The Hyundai Creta has established itself as the clear leader in Nepal’s petrol-powered compact SUV segment. Customs data from January 1 to October 15, 2026, shows that 975 units of petrol compact SUVs were imported into the country. Of this total, the Creta accounted for 577 units, representing a 59.2% market share.
In the local market, the Creta is positioned as a core offering within Hyundai's extensive lineup. It sits above the entry-level Hyundai Exter and the Hyundai Aura. It is positioned as a larger alternative to the Hyundai Venue and the Hyundai KONA. The Creta is also available alongside the Hyundai Creta EV. Nepal pricing for these models has not been announced.
The Kia Seltos follows as the second most popular model in this segment. It recorded 316 units during the same period, capturing 32.4% of the market. Together, the Creta and Seltos represent nearly 91% of all petrol compact SUV imports in Nepal.
Within the Kia Nepal catalog, the Seltos is positioned above the Kia Sonet and the Kia Carens. It sits below the Kia Carnival and is priced differently than the Kia Soul EV and the Kia Niro.
Other models maintain a smaller presence in the segment:
- Volkswagen Taigun: 50 units (5.1% share)
- Skoda Kushaq: 27 units (2.8% share)
- Nissan Tekton: 6 units (0.6% share)
For buyers considering the Skoda Kushaq, it sits in the Skoda lineup alongside the Kylaq and the Slavia, while remaining well below the premium Superb, Karoq, and Kodiaq.
Monthly import figures for the Creta peaked in August with 118 units. The Seltos saw its highest volume in September with 74 units imported. The data confirms that Hyundai and Kia remain the primary choices for Nepali buyers seeking petrol-powered compact SUVs.
Our own record on this
Volkswagen Taigun: 3 · Skoda Kushaq: 1. Each is a dated change we applied to a published ex-showroom price after checking it. A logged change may be a distributor's revision or our own correction coming into line with the official figure — the log says which way each one moved, and when, not why.
See the full price-change log →- Nissan Tekton: nissan-nepal.com — checked 2026-11-02
- Hyundai Creta: laxmihyundai.com — checked 2026-11-03
- Skoda Kushaq: skoda.com.np — checked 2026-11-02
- Kia Seltos: kia.com.np — checked 2026-11-02
Writes on vehicle pricing, taxation and the Nepali auto market from ongoing tracking of distributor price lists. Every price in this piece is read live from the Nepal AutoMart catalog — how we verify prices.
