Maruti moves into micro‑SUVs

Maruti Suzuki is preparing a new entry-level sport utility vehicle for India’s micro-SUV market as the Ignis heads for the exit. (fortuneindia.com) Fortune India reported on April 20 that the new model is being developed to take on the Tata Punch and Hyundai Exter, with a likely ex-showroom price band of ₹6 lakh to ₹10 lakh. The report said Maruti is considering an initial petrol-only launch, with a factory-fitted compressed natural gas version to follow. (fortuneindia.com) The same report said the vehicle could share platform and powertrain bits with existing Maruti models and may use the company’s 1.2-litre petrol engine. It also said Maruti is still deciding whether to sell the model through its Arena network or the Nexa channel. (fortuneindia.com) The timing follows reports that Ignis production has stopped after a long sales slide. The Economic Times said on April 16 that February 2026 Ignis sales fell to 1,902 units from 3,780 a year earlier, and that Maruti had not publicly confirmed the discontinuation at that point. (economictimes.indiatimes.com) Maruti’s own sales mix has been moving toward utility vehicles. In FY2025, utility vehicles made up a record 41% of Maruti Suzuki’s passenger-vehicle sales, while strong sport utility vehicle sales helped offset an 8% decline in hatchbacks and its lone sedan, according to Autocar Professional’s analysis of company data. (autocarpro.in) The company kept that momentum into the new fiscal year. Maruti said on April 1 that March 2026 domestic sales reached 169,428 units and total sales hit 225,251, with FY2025-26 totals of 2,422,713 vehicles and domestic sales of 1,861,704, both company records. (marutisuzuki.com) The target segment is no niche. Tata’s Punch became India’s best-selling sport utility vehicle in FY2025 with 196,567 units, edging the Hyundai Creta by 1,696 units, according to Autocar Professional. (autocarpro.in) Hyundai has kept investing there too. Hyundai Motor India refreshed the Exter on March 20, 2026, priced from ₹5,79,900, and said the model had already won more than 200,000 customers since its debut. (hyundai.com) That leaves Maruti trying to replace a 2017 city hatchback with a taller, tougher-looking vehicle aimed at buyers who want SUV styling at small-car prices. If the company proceeds on the reported plan, the next fight in India’s entry market will be less about hatchbacks and more about who owns the lowest rung of the SUV ladder. (economictimes.indiatimes.com)