SUVs continue their dominant streak as the vehicle of choice across demographics. They have come to account for a 43 percent year-on-year traffic increase across all sub-segments, according to a statement by CarDekho.com.  
Released with an eye on the festive season of 2024, the statement takes a look at the pre-festive season traffic trends across various sub-segments of the four-wheel passenger vehicle industry during the period April-September. 
With SUVs dominating, the statement reads that 58 models are available in the respective segment. Stating that more models are scheduled to be launched in FY2024-25, it underlines the broad range of fuel and engine type combinations, catering to diverse consumer needs and providing tailored options to suit varying preferences.
In the April-September 2024 period, the mass SUV segment led the growth in the automotive market, registering a strong 43 percent year-over-year (YoY) increase in traffic. Its contribution to overall traffic on the platform rose from 50 percent to 63 percent, making it the most dominant body type. 
While all SUV sub-segments displayed significant growth, the compact SUVs (sub-four-metre) sub-segment led the charge in the SUV segment with 37 percent year-on-year growth, increasing their traffic contribution from 32 percent to 38 percent. 
Interesting is the rise in prices of hatchbacks in the Indian market with their average selling price getting close to the average selling price of SUVs. 
This is said to be one of the factors that is leading to a switch to SUVs. With executive SUVs witnessing the highest growth within the SUV category at 47 percent year-on-year increase (their share is rising from 15 percent to 19 percent respectively), the demand for SUVs is expected to rise steadily over the short and mid-term as existing as well as new infrastructure quality continues to be a matter of concern. The quality of infrastructure looks inversely proportional to the rise in toll tax ironically across highways and city roads. 
The midsize SUV sub-segment also performed well with a 31 percent year-on-year increase, as per the CarDekho.com statement.

Mass hatchback segment
In the mass hatchback segment, traffic grew by 28 percent year-on-year, driven largely by premium hatchbacks that make up 86 percent of the total traffic in the respective category. 
Premium hatchbacks experienced a 31 percent year-on-year growth, while mini hatchbacks grew by 20 percent. The micro hatchbacks saw a 22 percent decline in traffic (this includes cars like the Marut Alto).
With a shift in consumer interest away from smaller, ultra-compact vehicles evident, it is the SUVs that seem to benefit from rather than sedans. 
The sedans showed the lowest growth among all body types with an 18 percent year-on-year increase, maintaining a consistent 15 percent share of overall traffic. Despite this, the premium sedan segment saw a significant 65 percent year-on-year growth even though it is driven by just one model. The sub-segment’s contribution remains at only one percent of total site traffic.
“The continued growth of the SUV segment reflects a strong and evolving consumer preference within the automotive industry. SUVs have become the vehicle of choice for a wide range of buyers due to their versatility, enhanced driving comfort, and ability to meet the diverse needs of Indian consumers. Compact SUVs, in particular, have gained significant traction, offering the perfect combination of practicality and performance. As we see this segment expand, it's driving healthy competition, promoting innovation, and ultimately offering a wider range of choices to the Indian consumer. This surge signals a maturing market where consumers are increasingly discerning, pushing the industry to elevate its game across design, features, and value proposition,” said Mayank Jain, CEO, New Auto (CarDekho Group).

Luxury autos
On the luxury brand side, the CarDekho.com statement reads, that traffic rose by 17 percent year-on-year across all model pages. Although luxury vehicles continue to garner interest, their share of total traffic remains relatively low compared to mass market segments, it mentioned.

Image for representative purpose only
 

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The all-new Nissan LEAF has been crowned the Supreme Winner of the 2026 Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year (WWCOTY) competition, the most prestigious award given by the only global jury composed entirely of female motoring experts. This victory places the LEAF at the forefront of this year's automotive landscape.

Since its debut in 2010 as the pioneer of mass-produced electric vehicles, the LEAF has spent over 15 years accelerating the world towards sustainable transportation. The freshly unveiled third-generation model advances that pioneering spirit through refined aerodynamics, extended driving range and seamlessly integrated technology. These attributes resonated powerfully with the judging panel, enabling the LEAF to surpass 54 other contenders and demonstrate its universal cross-market appeal.

The WWCOTY assessment process prioritises criteria that directly affect motorists in their daily lives, including crashworthiness, aesthetic appeal, affordability, practicality and ecological footprint. A panel of 86 distinguished women journalists hailing from more than 50 nations evaluated each entry. They ultimately celebrated the LEAF for its grounded vision of electrification, successfully merging sophisticated electric capabilities with the straightforward pleasure required for everyday commuting. This harmonious blend of accessible innovation and real-world functionality distinguished the vehicle as the jury's unanimous choice.

Marta García, Executive President, WWCOTY, said, “In our voting, we have focused on vehicles that stand out not only for their figures or technology but for how effectively they respond to people’s real, everyday needs. The Nissan LEAF represents a mature and intelligent vision of electrification – one that makes electric mobility truly usable and accessible.”

Ivan Espinosa, President & CEO, Nissan, said, “New LEAF being named overall winner by the Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year is a proud moment for everyone at Nissan. LEAF helped bring electric driving into the mainstream, and this new generation carries that mission forward. It’s designed to make going electric easier and more enjoyable for more people around the world.”

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Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) has launched the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder Month, a dedicated campaign running from mid-February through the end of March across North India. This initiative is designed to engage customers directly with the brand’s pioneering Strong Hybrid technology through hands-on test-drive events. The activation spans key regions including the National Capital Region, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir, offering exclusive value-driven benefits throughout the period.

