FY2026 was a record-breaking fiscal year for the Indian passenger vehicle market, primarily thanks to the GST reform last September. Overall year-on-year (YoY) growth is pegged at 13 percent, and the top 10 rankings experienced a hefty rejig. Moreover, FY2026 marked the first time that the top three bestsellers all sold over 2 lakh units. Without further ado, let’s see which 10 cars sold the most in FY2026.
- Wagon R recorded steepest sales decline
- Creta experienced sales growth despite increased competition
- Nexon benefitted 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 is the sales champion for the prior fiscal year, leaping all the way from 9th place in FY2025 to the very summit in FY2026, registering a whopping 39 percent YoY surge in the process.
Like the Ertiga, though, the Dzire is a hot commodity among fleet operators, which may make up 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, the Tata Nexon price dropped by up to Rs 1.55 lakh in FY2026, skyrocketing the compact SUV’s popularity. Throughout the entirety of FY2026, the Nexon surpassed 2.15 lakh units sold and experienced staggering YoY growth of 32 percent. The Nexon wasn't even part of the FY2025 sales rankings.
This performance is even more impressive considering the Nexon is nearly a decade old and rivals much newer compact SUVs. However, the Nexon has powertrain variety in its corner, offering petrol, diesel, CNG, and even electric options (Nexon EV). Moreover, the compact SUV is 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 owing to 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 chart. In fact, Creta sales increased by 4 percent YoY in FY2026.
However, as the Creta’s newly-launched rivals hit their sales stride during FY2027, it should be interesting to see if Hyundai’s bread-and-butter SUV will be impacted. 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. However, 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 in 4th place ranking from FY2025, it also remains the only MPV in the FY2026 rankings. The Ertiga was less than 1,200 units shy of the 2 lakh sold mark, and experienced YoY growth of 4 percent.
It’s worth noting that fleet sales comprise 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 get a 5-speed manual as standard. The petrol Ertiga is additionally offered with a 6-speed torque converter 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 6th in FY2025. While the Swift is positioned between the Wagon R and Baleno, it outsold them by over 5,000 and 12,000 units, respectively, and recorded a 3 percent YoY 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, which 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, ranked just behind the Wagon R in the FY2025 sales chart, and now ranks just ahead. However, the Punch dropped four positions in FY2026 and underwent a 6 percent YoY sales dip. In fact, the Punch was outsold by the Nexon, which is positioned a segment higher.
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 reform. Tata launched a Punch facelift in January 2026, which offers the Nexon’s 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine alongside the existing 1.2-litre petrol and CNG powertrains, as well as 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 slipped all the way from the zenith to 7th place in FY2026 and recorded a 9 percent decline in sales – both being the steepest on this list.
Part of the reason behind 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 were Brezza sales down 5 percent YoY, the compact SUV fell three positions from its 5th place ranking in the FY2025 chart. Among the reasons for this drop is the Brezza not being able to leverage the GST cuts as much as rivals like the Tata Nexon – a consequence of the Brezza’s 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 thereby achieve a lower price point.
9. Mahindra Scorpio N + Scorpio Classic
1,78,800 units sold
Mahindra clubs Scorpio N and Scorpio Classic sales figures, and in FY2026, their combined tally rose by 8 percent YoY. This bumped the Scorpio pair a notch in the sales chart – it ranked 10th in FY2025 – cementing both 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 gets a sole 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 of which get manual and automatic options – the Scorpio N diesel can be had with 4x4 too.
10. Maruti Suzuki Baleno
1,72,560 units sold
While sales for the Baleno grew 3 percent YoY, the hatchback slipped from 7th place in FY2025 to 10th place on the FY2026 chart. 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.
Suraj Viswanathan
Dhruv Dhaka
Uday Singh
Glenn Noronha
Dipan Sur
