News & Top Stories
Maruti topped the list of best-selling compact and midsize hatchbacks in March 2024
The March 2024 sales report for tiny and midsize hatchbacks is already available, and Maruti hatchbacks dominated the sales table once again. Four of the six hatchbacks on this list are from Maruti, one from Tata, and one from Hyundai. Let’s look at how each of them did in last month’s sales of Maruti hatchbacks 2024
| Models | March 2024 | March 2023 | February 2024 |
| Maruti Wagon R | 16,368 | 17,305 | 19,412 |
| Maruti Swift | 15,728 | 17,559 | 13,165 |
| Tata Tiago | 6,381 | 7,366 | 6,947 |
| Hyundai Grand i10 Nios | 5,034 | 9,034 | 4,947 |
| Maruti Celerio | 3,478 | 4,646 | 3,586 |
| Maruti Ignis | 2,788 | 2,760 | 2,110 |
Key Takeaways
- The Maruti Wagon R, which surpassed 16,000 units sold, remained the best-selling hatchback in March 2024, despite sales decreases of 16% month on month and 5% year on year.
- After the Wagon R, the Maruti Swift was the only other hatchback to sell more than 10,000 copies. In March 2024, more than 15,700 Swift units were dispatched, representing a 19% increase month over month.
- In March 2024, the Tata Tiago held a 1,300-unit edge over the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios. Tata shipped almost 6,000 Tiagos last month, although monthly sales fell by 500 or so cars.
- In March 2024, Hyundai Grand i10 Nios sales reached 5,000 units. Despite sustained monthly demand, it experienced a 46% decrease in annual revenue.
- With over 3,500 vehicles delivered, the Maruti Celerio maintained its continuous demand in MoM sales. However, its YoY sales dropped by more than 1,000 units.
- Finally, the Maruti Ignis attracted over 2,700 purchasers in March 2024, but its MoM sales fell 32%.
Also Read : Launched: Mahindra Bolero Neo Plus; Starting Price: Rs 11.39 Lakh
News & Top Stories
Launched: Mahindra Bolero Neo Plus; Starting Price: Rs 11.39 Lakh
- In essence, the Mahindra Bolero Neo Plus is the TUV300 Plus with a facelift.
- offered in two versions (P4 and P10) at prices (ex-showroom) of Rs 11.39 lakh and Rs 12.49 lakh, respectively.
- A new grille, modified bumpers, and Mahindra‘s new emblem are among the external improvements.
- A Bolero Neo-style instrument panel and steering wheel have been added to the cabin.
- The vehicle comes equipped with two front airbags, a manual air conditioner, and a 9-inch touchscreen.
- It comes with a single, 2.2-liter diesel engine paired with a 6-speed manual transmission.
The Mahindra Bolero Neo Plus, which debuted as an ambulance in the middle of 2023, is now accessible as a passenger car as well. As part of their facelift, Mahindra rebranded the TUV300 and TUV300 Plus, which are now known as the Bolero Neo and Bolero Neo Plus, respectively.
Variant-wise Prices
| Variant | Price (ex-showroom pan-India) |
| P4 | Rs 11.39 lakh |
| P10 | Rs 12.49 lakh |
The Bolero Neo Plus comes in just two versions, as opposed to the normal Bolero Neo’s three broad trim options. Nevertheless, the Bolero Neo is offered in a 7-seat arrangement, but this elongated variant has a 9-seat arrangement.
Design Detailed
In terms of general design, the Bolero Neo Plus and Bolero Neo look very similar. Mahindra’s new “Twin Peaks” emblem and a redesigned grille with chrome slats are added to its fascia. Not to mention the modified bumper with fog lamps on either side and an air dam with a mesh-like pattern. The Bolero Neo+’s extra length over the Bolero Neo is visible in profile, as are the new 5-spoke alloy wheels.
The rear bumper is slightly different from the Bolero Neo’s, and the back of the vehicle has a more rounded appearance overall. Nevertheless, it has the same spare wheel installed on the tailgate as the Bolero Neo.
Receives A Few Cabin Updates
The interior of the SUV has received some tweaks and adjustments from Mahindra. It now has the instrument cluster and steering wheel of the Mahindra Thar, which have clearer twin-pod displays. Mahindra has also changed the climate control dials and infotainment system, and the SUV is now available with new fabric upholstery.
