Hyundai Creta Emerges as the Only SUV in India’s Top 10 Used Cars as Hatchbacks Continue to Dominate Market

The report identifies this as one of the most significant contrasts in India’s evolving used car market. Compact SUVs are steadily gaining momentum, but they continue to remain secondary to hatchbacks in overall transaction volume. The Creta’s appearance at number nine reflects the rising aspiration for premium vehicles, though it has not yet disrupted the long-standing dominance of practical and affordable hatchbacks.

The top 10 rankings continue to be overwhelmingly led by hatchbacks. The Maruti Swift holds the leading position with a 4.93 percent share, followed by the Wagon R at 3.47 percent and the Hyundai i10 at 3.46 percent. The Honda City occupies fourth place, while the Swift Dzire ranks fifth. The Baleno takes sixth position, followed by the Grand i10 in seventh and the Elite i20 in eighth. The Hyundai Creta appears at ninth position, while the Renault Kwid completes the list in tenth place.

Out of the top 10 vehicles, seven are hatchbacks and two are sedans, underlining the continued strength of compact and economical vehicles in India’s resale market. According to the report, hatchbacks remain the backbone of the used car industry because of their reliability, lower running costs, ease of maintenance and practical usability. These qualities continue to drive resale demand, even as consumer aspirations shift toward larger and feature-rich vehicles.

The Hyundai Creta’s breakthrough into the top 10 reflects its unique position in the market. The report also places the Creta among India’s leading premium used cars, alongside models such as the Honda City, Tata Nexon and Elite i20. This indicates a growing appetite among buyers for vehicles equipped with advanced features, enhanced safety technology and stronger brand credibility.

The report highlights that the premium used car segment is increasingly being influenced by factors such as feature-rich interiors, safety credentials and consumer trust in established brands. The Creta, which has consistently remained one of India’s highest-selling new SUVs, has successfully translated its strong brand recognition and widespread ownership base into significant resale demand.

The report also raises a critical question regarding the absence of more SUVs from the top rankings despite the category’s rapid growth. Data shows that SUV market share in the used car sector rose from 15 percent in 2023 to 19 percent in 2024 and then sharply increased to 32 percent in 2025. During the same period, sedan share declined from 28 percent to 16 percent, confirming a major structural shift in buyer preference.

However, the report explains that the used car market operates on delayed supply cycles. Vehicles sold as new cars typically enter the resale market only after several years of ownership. As a result, the recent surge in new SUV purchases has not yet fully translated into large-scale SUV availability in the used car segment. The report further notes that average selling prices are being pushed upward due to supply constraints involving lightly used and recent model-year vehicles. Demand for used SUVs is therefore advancing faster than available supply.

The findings present a balanced picture of India’s automotive transition. While SUVs continue to dominate headlines and record strong growth, hatchbacks still account for 52 percent of total used car volumes. Sedans hold a 16 percent share, while SUVs account for 32 percent of the market overall despite only one model entering the top 10 list.

The Gears of Growth 2025 report ultimately captures a market positioned between aspiration and practicality. The rapid rise of SUVs suggests that more such vehicles are likely to enter the top rankings in the coming years as current new-car buyers enter the resale cycle. At the same time, the enduring dominance of hatchbacks demonstrates that affordability, efficiency and practicality remain the defining pillars of India’s used car market. For now, the Hyundai Creta stands as the only SUV to successfully bridge these two realities.