Maruti winds down production of Ignis

Maruti Suzuki has silently wound-up production of the Ignis hatchback, our dealer sources have indicated. Only a few dealers across the country still have limited stock of the hatchback, although most have stopped taking new orders. We reached out to Maruti Suzuki for an official statement, but the carmaker hasn’t responded at the time of writing this story. 

1. Ignis was first launched in 2017 with petrol and diesel engines 
2. Only received one mid-lifecycle facelift in 2020 
3. The Ignis was the most affordable model in Nexa lineup 

Why didn’t the Ignis click with Indian buyers?

The Ignis was first launched in January 2017 and was retailed through the brand’s Nexa channel. Despite its crossover-esque aesthetics which usually bode well with buyers, the Ignis failed to garner much interest. Sales of the hatchback peaked in 2022, with 51,176 units, but that was far lesser than the similarly priced Swift, for instance, which sold 1,76,424 units in the same period. The quirky styling was one of the reasons it didn’t really click with the Indian buyer.  

The carmaker, too, didn’t help its case much, having barely invested in upgrading the product through its lifecycle. In the 9 years it has been on sale in our market, the Ignis only saw one major update in the form of a mid-lifecycle facelift that was introduced in 2020, apart from a minor safety upgrade in 2019.

Ignis' crossover-esque design wasn't to everyone's taste (2017 Ignis pictured here).

In fact, it was one of just two Marutis still on sale, with two airbags (the other being S-Presso) even as the carmaker updated the rest of its lineup with 6 airbags through 2025. It was also one of the very few Maruti products that was never offered with a factory-fitted CNG kit. 

Maruti Suzuki Ignis sales through the years 

At launch, the Ignis was offered with two engine options: the 83hp, 1.2-litre K-series petrol and the 75hp, 1.3-litre DDiS diesel engine. The latter was, however, discontinued in 2018 due to low demand. Sales of the Ignis peaked in 2022 after the introduction of the facelift, but it has since been gradually declining. In the past few months, sales have dipped below the 2000-unit mark. 

The Ignis is still listed on Maruti’s website with prices ranging between Rs 5.35 lakh and Rs 7.55 lakh (ex-showroom). Just as it was at the time of its launch, the Ignis continues to be the most affordable model in the Nexa lineup. However, with very limited stocks remaining, availability may be an issue across the country. The Ignis’ fate seems very similar to that of the Ciaz, which too saw minimal updates and was gradually phased out.

Maruti is unlikely to revive the Ignis nameplate again, although it could find a spiritual successor in the upcoming Y43 sub-compact SUV that will be positioned as a direct rival to the likes of the Hyundai Exter and Tata Punch.