Since its debut in 2022, the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder has established itself as a prominent contender in the SUV segment, recently surpassing 200,000 units in sales. This milestone reflects increasing consumer confidence in its advanced hybrid system. Positioned as India’s inaugural strong hybrid electric SUV in the B-segment, the vehicle integrates a self-charging setup with an e-drive transmission, enabling significant electric-only operation for a quieter and more efficient drive. It achieves a fuel efficiency of 27.97 km per litre.

The exterior design features a prominent crystal acrylic grille, twin LED daytime running lamps, sculpted body lines and 17-inch alloy wheels. Inside, the cabin offers ventilated leather seats, a panoramic sunroof, an eight-way adjustable driver’s seat and an electronic parking brake. Technological enhancements include a 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, complemented by 55 connected features through Toyota i-Connect. Additional amenities such as paddle shifters, wireless charging and an electronic rearview mirror contribute to everyday practicality.

Safety remains integral with six airbags, Vehicle Stability Control, Hill Hold Control, all-wheel disc brakes, a 360-degree camera and ISOFIX mounts. The ownership experience is supported by a comprehensive warranty package, including a three-year or 100,000-kilometre standard warranty, extendable up to five years or 220,000 kilometres, along with five years of roadside assistance. The hybrid battery is covered by an eight-year or 160,000-kilometre warranty. To further enhance accessibility, Toyota is offering benefits of up to INR 100,000, exchange bonuses and flexible payment schemes like Buy Now, Pay Later. Prices start at INR 1,094,000 (ex-showroom).

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JSW MG Motor India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has introduced a ‘5-5-5’ ownership package for the MG Majestor, its entry into the D+ SUV segment. The programme aims to provide cost predictability and nationwide aftersales support for customers.

The package includes a five-year unlimited kilometres warranty, five years of roadside assistance with no mileage cap and five labour-free periodic services. The offering is standard for Majestor customers, designed to address maintenance costs and breakdown support during the initial years of ownership.

The MG Majestor is powered by a 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel engine producing 215.5 PS and 478.5 Nm of torque. It features an 8-speed automatic transmission available in both two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations.

The SUV is equipped with differential Locks – triple locks for the front, rear and centre. An advanced 4WD system with 10 off-road modes. It features 219 mm of ground clearance with a water wading depth of 810 mm. Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Crawl Control Mode.

Customers can pre-reserve the MG Majestor for a fee of INR 41,000. Display vehicles and test drives are scheduled to arrive at dealerships in April 2026, with customer deliveries beginning in May 2026. The 5-5-5 programme benefits will be available to the first 3,000 customers who secure a booking at the pre-reserve price.

Vinay Raina, Chief Commercial Officer, JSW MG Motor India, said, “The MG Majestor has been created as an SUV that is rugged in its capability, refined in its comfort, and dependable in its engineering. For us, delivering a strong product was only one part of the commitment and ensuring complete peace-of-mind in ownership was equally important. With the 5-5-5 programme, we have built structured, long-term assurance into the proposition from day one. This reflects our customer-first philosophy and our confidence in the Majestor as a true full-size SUV engineered for Indian conditions and usage patterns.”

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Hyundai Motor India (HMIL), one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has launched the new Hyundai Verna, featuring over 25 updates to its design, technology and safety systems at prices starting INR 1.09 million.

The sedan remains the longest and widest in its segment, with a wheelbase of 2,670 mm and a width of 1,765 mm.

The exterior receives a black chrome radiator grille, dual LED projector headlamps and 16-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels. Both front and rear bumpers have been redesigned for a more modern appearance.

Inside, the cabin features a D-cut steering wheel and leatherette upholstery. The dashboard houses a dual-display setup comprising a 10.25-inch infotainment screen and a 10.25-inch digital cluster.

It also gets 8-way electric driver seat with memory and 4-way electric passenger seat. Bose premium sound system with eight speakers. 528-litre boot space with a hands-free ‘Smart Trunk’ function. Rear window sunshades and a switchable controller for infotainment and climate settings.

The Verna is equipped with Hyundai Bluelink, offering 70 connected features such as remote lamp control and vehicle tracking. The vehicle supports over 350 voice commands and includes wireless smartphone integration.

The sedan is available with two petrol engine options:

• 1.5-litre MPi Petrol: Available with a 6-speed manual or Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT).
• 1.5-litre Turbo GDi Petrol: Produces 117.5 kW (160 PS) and 253 Nm of torque, paired with a 6-speed manual or 7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT).

In terms of safety, it gets 7 airbags and Hyundai SmartSense Level 2 ADAS, which provides 20 autonomous features. Standard safety equipment includes 6 airbags, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and Hill Start Assist Control (HAC).

Additional safety features include:

• Surround View Monitor: Provides a 360-degree view around the vehicle.
• Blind Spot View Monitor: Displays camera feeds in the digital cluster.
• Integrated Dashcam: First-in-segment factory-fitted recording device.
• Braking: All-wheel disc brakes and Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Hold.

Tarun Garg, Managing Director & CEO, Hyundai Motor India, said, “The new Hyundai Verna is more than a product upgrade, it is a statement. In a market that often shifts towards trends, we remain committed to engineering excellence and driving purity. The new Hyundai Verna represents the essence of what a true car should be - stable, safe, performance-driven and premium. The new Hyundai Verna is crafted for customers who seek refinement without compromise and performance without limits. With its bold design, advanced safety and exhilarating performance, the new Hyundai Verna strengthens Hyundai’s commitment to delivering world-class technology and unmatched value to Indian customers.

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