10 BIG hit cars & SUVs in the last one year

In the last year or so, there have been 10 BIG hit car and SUV launches in India. Today, we check them out and find out the reasons for their success.

Maruti Baleno

A big hit right from word go, the Maruti Baleno beat the segment leading Hyundai Elite i20 within months of its launch. Maruti’s export strategy has meant that the Baleno’s production for India has been curtailed. This has allowed the i20 Elite to edge ahead in terms of sales. However, the Baleno is still a very formidable package for the premium hatchback buyer in India. The car has raced to over 100,000 bookings in less than 8 months of launch.

Why’s it selling?

1. Brilliant value-for-money.
2. Standard safety features.
3. Light, peppy and fuel efficient.

Hyundai Creta

The Creta has achieved sales numbers that no other compact or full-sized SUV has ever managed in India. The compact SUV has done 7,000-8,000 monthly units consistently and has been Hyundai’s biggest hit in recent times. Demand for the Creta (launched in July 2015) continues to be high, and Hyundai is sitting on a mammoth order book of over 1.1 lakh units. This, despite a high price tag.

Why’s it selling?

1. One of the best looking compact SUVs.
2. Powerful and fast
3. Great interiors

Mahindra KUV100

With the unconventional KUV100, Mahindra aimed at the likes of the Maruti Swift and Hyundai Grand i10, and the Indian automaker has pulled it off. The KUV100, India’s first micro SUV, is a strong seller, doing about 5,000 units a month. In fact, the KUV is one of Mahindra’s biggest successes in recent years, and is also the first petrol powered vehicle the automaker has launched in many years.

Why’s it selling?

1. Value-for-money
2. 6 seats and feature loaded
3. Good street presence

Maruti Vitara Brezza

Maruti’s been a late entrant to the compact SUV segment but the automaker has managed to make a BIG splash. The Vitara Brezza is selling like hot cakes and could soon overtake the Creta to be India’s best selling SUV. A sub-4 meter offering, the Brezza has just gone past the 7,000 unit monthly mark in just the second month of its launch. And the order book is constantly

Why’s it selling?

1. Great value-for-money
2. Good looks that appeal to all
3. Very practical

Renault Kwid

The Kwid is not just a big hit for Renault; It’s a MASSIVE hit, and one that has propelled the French automaker to fifth place in the top-ten list of automakers operating in India. Within a week of the Kwid’s launch, Renault got 50,000 bookings and that number has swollen to more than 1.25 lakh. And more variants are lined up in the coming months.

Why’s it selling?

1. Shock pricing
2. Muscular styling
3. Best-in-class features

Continued below: 10 BIG hit cars & SUVs in the last one year