Significant Growth in 4.5 to 5 Metre SUV Sales in August 2026

Sales figures for August 2026 indicate a remarkable increase in the 4.5 to 5 metre SUV category, with a total of 43,054 units sold. This represents a growth of 65.5% compared to the same period last year, when only 26,014 units were recorded. The current figures also show a monthly increase of 5.59% from July's 40,774 units sold.

This category encompasses a wide range of vehicles, including family SUVs, electric models, monocoque SUVs, and larger ladder-frame offerings. Notably, the MG Majestor, which measures 5,046 millimetres, is included in this grouping. Although it slightly surpasses the upper limit of the segment, it competes directly with the Toyota Fortuner and has recently replaced the Gloster in MG's offering.

Leading the category in sales is the Mahindra Scorpio family, which includes both the Scorpio Classic and Scorpio N models. Together, they recorded 15,576 units in August, marking a year-on-year growth of 58.29% from 9,840 units. The Scorpio family accounted for 36.18% of the overall sales in this segment, although it experienced a slight decline of 2.70% compared to July.

Following the Scorpio, the Mahindra XUV7XO came in second place with 8,541 units sold, reflecting an impressive year-on-year increase of 72.34%. The electric model, XEV 9S, secured the third position with 4,508 units sold, showcasing a growth of 9.13% from the previous month. In addition, the XEV 9e model contributed another 2,001 units, down 13.49% year-over-year but up 11.60% month-on-month. In total, Mahindra's SUVs accounted for 30,626 units, capturing a significant 71.13% of the tracked segment.

Among other models in the family SUV category, the Tata Harrier and Harrier EV combined for 3,577 units sold, an increase of 15.87% compared to last year and 8.36% sequentially. The Tata Safari also performed well, with total sales of 1,953 units. This marks a 31.16% increase annually and a remarkable 34.41% rise month-on-month, with further boosts expected from the upcoming launch of its electric version.

The MG Hector and Hector Plus saw a notable rise in sales, reaching 1,177 units sold. This figure represents more than a threefold increase from the August 2025 total of 379 units and a 65.08% improvement from July's 713 units. Conversely, the Hyundai Alcazar experienced a decline, with sales falling by 27.89% year-on-year to 856 units.

The Toyota Fortuner recorded strong performance, selling 3,504 units, which is a 39.71% increase year-on-year and 9.88% from the previous month. In contrast, the newly introduced MG Majestor fell slightly behind, with 602 units sold, down 3.53% from July.

The Kia Sorento marked its debut in the market with 365 units, reflecting dealer dispatches ahead of its September launch. This model offers both diesel and hybrid options, further expanding choices in the premium SUV segment. Other models such as the Skoda Kodiaq and Jeep Compass recorded 115 and 114 units sold respectively, both showing year-on-year growth.

The month of August demonstrated not only a rise in market demand for SUVs but also a concentration of sales with Mahindra controlling a substantial share of the overall volumes. While many premium SUVs remain niche, the broader array of vehicle options indicates continued investments by manufacturers in this category. Future expansions are expected with the upcoming launches, including the MG Hector Tomahawk electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid models, which are anticipated to further shape the market landscape for SUVs in India and beyond.