India’s roads may be famous for their tuk-tuks and bikes, but the country makes a wide range of cars (Image: Getty)
Picture the and it is easy to imagine the crowded streets of Delhi, largely populated by all manner of motorcycles swerving around and ancient Hindustan Ambassadors – the Indian version of a 1950s Morris Oxford that only ended production in 2014.
However, the country has a thriving car industry, with buyers able to choose from a significant range of locally-produced or imported models, many of which are .
During January 2025, India’s best-selling car was the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R, with no fewer than 24,078 examples sold over the 31-day period.
A small and boxy that is made in India by Maruti, who has built under licence since 1983, the Wagon R is widely praised due to its spacious interior and low running costs.
Many Indian buyers also appreciate the Maruti Suzuki’s , with the entry-level LXI available for Rs.564,500 (around £5,125). As a result, drivers can buy nearly three Wagon Rs for the price of a – currently the UK’s cheapest new car at £14,200.
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The Maruti Suzuki Wagon R is India’s best-selling car, helped by a low retail price of £5,125 (Image: Maruti Suzuki)
Introduced in 2019, the current generation Maruti Suzuki Wagon R has conventional styling, with a sculpted set of front headlights and ridges above the wheel arches. In India, the model’s high roof has given it the nickname ‘Tallboy’.
Compared to the Japanese version of the Wagon R, which conforms to the country’s strict ‘kei car’ regulations, the Indian model is slightly wider, allowing for safer handling at high speeds.
Nevertheless, the Wagon R is still a particularly small car by European standards, spanning just 3.65 metres long and 1.62 metres wide. In comparison, the Suzuki Swift (one of the smallest models the brand sells in the UK) is about 20cm longer and 11cm wider.
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The Hyundai Creta and Tata Punch are two other popular Indian models not sold in the UK (Image: Getty)
Nevertheless, one of the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R’s biggest selling points is the amount of space it offers for such a small car, featuring enough room for five occupants.
Whilst the entry-level version of the Wagon R is hardly a Rolls Royce, it features air conditioning, rear parking sensors, and central locking as standard. Nevertheless, whilst an aerial is fitted to the car, owners will need to buy their own radio and speakers if they choose the basic model.
Buyers can choose either a 1.0 or 1.2 Dualjet petrol engine, with the smaller variant producing a miserly 56bhp but capable of returning up to 85mpg when cruising on the motorway.
Whilst the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R is a particularly popular choice with customers in India, there are plenty of other cars that sold strongly throughout the month.
The locally-made versions of familiar Suzuki models, like the Baleno family hatchback and Swift supermini, both featured in the top five – catering for drivers looking for a little more style and space.
The Hyundai Creta, a compact crossover that is not sold in Europe, was the best-selling SUV of the month, whilst the locally-designed Tata Punch, one of the safest cars made in India, also sold well.