Once a strong contender in the mid-size sedan segment, the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz is now officially discontinued in India.
Launched in 2014 as a replacement for the SX4, the Ciaz initially enjoyed success, even topping sales charts against rivals like the Honda City and Hyundai Verna.
But over time, it lost its edge. Here’s a deep dive into why the Ciaz failed in India, despite Maruti’s strong brand presence.
So, lets know why this car has been discontinued in the India. Here lets know five reason why this car has lost its spark.
Shift in Market Trends: SUV Wave Took Over
The biggest blow to the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz came from the growing dominance of SUVs. In 2015, sedans made up nearly 20% of India’s car market.
By 2024, that number dropped below 10%, while SUVs surged past 50% of total passenger vehicle sales. As buyers gravitated toward high-riding, feature-rich SUVs, sedans like the Ciaz were left behind.
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Diesel Exit Hurt Sales
Maruti Suzuki’s decision to exit the diesel segment in 2020 was a turning point.
Maruti Suzuki Ciaz had just received an in-house developed 1.5-litre DDiS diesel engine, but it was discontinued within a year due to BS6 emission norms.
Diesel accounted for nearly 30% of Ciaz sales, and its absence left the sedan with only a petrol option.
Lack of Timely Updates
While rivals like the Skoda Slavia, Volkswagen Virtus, and Hyundai Verna introduced turbo-petrol engines, ADAS, sunroofs, and digital displays, the Ciaz remained largely unchanged after its 2018 facelift.
It continued with a naturally aspirated petrol engine and a dated 4-speed automatic gearbox, making it feel outdated in a tech-savvy market.
Feature Deficit in a Feature-Rich Segment
In a segment where buyers expect premium features, the Ciaz lagged behind. It missed out on essentials like Ventilated seats, Digital instrument cluster, Wireless smartphone connectivity, and Advanced infotainment systems.
This lack of modern equipment made it hard for the Ciaz to justify its price tag, especially when competitors offered more for the same or less.
Declining Sales and Segment Shrinkage
Sales of the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz steadily declined over the years. From 15,869 units in FY22, it dropped to 8,402 units in FY25, with monthly sales falling below 500 units by the end of 2024.
Meanwhile, the number of models in the mid-size sedan segment shrank from nine in 2017 to just five by 2024.
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