4.5 m to 4.8 m SUV Sales January 2026 – Scorpio, XUV 7XO, Harrier, Fortuner, Safari, XEV 9e, Alcazar

January 2026 saw intense rivalry in the 4.5 m–4.8 m SUV arena, with the Mahindra Scorpio and XUV 7XO battling the Tata Harrier, Toyota Fortuner, Safari, BYD XEV 9e, and Hyundai Alcazar for dominance.

By CarBike360 Editorial

1.38k

Feb 21, 2026 05:29 am IST

Mahindra Scorpio front view

The 4.5 m to 4.8 m SUV segment in India experienced significant growth in January 2026, with total sales reaching 39,030 units. This represents a 16.82% year-on-year (YoY) increase compared to 33,409 units sold in January 2025. On a month-on-month (MoM) basis, the segment saw a notable 34.35% rise from 29,052 units sold in December 2025. Mahindra maintained its leadership in this category, while Tata Motors also posted strong gains, particularly with its Harrier and Safari models.

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Key Highlights

4.5 m–4.8 m SUV Segment Sees Robust Growth in January 2026. The 4.5 m to 4.8 m SUV segment in India experienced significant growth in January 2026, with total sales reaching 39,030 units.
This represents a 16.82% year-on-year (YoY) increase compared to 33,409 units sold in January 2025.
On a month-on-month (MoM) basis, the segment saw a notable 34.35% rise from 29,052 units sold in December 2025.
Mahindra maintained its leadership in this category, while Tata Motors also posted strong gains, particularly with its Harrier and Safari models. This segment's performance highlights the growing consumer preference for larger SUVs, driven by new model launches, updated variants, and the increasing availability of electric vehicle (EV) options.

This segment's performance highlights the growing consumer preference for larger SUVs, driven by new model launches, updated variants, and the increasing availability of electric vehicle (EV) options.

Brand-Wise and Model-Wise Performance Overview

Mahindra Leads with Scorpio and XUV 7XO

Mahindra continued its dominance in the segment. The Mahindra Scorpio/Scorpio N secured the top position with 15,542 units sold in January 2026, reflecting a marginal 0.65% YoY increase over 15,442 units in January 2025. However, compared to December 2025, sales dipped slightly by 2.16% from 15,885 units.

The Mahindra XUV 7XO ranked second, recording 10,133 units in January 2026. This model posted a robust 20.65% YoY growth from 8,399 units in January 2025. Month-on-month, the XUV 7XO saw a dramatic surge of 611.59%, up from 1,424 units in December 2025, indicating a strong market response possibly due to recent updates or increased production.

Mahindra’s electric offerings also gained traction. The XEV 9e registered 1,945 units, marking a 71.06% YoY increase. The XEV 9S added 612 units to Mahindra’s total in this segment for January 2026.

Also Read: Top 10 cheapest 7-seater cars in India

Tata Motors Shows Strong Growth with Harrier and Safari

Tata Harrier

Tata Motors delivered one of the strongest performances in the segment. The Tata Harrier and its electric variant (Harrier EV) achieved combined sales of 3,711 units in January 2026, representing a substantial 149.40% YoY growth from 1,488 units in January 2025. The Harrier also saw a 56.06% MoM increase over December 2025.

The Tata Safari continued this upward trend, with 2,375 units sold in January 2026. This reflects a 53.42% YoY rise and a 64.25% MoM increase, underscoring renewed consumer interest in Tata’s larger SUV offerings, especially with the introduction of updated models and electric options.

Performance of Other Key Models

No.	SUV Sales (4.5 m to 4.8 m)	January 2026	January 2025	YoY Growth%
1	Mahindra Scorpion/Scorpio N	15,542	15,442	0.65
2	Mahindra XUV 7XO	10,133	8,399	20.65
3	Tata Harrier/EV	3,711	1,488	149.40
4	Toyota Fortuner	3,046	3,149	-3.27
5	Tata Safari	2,375	1,584	53.24
6	Mahindra XEV 9e	1,945	1,137	71.06
7	Hyundai Alcazar	962	1,310	-26.56
8	Mahindra XEV 9S	612	0	N/A
9	MG Hector/Plus	334	449	-25.61
10	Skoda Kodiaq	139	10	1290.00
11	Jeep Compass	109	173	-36.99
12	Jeep Meridian	81	137	-40.88
13	Volkswagen Tiguan	34	1	3300.00
14	Volkswagen Tayron	5	1	400.00
15	Citroën C5 Aircross	2	0	N/A
16	Hyundai Tucson	0	64	-100.00
17	MG Gloster	0	101	-100.00

The Toyota Fortuner recorded 3,046 units sold in January 2026, a slight 3.27% YoY decline from 3,149 units in January 2025. However, MoM sales improved by 2.87% compared to December 2025, indicating stable demand for Toyota’s flagship SUV in this segment.

Hyundai’s Alcazar posted 962 units, down 26.56% YoY, but saw a significant 66.15% MoM improvement from 579 units in December 2025. MG’s Hector and Hector Plus combined for 334 units, reflecting a 25.61% YoY and 70.88% MoM decline.

Skoda Kodiaq, though lower in absolute volume, stood out with 139 units sold in January 2026—a remarkable 1,290% YoY increase from just 10 units in January 2025. Jeep’s Compass and Meridian models experienced YoY declines of 36.99% and 40.88%, respectively.

Volkswagen’s Tiguan saw a significant YoY jump, with 34 units sold in January 2026 compared to only 1 unit the previous year. The Volkswagen Tayron added 5 units to the brand’s tally. Meanwhile, Hyundai Tucson and MG Gloster reported zero sales for the month.

Also Read: Best SUVs in India Under 20 Lakhs in 2026

Outlook for the Segment

With a total of 39,030 units sold in January 2026, the 4.5m–4.8m SUV segment continues to play a crucial role in the Indian automotive market. The growth was primarily driven by Mahindra’s extensive lineup and Tata’s surging demand for the Harrier and Safari. The segment’s performance reflects evolving consumer preferences, with a notable shift toward larger SUVs and increasing acceptance of electric variants.

Conclusion

The 4.5 m–4.8 m SUV segment in January 2026 clearly proved how competitive India’s premium SUV market has become. With Mahindra’s Scorpio and XUV 7XO maintaining strong momentum, Tata’s Harrier and Safari holding their ground, and brands like Toyota and Hyundai keeping pressure, the SUV race is heating up like never before ahead of the upcoming fiscal quarter.