Delhi — With the festive season in full swing, CarDekho Group’s latest Festive Trend report reveals that SUVs are steering ahead in the auto market, recording a massive 43% year-over-year (YoY) increase in consumer interest. This rise underscores a trend among Indian buyers increasingly favoring SUVs over other vehicle types. The report, which evaluates pre-festive traffic trends between April and September, highlights a robust consumer shift towards SUVs across demographics, with compact, executive, and mid-size models leading the charge.
The mass SUV segment, covering mainstream models, accounted for a remarkable 63% of total platform traffic, up from 50% last year. Compact SUVs, especially sub-4-meter models, remained the most popular within the SUV family, showing a 37% YoY growth. This surge in compact SUV popularity can be attributed to a narrowing price gap with hatchbacks, making them accessible to a wider range of buyers.
In the premium SUV sector, executive SUVs experienced the highest growth, boasting a 47% YoY increase and lifting their share of total traffic from 15% to 19%. Meanwhile, midsize SUVs also saw a significant uptick, growing by 31% YoY, adding further to the SUV momentum.
While SUVs took the lead, the mass-market hatchback segment also saw a 28% YoY growth, primarily driven by a 31% rise in traffic for premium hatchbacks. This growth was offset by a 22% decline in interest for micro hatchbacks, signaling a shift toward larger, feature-rich models in the small car category.
Interestingly, sedans reported the lowest growth rate among all body types, showing an 18% YoY increase and holding steady at 15% of overall traffic. Nonetheless, premium sedans posted an impressive 65% YoY growth, though they accounted for a minimal share of total site traffic.
“SUVs continue to resonate with consumers for their versatility, driving comfort, and adaptability to various needs,” noted Mayank Jain, CEO of New Auto (CarDekho Group). “Compact SUVs, in particular, are balancing practicality with performance, a combination that appeals to the evolving preferences of Indian consumers. The festive season’s buying trends reflect a maturing market where consumers demand more sophisticated offerings, pushing automakers to innovate continually.”
Luxury brands, although attracting a 17% YoY increase in interest, still occupy a modest share of total platform traffic, with mass-market segments drawing the majority of consumer attention. CarDekho’s insights further highlight that compact SUVs alone recorded close to 50,000 units in September 2024, with two models surpassing 10,000 units each, reflecting the heightened demand leading up to Diwali.
CarDekho’s report paints a clear picture: the SUV remains king of the festive road, attracting a diverse group of buyers and fueling a competitive landscape. With continued launches and a range of options in fuel types and features, SUVs are likely to maintain their dominance well into the next fiscal year.
