Big Market Shake-Up! Maruti Dzire Dethrones Tata Punch as India’s Best-Selling Car in 2025Maruti Dzire has reclaimed the top spot as India’s best-selling car in 2025, overtaking the Tata Punch as strong demand for affordable sedans continues.
Big Market Shake-Up! Maruti Dzire Dethrones Tata Punch as India’s Best-Selling Car in 2025
Maruti Dzire Emerges as India’s Best-Selling Car, Proving Sedans Still Matter
SUVs may dominate the spotlight, but sedans are making a strong comeback.
The Maruti Dzire has emerged as India’s best-selling car in 2025, overtaking the Tata Punch and proving that value-focused compact sedans still lead the market.
While SUVs continue to dominate headlines and showroom conversations, sedans are far from irrelevant in India. In fact, the past year has delivered a surprising twist. Defying market trends and expectations, the Maruti Dzire has climbed to the very top of India’s car sales charts, becoming the best-selling car in the country.
This achievement is especially noteworthy at a time when compact and midsize SUVs are widely considered the default choice for Indian buyers. The Dzire’s success shows that affordable, fuel-efficient sedans still have a strong place in the market, particularly in the sub-4 metre segment.
Dzire Now Maruti Suzuki’s Only Sedan
With the mid-size Maruti Ciaz discontinued last year, the Dzire is now the only sedan in Maruti Suzuki’s portfolio. Despite this, it has managed to outperform every other passenger vehicle in India — including several popular SUVs.
Just a year earlier, Tata Motors had broken Maruti Suzuki’s four-decade-long streak of producing India’s best-selling car. The Tata Punch had taken the crown, creating a major shift in the market.
Now, Maruti Suzuki has reclaimed the top spot, and quite unexpectedly, it has done so with a sedan rather than an SUV.
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Strong Sales Numbers Tell the Story
Maruti Suzuki does not officially disclose model-wise sales figures. However, industry data indicates that around 2.14 lakh units of the Dzire were sold in 2025. This figure includes both private buyers and fleet customers, as the Dzire is also sold in a taxi-focused version known as the Maruti Tour S.
For comparison:
- Dzire sales in 2024 stood at around 1.61 lakh units
- Sales grew by 32.9 per cent year-on-year
- Average monthly sales were close to 17,800 units
These numbers clearly show that the Dzire’s popularity is not limited to a niche audience. It continues to attract private buyers, taxi operators and corporate fleets alike.
Fourth-Generation Dzire Played a Key Role
One of the biggest reasons behind the Dzire’s strong performance is its fourth-generation update, which was introduced in November 2024. This made 2025 the first full year of sales for the latest-generation model.
The redesign brought:
- A fresher and more modern exterior
- Improved cabin layout and features
- Better perceived quality
Alongside the new design, the Dzire also received a major pricing advantage. In September 2024, the GST rate on the Dzire was reduced from 29 per cent to 18 per cent, making it significantly more affordable. This tax cut played a crucial role in boosting demand across both private and commercial segments.
Outperforming Popular SUVs
What makes the Dzire’s achievement even more impressive is the competition it beat. The sedan managed to outsell high-demand SUVs such as:
- Hyundai Creta
- Tata Nexon
These SUVs are considered some of the strongest performers in their respective segments. The Dzire overtaking them suggests that value, fuel efficiency and affordability still strongly influence buying decisions, especially in price-sensitive markets.
This performance could push rival manufacturers to rethink their sedan strategies. Brands like Hyundai and Tata may now pay more attention to their sub-4 metre sedans — the Hyundai Aura and Tata Tigor — to regain lost ground.
Competition in the Sub-4 Metre Sedan Segment
The Dzire is not without competition. Honda continues to sell the Honda Amaze, offering both second- and third-generation models side by side.
However, none of these rivals have managed to match the Dzire’s combination of:
- Pricing
- Fuel efficiency
- Brand trust
- Extensive service network
These factors have helped Maruti Suzuki maintain a clear advantage in this space.
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Engine, Transmission and Efficiency
Maruti Suzuki offers the Dzire with its Z12E 1.2-litre three-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine. The car is available in:
- Petrol variant
- Petrol-CNG bi-fuel variant
Engine output:
- Petrol mode: 80 bhp and 111.7 Nm of torque
- CNG mode: 69 bhp and 101.8 Nm of torque
Customers can choose between:
- 5-speed manual transmission
- 5-speed automated manual transmission (AMT)
It is important to note that the AMT option is offered only with the petrol variant.
Fuel efficiency figures:
- Petrol MT: 24.79 km/l
- Petrol AMT: 25.71 km/l
- CNG mode: 33.73 km/kg
These efficiency numbers remain one of the strongest selling points of the Dzire.
Pricing Makes It Even More Attractive
The Dzire’s pricing is another key reason behind its success.
Maruti Dzire prices (ex-showroom):
- Starts at ₹6.25 lakh
- Goes up to ₹9.31 lakh
Maruti Tour S prices (ex-showroom):
- ₹6.23 lakh
- ₹7.09 lakh
This aggressive pricing allows the Dzire to appeal to a wide range of buyers, from first-time car owners to fleet operators.
What Dzire’s Success Means for the Market
The Dzire’s rise to the top proves that sedans are not dead in India, especially in the sub-4 metre category. While SUVs may dominate premium and midsize segments, compact sedans continue to offer:
- Better fuel efficiency
- Lower ownership costs
- Comfortable city driving
For Maruti Suzuki, the Dzire has once again become a pillar of its sales strategy, helping the brand reclaim its leadership position in the Indian car market.
Final Thoughts
The Maruti Dzire’s return to the top of India’s sales charts is a reminder that market trends are not always absolute. With the right pricing, efficient engines and a strong brand image, sedans can still outperform SUVs.
As competition intensifies, the Dzire has set a benchmark that rivals will now try hard to match.
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