The Bolero Neo+ lacks Apple CarPlay and Android Auto but has a robust 9-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, Aux, and USB connectivity. The vehicle also has a manual air conditioning system, six speakers for music, four power windows, and a driver seat that can be raised or lowered.
Dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, front fog lamps, and a reversing camera are all part of its safety net.
News & Top Stories
Spied Testing of a Citroen Basalt Is Similar To The Concept
- The Citroen Basalt design is comparable to the concept version, according to the most recent spy photos of the vehicle.
- Although the inside has not yet been made public, it is anticipated to resemble the Citroen C3 Aircross.
- The 10.2-inch touchscreen and 7-inch digital driver’s display seen in the C3 Aircross are anticipated to be available in the Basalt.
- It is also anticipated to utilize the same 1.2-liter turbo-petrol engine (110 PS) found in the C3 hatchback and C3 Aircross small SUV.
In March 2024, the Citroen Basalt Vision was unveiled as a concept for the first time worldwide. It is scheduled to make its Indian premiere in the latter part of this year. The French carmaker’s coupe SUV, the Basalt Vision, is built on the same chassis as current Citroen products, including the C3 hatchback and C3 Aircross small SUV. Here’s what we observed when we recently saw the Citroen Basalt Vision test mule driving in India.
Looks the Same As The Concept
The spy photos make it abundantly evident that the Basalt Coupe SUV test mule’s exterior appearance is very similar to that of the concept version, the Vision. It has the recognizable split grille and headlamp housing up front that is found on current Citroen vehicles. The test mule’s taillight design is akin to that of the concept version from the back. However, its athletic appearance from the side is what makes it so unique due to its sloping, coupe-like roofline.
Cabin & Attributes
The Basalt Vision coupe SUV’s interior is still a mystery to Citroen, and these spy photos did not provide us with a peek of it. Its cabin and dashboard design are anticipated to resemble those of the Citroen C3 Aircross, although the Basalt Vision is anticipated to have more features as a more upscale and fashionable option.
Features like a 10.2-inch touchscreen, a 7-inch digital driver‘s display, cruise control, automatic air conditioning, and push-button engine start/stop are anticipated for the Citroen Basalt. Up to six airbags, electronic stability control (ESC), a rear parking camera, and a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) may be included in its safety equipment.
Powertrain
The 1.2-liter turbo-petrol engine (110 PS / up to 205 Nm) that powers the Citroen C3 Aircross and C3 is most likely what the Citroen Basalt Vision will run on. There will be a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission and a 6-speed manual transmission available for this unit.
Rivals & Anticipated Launch
The Basalt Coupe SUV from Citroen may go on sale in India in the second half of 2024, with a starting price of Rs 8 lakh (ex-showroom). Along with compact SUVs like the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Grand Vitara, Volkswagen Taigun, Toyota Hyryder, Skoda Kushaq, MG Astor, and Honda Elevate, the Basalt Vision will directly compete with the Tata Curvv.
News & Top Stories
March 2024: Maruti Brezza and Tata Nexon Maintain Their Domination in Subcompact SUV Sales
The Maruti Brezza continued to lead the Tata Nexon in sales and held the top rank in the tables as of March 2024. Despite an almost 6 percent decline in the segment’s total month-over-month (MoM) sales, around 53,000 subcompact SUVs were nevertheless sold across the nation last month. The performance of each subcompact SUV is shown in this comprehensive sales report.
| Sub-compact SUVs & crossovers | |||||||
| March 2024 | February 2024 | MoM Growth | Market share current(%) | Market share (% last year) | YoY mkt share (%) | Average sales (6 months) | |
| Maruti Brezza | 14614 | 15765 | -7.3 | 27.64 | 27.2 | 0.44 | 14726 |
| Tata Nexon | 14058 | 14395 | -2.34 | 26.59 | 24.75 | 1.84 | 15665 |
| Hyundai Venue | 9614 | 8933 | 7.62 | 18.18 | 16.8 | 1.38 | 11019 |
| Kia Sonet | 8750 | 9102 | -3.86 | 16.55 | 14.54 | 2.01 | 6425 |
| Nissan Magnite | 2701 | 2755 | -1.96 | 5.1 | 5.46 | -0.36 | 2542 |
| Mahindra XUV300 | 2072 | 4218 | -50.87 | 3.91 | 8.59 | -4.68 | 4514 |
| Renault Kiger | 1050 | 1047 | 0.28 | 1.98 | 2.62 | -0.64 | 847 |
| Total | 52859 | 56215 | -5.96 | ||||
Important lessons learned
- The Maruti Brezza continued to be the best-selling subcompact SUV in the market with over 14,500 units sold, even if its month-over-month (MoM) sales decreased by more than 7%. In the segment, the Brezza continues to hold the largest market share at over 28%.
