Maruti Suzuki’s refreshed Ciaz was launched late in August 2018 at Rs 8.19 lakh, with a new mild-hybrid 1.5-litre petrol engine, minor cosmetic changes and a longer equipment list. Now, the brand has announced that the key rival to the Honda City and the Hyundai Verna is the highest-selling sedan in its segment.
The Ciaz sold 6,246 units in September, which is significantly higher than the Honda City (2,564 units) and Hyundai Verna (3,501 units). During April-September, 2018, Maruti sold an estimated 24,015 units of the Ciaz (including the pre-facelift model) and has received over 10,000 bookings for the facelift model alone. For comparison, the Verna sold 21,992 units and the City recorded sales of 19,074 units during the same period. As a result, the Ciaz now accounts for 28.76 percent of the segment’s market share.
However, it should be noted that September was the first full month of sales for the Ciaz and sales of new models typically surge during the first few months. It will be interesting to see whether the Ciaz sustains its lead and manages to stay ahead of rivals in the coming months, as well.
Since the original model launched in India in 2014, Maruti Suzuki has sold a cumulative 2.34 lakh units. The Ciaz facelift debuted Maruti Suzuki’s new K15B engine, which replaced the older 1.4-litre engine and offered a segment-first mild-hybrid petrol engine. The 1.5-litre engine makes 105hp and 138Nm of peak torque, mated to either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed torque convertor automatic transmission. The previously available 90hp, 1.3-litre diesel motor with mild-hybrid tech continues unchanged.
Interestingly, Maruti said that 25 percent of Ciaz customers chose the new 'Nexa Blue' exterior colour for their sedan.
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Uday Singh
Suraj Viswanathan
