FY2026 was a record-breaking fiscal year for the Indian passenger vehicle market, primarily thanks to the GST reforms in September. Sales surged 13 percent over the preceding 12 months, and there was a hefty rejig in the top 10 rankings. Moreover, FY2026 marked the first time that all models in the top three clocked over 2 lakh units each. Without further ado, let’s see which 10 cars sold during this period.
- Wagon R recorded the steepest sales decline
- Creta experienced sales growth despite increased competition
- Nexon benefited massively from GST cuts
1. Maruti Suzuki Dzire
2,29,130 units sold
In a market that has increasingly favoured SUVs over the past decade, the triumph of a sedan on the sales charts is rather astounding. Introduced in late 2024, the current-gen Dzire emerged as the sales champion for the prior fiscal year, leaping from ninth place in FY2025 to the very summit with a whopping 39 percent year-on-year (YoY) surge.
Like the Ertiga, though, the Dzire is a hot commodity among fleet operators, who could account for over half of the compact sedan’s FY2026 sales numbers. Still, there’s no question that the Dzire is effectively outselling the entire sedan segment in the Indian mass market.
2. Tata Nexon
2,16,054 units sold
Arguably, the biggest beneficiary of the 2025 GST reform is the Tata Nexon, whose price dropped by up to Rs 1.55 lakh in FY2026, skyrocketing its popularity. Over 2.15 lakh units of this compact SUV were sold in FY2026, a substantial 32 percent YoY growth. The Nexon wasn’t even part of the FY2025 sales rankings.
This performance is even more impressive considering that the Nexon is nearly a decade old and rivals much newer models. After all, the Nexon has powertrain variety in its corner, offering petrol, diesel, CNG and even electric options (Nexon EV), not to mention it’s well-equipped, spacious and boasts excellent safety credentials.
3. Hyundai Creta
2,01,921 units sold
While the midsize SUV space heated up quite a bit in the latter half of FY2026 with the introduction of the new Tata Sierra, Kia Seltos, Renault Duster and Skoda Kushaq, the long-running segment leader, the Hyundai Creta, didn’t move an inch on the sales rankings, while its sales increased 4 percent YoY.
However, it would be interesting to see if Hyundai’s bread-and-butter SUV will be impacted as its newly launched rivals hit their sales stride during FY2027. While the Creta is not expected to lose its years-long sales dominance, competing midsize SUVs could draw a chunk of prospective buyers away from it. Moreover, Hyundai is readying the next-gen Creta in response, and it could debut towards the end of FY2027.
4. Maruti Suzuki Ertiga
1,98,876 units sold
Not only does the Ertiga retain its fourth place, but it also remains the only MPV in the FY2026 rankings. The Ertiga, whose sales grew 4 percent, was less than 1,200 units shy of the 2 lakh mark.
It’s worth noting that fleet sales account for a substantial chunk of the Ertiga’s overall numbers. That said, the MPV is spacious, reliable and relatively easy on the pocket thanks to its 1.5-litre petrol and CNG engine options, both of which come paired with a 5-speed manual as standard. The petrol Ertiga is also offered with a 6-speed torque-converter automatic in higher variants.
5. Maruti Suzuki Swift
1,85,350 units sold
The Swift is the only hatchback to have risen in the FY2026 sales rankings – it placed sixth in the previous fiscal year. While the Swift is positioned between the Wagon R and the Baleno, it outsold them by over 5,000 and 12,000 units, respectively, and recorded a 3 percent uptick in sales.
Launched in 2024, the current-gen Swift improves upon its predecessors in every way but one: its new Z12E 1.2-litre 3-cylinder engine is very fuel-efficient but lacks the punch of the prior 1.2-litre 4-cylinder mill. Nevertheless, the Swift is an excellent option for those seeking a well-equipped, nimble and frugal daily commuter under Rs 10 lakh.
6. Tata Punch
1,83,980 units sold
Tata’s entry-level SUV, the Punch, which ranked just behind the Wagon R in the FY2025 sales chart, now ranks just ahead of it. However, the Punch has dropped four positions in FY2026 with a 6 percent sales dip. In fact, the Punch was outsold by the Nexon, which is positioned in a segment above.
This can be attributed to the Nexon being larger, offering stronger engines and more features and scoring higher on the aspiration front, all while overlapping with the Punch in terms of pricing – even more so after the GST 2.0. Tata launched the Punch facelift in January 2026, adding the Nexon’s 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine to the line-up of 1.2-litre petrol and CNG powertrains. The update also introduced revised styling and more features.
7. Maruti Suzuki Wagon R
1,80,134 units sold
The Wagon R ruled the sales charts from FY2022 to FY2025, but in the previous fiscal year, the pattern finally broke. Maruti’s venerable tall-boy hatchback tumbled from the zenith to seventh place, recording a 9 percent fall in sales, both declines being the steepest on this list.
Part of the reason for the Wagon R’s performance slump is the broader shift towards SUVs at virtually every price point in the mass market, egged on by the GST price drops. The current Wagon R is also a bit long in the tooth, with the hatchback now entering its seventh year on sale. Still, the Wagon R’s frugal 1.0-litre and 1.2-litre petrol engines (the latter can be had in CNG form too) and spacious cabin make it a good city commuter.
8. Maruti Suzuki Brezza
1,80,104 units sold
Not only did Brezza’s sales decrease 5 percent, but the compact SUV fell three positions from fifth in the FY2025 chart. Among the reasons for this drop is the Brezza’s inability to leverage the GST cuts as much as rivals such as the Tata Nexon – a consequence of its 1.5-litre petrol engine, which places it outside the small-car tax bracket.
Then, there’s the matter of growing competition in the compact SUV segment. Existing rivals like the Kia Sonet and Mahindra XUV 3XO received variant rejigs in FY2026, and fresh contenders like the Skoda Kylaq and new-gen Hyundai Venue attracted a lot of attention too. Maruti Suzuki is expected to launch a Brezza facelift this year, which could use the Fronx’s 1.0-litre Boosterjet engine to qualify for the small-car tax bracket and achieve a lower price point.
9. Mahindra Scorpio N + Scorpio Classic
1,78,800 units sold
Mahindra clubs the Scorpio N and Scorpio Classic sales figures, and in FY2026, their tally rose by 8 percent. This bumped the Scorpio pair a notch in the sales chart – it ranked 10th in FY2025 – cementing the duo as India’s most popular ladder-frame cars. Notably, the Scorpio N is Mahindra’s second most expensive ICE model and the most expensive car on this list, priced from Rs 13.49 lakh to Rs 24.95 lakh.
The Scorpio Classic comes only with a 2.2-litre diesel MT powertrain, while the Scorpio N is available with 2.0-litre turbo-petrol and 2.2-litre diesel engines, both sold with manual and automatic options. The Scorpio N diesel can be had with 4x4 too.
10. Maruti Suzuki Baleno
1,72,560 units sold
While the Baleno’s sales grew 3 percent YoY, the hatchback slipped from seventh place in FY2025 to 10th. Regardless, the Baleno remains the only premium hatchback (and Maruti’s only Nexa model) to rank among the top sellers, besting rivals like the Hyundai i20 and Tata Altroz.
It’s offered with a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated engine in petrol and CNG guises, with a 5-speed manual gearbox as standard. Petrol Baleno variants are also available with an AMT gearbox.
All prices are ex-showroom, India.
Dhruv Dhaka
Glenn Noronha
Dipan Sur
Uday Singh