- Tata Nexon continued to be the second best-selling compact SUV in the segment in March 2024 despite selling fewer than 500 units than the Maruti Brezza. Subcompact SUV sales have surpassed 10,000 units, with the Nexon being the only model to do so after the Brezza. Note that these numbers reflect sales of both the Tata Nexon and Tata Nexon EVs.
- In March 2024, the Hyundai Venue—the third-best-selling sub-4 million SUV—attracted over 9,500 purchasers. Its MoM sales increased by almost 8%, and it now commands a market share of more than 18% in the category. It is noteworthy that the sales figures for Hyundai Venue and Venue N Line are combined in this instance.
Also, Check Out: Maruti Jimny
- Despite the 8 percent decline in monthly sales, Kia shipped over 8,500 units of the Sonet in March 2024. This figure is more than 2,000 copies higher than sales in the previous six months.
- Mahindra The main reason for the decline is that Mahindra is preparing to launch its version, the XUV 3XO.
- The Renault Kiger was the best-selling SUV of March 2024, finding more than 1,000 buyers last month. However, last month’s performance was better than the average sales of the previous six months. Meanwhile, its mechanical sibling, the Nissan Magnite, managed to sell more than 2,700 units in a month of high demand.
Read More On – Hyundai Creta And Maruti Grand Vitara
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Together, the Hyundai Creta and Maruti Grand Vitara accounted for more than half of all sales of compact SUVs in March 2024
The Maruti Grand Vitara came in second place and the Hyundai Creta led the pack in compact SUV sales in March 2024, as typical. More than 49,000 compact SUVs were sold last month, marking a general increase in the sector of about 10%. Check out the sales figures for each compact SUV in March 2024.
| Compact SUVs & crossovers | |||||||
| March 2024 | February 2024 | MoM Growth | Market share current(%) | Market share (% last year) | YoY mkt share (%) | Average sales (6 months) | |
| Hyundai Creta | 16458 | 15276 | 7.73 | 33.44 | 42.66 | -9.22 | 12557 |
| Maruti Grand Vitara | 11232 | 11002 | 2.09 | 22.82 | 30.55 | -7.73 | 10323 |
| Kia Seltos | 7912 | 6265 | 26.28 | 16.07 | 19.93 | -3.86 | 9536 |
| Toyota Hyryder | 5965 | 5601 | 6.49 | 12.12 | 10.56 | 1.56 | 4486 |
| Honda Elevate | 3277 | 3184 | 2.92 | 6.65 | 0 | 6.65 | 4591 |
| Volkswagen Taigun | 1588 | 1286 | 23.48 | 3.22 | 6.01 | -2.79 | 1766 |
| Skoda Kushaq | 1293 | 1137 | 13.72 | 2.62 | 6.84 | -4.22 | 1887 |
| MG Astor | 1274 | 1036 | 22.97 | 2.58 | 3.5 | -0.92 | 890 |
| Citroen C3 Aircross | 211 | 127 | 66.14 | 0.42 | 0 | 0.42 | 158 |
| Total | 49210 | 44914 | 9.56 | ||||
Principal Learnings
- As the best-selling small SUV in the nation, the Hyundai Creta maintained its dominance. In March 2024, sales of the facelifted Creta reached close to 16,500 units, with a nearly 8 percent increase in monthly sales. Even though Creta’s year-over-year (YoY) market share decreased by more than 9%, its sales in March 2024 were still almost 3,900 units more than its six-month average.
- The Maruti Grand Vitara was the only small SUV to sell 10,000 units or more after the Creta. In March, Maruti continued to meet monthly demand for the Grand Vitara by shipping over 11,000 of the vehicle
- In March 2024, the MoM sales of the Kia Seltos increased by more than 26%, with over 7,900 units sold. This amount was still about 1,600 units less than the company’s average sales during the previous six months, though.
