Sedan sales slide 12% in 2025, but Virtus and Ciaz buck the trend

India’s midsize sedan market is still feeling the heat in 2025, with overall sales sliding by 12% in the first seven months of the year. Data shows that a total of 37,575 units were sold between January and July 2025, down from the year-ago period, as consumer demand continues to tilt towards SUVs and crossovers. Here’s a quick look at how the market has been fairing so far in the year and how the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz and and Volkswagen Virtus are tackling the headwinds. Among the mainstream midsize sedans, the Honda City and Hyundai Verna reported the sharpest declines. The City registered sales of 5,076 units in this period, a steep 29% fall from 2024 levels. The Verna, which had benefited from a facelift in 2023, saw volumes drop 33% to 7,622 units.On the other hand, a couple of sedans are proving that there’s still life in the segment. The Volkswagen Virtus has emerged as the star performer, posting 12,455 units: up 9% from 2024. Month after month, Virtus has managed to maintain steady sales above 1,600 units. Maruti Suzuki’s Ciaz also managed to pull off a surprise, growing 7% with 4,521 units sold, despite being one of the oldest models in the space.Meanwhile, the Skoda Slavia also slipped into negative territory, with sales of 7,901 units, down 8% year-on-year. The Slavia appears to be stabilizing at lower volumes compared to its launch momentum.With SUVs of every shape and size now flooding the roads, the Virtus appears to be still managing to draw buyers with its clean design, solid build (backed by a 5-star GNCAP rating) and turbo-petrol engines that is appealing to buyers who also want fun from a daily driver. The Ciaz, on the other hand, continues to benefit from its roomy cabin, Maruti’s wide service network and its steady demand from government offices and corporate fleets.