India’s larger SUV market delivered a strong performance in August 2026, with the broad 4.5–5m SUV Sales category recording 43,054 units. This was a 65.50% year-on-year increase over 26,014 units in August 2025, while sales were also up 5.59% from July 2026. The numbers show strong demand across conventional petrol and diesel SUVs as well as newer electric models.
However, this 4.5–5m SUV Sales grouping should not be treated as a list of direct rivals. It brings together mainstream family SUVs, electric SUVs, premium monocoque models and ladder-frame SUVs. The MG Majestor is also included despite measuring 5,046 mm, as it competes directly with larger SUVs such as the Toyota Fortuner.
Scorpio Family Leads With 15,576 Units
The biggest sales number came from the Mahindra Scorpio family, which combines the Scorpio Classic and Scorpio N. Together, the two models recorded 15,576 units in August 2026, compared with 9,840 units in August 2025. That represents 58.29% YoY growth, although monthly sales declined 2.70% from July’s 16,009 units.
The combined Scorpio figure accounted for approximately 36.18% of the tracked 4.5–5m category in August. This makes the Scorpio nameplate the largest volume contributor in this particular broad grouping, despite the presence of several newer SUVs and electric models.
The sales performance also highlights the continued demand for the Scorpio’s rugged SUV formula. The Scorpio Classic and Scorpio N cater to somewhat different buyers, but their combined monthly volume gives Mahindra a substantial presence in the larger SUV market.
XUV 7XO Posts 72.34% YoY Growth
The Mahindra XUV 7XO recorded 8,541 units in August 2026, compared with 4,956 units in August 2025. This translates into an impressive 72.34% year-on-year growth, while monthly sales increased 3.74% from July’s 8,233 units.
The XUV 7XO’s result is particularly notable because it gives Mahindra another high-volume entry in the same broad size grouping. While the Scorpio family is positioned around a more rugged SUV character, the XUV 7XO focuses strongly on family-oriented practicality, technology and three-row usability.
With more than 8,500 units in a single month, the XUV 7XO also represents a major part of the overall category volume. Its 72.34% annual growth was higher than the Scorpio family’s 58.29% increase during the same period.
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XEV 9S Adds 4,508 Electric SUV Sales
Mahindra’s electric portfolio added another major number through the XEV 9S, which registered 4,508 units in August 2026. As the model had no August 2025 sales base in the reported data, a conventional YoY percentage is not available. Compared with July, however, its sales increased by 9.13% from 4,131 units.
The XEV 9S is important to the August sales picture because it demonstrates the growing contribution of electric SUVs within the larger-SUV space. Mahindra’s other dedicated electric SUV, the XEV 9e, added another 2,001 units during the month, although its sales were down 13.49% year-on-year and up 11.60% month-on-month.
Together, the XEV 9S and XEV 9e recorded 6,509 units in August. When these two models are combined with the Scorpio family and XUV 7XO, Mahindra’s four entries accounted for 30,626 units, or approximately 71.13% of the tracked category volume.
4.5–5m SUV Sales August 2026: Key Numbers
| SUV / Model Group | Aug 2026 4.5–5m SUV Sales | YoY Growth | MoM Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mahindra Scorpio Classic + Scorpio N | 15,576 | +58.29% | -2.70% |
| Mahindra XUV 7XO | 8,541 | +72.34% | +3.74% |
| Mahindra XEV 9S | 4,508 | New | +9.13% |
| Tata Harrier + Harrier EV | 3,577 | +15.87% | +8.36% |
| Toyota Fortuner | 3,504 | +39.71% | +9.88% |
| Tata Safari | 1,953 | +31.16% | +34.41% |
| MG Hector + Hector Plus | 1,177 | More than 3X YoY | +65.08% |
| MG Majestor | 602 | New | -3.53% |
| Kia Sorento | 365 | New | New |
The grouping is a broad market-size comparison rather than a direct-rival classification. Some figures combine closely related nameplates or powertrain versions. The MG Majestor measures 5,046 mm but is included because of its competitive positioning in the larger SUV space.
Harrier and Fortuner Remain Close in August
The Tata Harrier and Harrier EV combined recorded 3,577 units in August 2026. Sales increased 15.87% year-on-year and 8.36% compared with July. The figure reflects the combined contribution of the conventional Harrier and its electric counterpart in the reported category data.
The Toyota Fortuner, meanwhile, recorded 3,504 units, up 39.71% from August 2025 and 9.88% from July 2026. The Fortuner therefore remained a major contributor to the larger-SUV market, with its ladder-frame architecture giving it a different positioning from several monocoque SUVs in the broader grouping.
The Fortuner’s August performance is also notable because the model continues to maintain substantial monthly volumes despite competition from newer SUVs. Its 3,504-unit tally was only slightly below the combined Harrier and Harrier EV figure of 3,577 units.
Safari Records a Strong Monthly Jump
Tata Safari registered 1,953 units in August 2026, recording 31.16% YoY growth and a much stronger 34.41% month-on-month increase. The monthly improvement made Safari one of the more notable movers among the established models in this broad SUV grouping.
The Safari continues to occupy the three-row family SUV space, giving Tata another significant entry alongside the Harrier. Its August numbers also show that demand was not concentrated entirely around Mahindra, with established Tata SUVs continuing to contribute meaningful volumes.
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Hector, Majestor and Sorento Add More Choices
The MG Hector and Hector Plus together recorded 1,177 units in August. That was more than three times their August 2025 base of 379 units, while monthly sales increased 65.08% from July’s 713 units. Because the previous-year base was particularly low, the percentage increase should be viewed in that context rather than as a direct measure of absolute market expansion.
The MG Majestor recorded 602 units in August, with sales declining 3.53% from July. At 5,046 mm, it technically sits just beyond the 5-metre upper limit, but it is included in the reported grouping because of its competitive relationship with larger ladder-frame SUVs such as the Fortuner.
Kia Sorento also appeared in the August data with 365 units. These were dealer dispatches ahead of its September launch, while customer deliveries began in September. Its presence adds another premium three-row SUV to the increasingly diverse larger-SUV market.
Premium SUVs Remain Lower-Volume Players
Beyond the major-volume models, several premium SUVs recorded significantly smaller August numbers. Skoda Kodiaq registered 115 units, Jeep Compass 114 units and Jeep Meridian 88 units. Volkswagen Tayron recorded 42 units, Honda ZR-V 33 units and Volkswagen Tiguan two units, while Citroen C5 Aircross recorded no sales in August.
These figures underline why the 4.5–5m category should be viewed primarily as a broad size-based sales grouping. The products within it serve different price points, body styles, powertrain technologies and customer requirements, so their sales volumes are not necessarily a direct indication of like-for-like competition.
Mahindra Accounts for More Than 71% of the Tracked Category
The August 2026 numbers show a particularly concentrated sales mix within this broad grouping. Scorpio Classic + Scorpio N, XUV 7XO, XEV 9S and XEV 9e together generated 30,626 units, equivalent to approximately 71.13% of the 43,054-unit category total.
At the same time, the category itself is becoming more diverse. Traditional diesel and petrol SUVs continue to generate substantial volumes, while electric SUVs are now contributing thousands of units every month. Newer entries such as the XEV 9S, MG Majestor and Kia Sorento are also changing the mix of products available to buyers.
Overall, August 2026 recorded 43,054 units across the tracked 4.5–5m SUV grouping, up sharply from the year-earlier level. The data also shows that the market is not being driven by one single type of SUV: rugged ladder-frame models, three-row family SUVs, premium monocoques and electric SUVs are all contributing to the category in different ways.