- In March 2024, the Toyota Hyrder—the Grand Vitara’s mechanical sibling—found nearly 6,000 purchasers. For the previous month, Toyota’s small SUV had no monthly losses recorded. (Hyundai and Maruti)
Honda Elevate
- Additionally, Honda Elevate consistently exceeded the 3,000 unit sales threshold in terms of MoM demand.
Nevertheless, it was still below its six-month average sales by about 1,300 units. - In March 2024, Volkswagen sold 300 additional Taigun compact SUVs, bringing its total sales to almost 1,500 units. However, Taigun’s YoY market share dropped by around 3%.
- Similar to the Taigun, the Skoda Kushaq saw good growth in March 2024 of more than 13 percent, with around 1,300 units sold. Its year-over-year (YoY) market share likewise decreased by almost 4%.
- The MG Astor crossed the 1,000 unit sales threshold and saw a MoM gain of about 23 percent.
- Only 200 of the Citroen C3 Aircross’s tiny SUVs were sold in March 2024, making it the least popular model.
Read More On – Volkswagen Taigun’s Starting Price Of Rs.11 Lakh
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Volkswagen Taigun’s Starting Price of Rs.11 Lakh Has Dropped By More Than Rs. 1 Lakh For A Limited Time
Volkswagen Taigun will soon get the new GT. Earlier, the German automaker had reduced the prices of some variants of the Taigun compact SUV, making it up to 1.1 million cheaper than before. However, the prices offered are valid for a limited time only. Updated prices for each affected variant are given below.
| Variant | Regular Price | Offer Price | Difference |
| Manual | |||
| Comfortline 1-litre MT | Rs 11.70 lakh | Rs 11 lakh | (-) Rs 70,000 |
| GT Chrome Automatic | |||
| Taigun GT Plus Chrome 1.5-litre DCT | Rs 19.44 lakh | Rs 18.69 lakh | (-) Rs 75,000 |
| GT Plus Chrome 1.5-litre DCT (added features) | Rs 19.74 lakh | Rs 18.69 lakh | (-) Rs 1.05 lakh |
| GT Plus Edge Automatic (Deep Black Pearl & Carbon Steel Grey (matte) variants) | |||
| GT Plus Edge 1.5-litre DCT | Rs 19.64 lakh to Rs 19.70 lakh | Rs 18.90 lakh | Up to (-) Rs 80,000 |
| 1.5 GT Plus Edge DCT
(added features) |
Rs 19.94 lakh to Rs 20 lakh | Rs 18.90 lakh | Up to (-) Rs 1.1 lakh |
- Volkswagen has cut Rs 70,000 off the sticker price of the Taigun’s entry-level comfortline 1-liter turbo-petrol manual model.
- However, the top-of-the-line GT Plus automatic trim of the Taigun is now available for Rs 1.05 lakh less than it was previously.
- Up to Rs 1.1 lakh has been taken off the cost of the GT Plus Edge automatic trims, which include Deep Black Pearl and Carbon Matte Grey versions. The sale price for each of these variants is Rs 18.90 lakh.
Features & Safety
The VW Taigun’s higher-end GT Plus models come with features including an 8-inch digital driver’s display, automatic air conditioning, a single-pane sunroof, and a 10. 1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The versions with extra amenities include an enhanced sound system with a subwoofer and amplifier, footwell lighting, and electrically adjustable front seats.
Up to six airbags, electronic stability control (ESC), a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), and a rear-view camera are among its safety features.
Powertrain Options
Volkswagen provides the Taigun with two different petrol engine options. The details of these engines are listed below:
| Engine | 1-litre turbo-petrol | 1.5-litre turbo-petrol |
| Power | 115 PS | 150 PS |
| Torque | 178 Nm | 250 Nm |
| Transmission | 6-speed MT / 6-speed AT | 6-speed MT / 7-speed DCT |
Active cylinder deactivation is another feature of the 1.5-liter turbo-petrol engines. To increase fuel efficiency when driving at a relaxed pace, it turns off two of the four cylinders.
Price Range and Competitors
The Volkswagen Taigun‘s usual pricing fell between Rs. 11.70 lakh to Rs. 20 lakh. The current offer has a starting price of Rs 11 lakh and a maximum price of Rs 18.90 lakh. It competes with vehicles such as the Citroen C3 Aircross, Honda Elevate, MG Astor, Hyundai Creta, Skoda Kushaq, Honda Grand Vitara, and Kia Seltos.
Also Read: Volkswagen Virtus Beat Those Of The Hyundai Verna In March 2024