After a somewhat quiet February due to the Lunar New Year holiday, the C-segment crossover utility vehicle (CUV) market returned to its familiar vibrancy in March. Mitsubishi Destinator and VinFast VF 7 emerged as the most notable contenders, outperforming the segment's previous sales leader, the Mazda CX-5.

Specifically, in March, the Destinator became the best-selling gasoline car with sales of 1,663 units. The CX-5 closely followed with 1,531 units sold.

This marks Mitsubishi's highest sales month for the Destinator since the beginning of 2026. Currently, the Destinator faces supply shortages, with some colors unavailable. Customers placing deposits may wait one or two months to receive their vehicles.

This is the first time the Destinator has led gasoline car sales in the C-segment CUV category. The Mitsubishi model attracted buyers, still benefiting from its newcomer appeal (launched in 12/2025). Priced under 850 million dong, the Destinator is a rare C-segment CUV offering a 7-seat configuration and features comparable to its rivals. Dealer incentives of tens of millions of dong also partly boosted the product's appeal.

Thanks to the Destinator's strong sales, Mitsubishi had three models among the top 10 best-selling gasoline and diesel cars in March, alongside the Xforce and Xpander.

Destinator on the road in Vietnam. *Photo: Luong Dung*

For the VF 7, sales exceeding 1,700 units in March represented a significant leap compared to February, more than doubling its previous figures. In mid-February, the company announced an extension of its free charging policy until the end of 2/2029, along with a 6% vehicle price discount, equivalent to a reduction of 79-89 million dong, providing a strong sales boost for the VF 7.

Beyond the leading trio of VF 7, Destinator, and CX-5, the Ford Territory was the fourth model in the segment to achieve sales of over 1,000 units in March. Other models, such as the Honda CR-V, Kia Sportage, and Hyundai Tucson, each sold fewer than 800 units.

Cumulatively since the start of 2026, the Mazda CX-5 still leads the segment with over 4,600 units sold, capturing 24% of the market share. While a new generation of the Mazda model is expected to launch in late 2026, the current product continues to maintain strong sales. Its accessible price, popular design, and extensive comfort and safety features remain key advantages for the CX-5 against its competitors.

Due to strong sales in March, the VF 7 unseated the Territory, which typically held the second-place sales position after the first Quarter of 2026. However, the American model could shift the competitive landscape as its retail price will decrease by 21-23 million dong starting in April.

Meanwhile, the Destinator can be considered the segment's dark horse. A company representative stated that the CUV's sales will improve further as vehicle supply becomes more consistent in the coming period.

Pham Trung