Creta’s a class apart as Hyundai’s SUV hits a 2 lakh high

MUMBAI: Some milestones roll in quietly. Others arrive with a full-beam glare. In 2025, the Hyundai Creta did the latter, clocking its highest-ever annual sales of 2 lakh units and underlining why it remains India’s most dependable mid-size SUV favourite.

The landmark translates to an average of 550 Cretas finding new homes every single day, a pace that reflects both the model’s enduring appeal and its iron grip on a fiercely competitive segment. A decade after it first rolled out, the Creta continues to lead the category it helped define, posting a healthy CAGR of over 9 percent between 2016 and 2025.

With a commanding market share of more than 34 percent in the mid-size SUV space, Creta has evolved from a strong launch success into a true household name across the country, maintaining pole position despite a flood of new entrants.

Commenting on the milestone Hyundai Motor India Limited managing director and CEO designate Tarun Garg said the achievement marked a defining chapter in the brand’s journey. He noted that Creta has also emerged as India’s highest-selling SUV on a cumulative basis between 2020 and 2025, driven by a rapidly expanding and increasingly diverse customer base.

That evolution is visible in the numbers. First-time buyers now account for 32 percent of Creta customers, up from 13 percent in 2020. Aspirations have climbed too, with sunroof-equipped variants contributing over 70 percent of sales in 2025, while diesel powertrains continue to hold a solid 44 percent share.

Since launch, Creta has topped the mid-size SUV sales charts every completed year, cementing its leadership in one of India’s most prestigious automotive battlegrounds. Its broad portfolio remains a key strength, spanning petrol, diesel, turbo-petrol and electric options across multiple transmissions, giving buyers flexibility without compromise.

A decade on, Creta’s story is no longer just about numbers. It is about consistency, trust and an ability to move with changing tastes while staying firmly in the lead lane.