venue, which will up the model’s desirability quotient, slated for launch only by end-2025 or early 2026, sales will most likely continue to be slow for the current model.
No. 7 – Mahindra XUV 3XO: 7,568 units, up 89%
The Mahindra 3XO, which is the facelifted version of the XUV300, has been one of the best performers in the SUV market per se. In April 2025, the 3XO sold 7,568 units to register robust 89% growth (April 2024: 4,003 units) and had a 14% share of M&M’s total SUV sales of 52,330 units.
In FY2025, this model had sold 100,905 units and accounted for 18% of M&M’s record 551,487 units. In fact, it was Mahindra's second best-selling SUV in FY2025 after the Scorpio twins.
No. 8 – Hyundai Exter: 5,416 units, down 30%
Hyundai's second compact SUV after the Venue sold 5,416 units in April 2025, down by a sizeable 30% YoY (April 2024: 7,756 units). This is clearly the impact of the much-increased competition in this ultra-competitive sub-segment of the SUV market.
A highlight of its April sales is that the Exter, launched in July 10, drove past the 150,000 domestic market sales. However, sales have slowed down for the Exter – while the first 100,000 units were sold in 13 months, the next 50,000 units have taken 8 months.
No. 9 – Skoda Kylaq: 5,364 units, NEW MODEL
Just 52 behind the Exter is the Kylaq, Skoda India’s vehicle of entry into the booming compact SUV market which has already made an impact. Since February, it has become the company’s best-selling locally produced vehicle, ahead of the Kushaq SUV and Slavia sedan.
The Kylaq’s sales of 10,205 units in just three months (January-March 2025) constituted 23% sales of Skoda India’s FY2025 total of 44,868 units. The most dynamically sorted compact SUV, as Autocar India calls it, the Kylaq’s highlights are space, performance and handling.
No. 10 – Kia Syros: 4,000 units, NEW MODEL
Kia India expects the sub-four-metre Kia Syros, launched a few days before the Skoda Kylaq, to give it a fresh charge in the compact SUV market and also help grow its UV share in India.
The Syros sold 4,000 units in April 2025, the lowest in the past four months: January: 5,546 units, February: 5,425 units and March: 5,015 units. The Syros, which is a refreshing break from thae compact SUV template, is an ace of space, comfort and features. The high-quality interior is also a plus.