Hybrid cars have always been behind the curtains in the Indian market. While they work as a best middle ground in terms of economy and efficiency, no subsidy from the government makes them a tough sell in the Indian market. Hybrid tech is expensive and there is no way to avoid that. No brand has ever tried locally producing a hybrid vehicle in the Indian market as it just doesn’t make a business case. However, there is some scope with the best hybrid cars in India 2023, 2022 and 2021.
Upcoming Hybrid Cars In India In 2023
2022 saw a new range of electric and petrol hybrid cars in India introduced at prices that made them more affordable than ever. If you are in the market for upcoming hybrid cars in 2023, this list should give you a clearer idea of soon to be launched hybrid vehicles in India you can purchase.
Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder
Upcoming Toyota hybrid cars in India will include the Urban Cruiser Hyryder, which will be the most affordable strong-hybrid midsize SUV in the country. With prices starting from Rs.15 lakh – Rs.18 lakh, this Toyota SUV is also the most fuel-efficient car available in its segment with a claimed economy of 27.97 kmpl. Power comes via a 1.5 litre, 3-cylinder petrol unit combined with an electric motor, making 116 PS in total.
Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara
Suzuki hybrid cars in India will feature the Grand Vitara which is based on the same underpinnings as the Hyryder. It will make use of the same 1.5 litre petrol engine in combination with the electric motor for similar fuel efficiency ratings. Sold exclusively through Maruti Suzuki Nexa showrooms, the Grand Vitara is priced from Rs. 18 lakhs. Special features on this SUV will include a 9-inch touch screen infotainment system, panoramic sunroof, ventilated front seats, and more luxury addons.
Toyota Innova Hycross Hybrid
Toyota hybrid cars to be launched in 2023 include the Innova Hycross with a 2 litre, petrol-hybrid engine producing a maximum power output of 186 PS and 206 Nm. It will be the only 7-seater hybrid cars in India to have a hybrid powertrain. The Hycross will return a fuel economy rating of 21.1 kmpl and will have an acceleration time of 0-100 kmph in 9.5 seconds, making it quick car for its size. With price of hybrid cars in India getting more affordable in 2023, the Toyota Hycross will cost under Rs.25 lakh.
Toyota Camry
This is the one of the best petrol electric hybrid cars in India in the premium sedan range from the Toyota brand. Now in its 8th generation avatar, it sports a powerful 2.5 litre petrol- electric hybrid that produces 175 bhp of power. The price of this petrol hybrid car in India starts from Rs. 45 lakhs with features such as voice control, wireless charging, 8-inch touch screen infotainment system and a new cabin set up.
Nissan X-Trail
The X-Trail is expected to launch towards the end of the year and is one of the hottest electric hybrid cars in India we are looking forward to. It will be sold via the CBU route making it more expensive than other petrol hybrid cars in India, priced around Rs.50 lakhs. Nissan’s SUV will feature the company’s e-Power technology and will be available in front wheel drive and all wheel drive options. Engine specifications are expected to have a 1.5 litre petrol with paired to an electric motor for a strong-hybrid combination offering 204 PS (2WD) and 213 PS (4WD). Definitely one of the most premium SUVs among the upcoming plug in hybrid cars in India.
Maruti Baleno
Although not a true hybrid in the technical sense, the Maruti Baleno features a progressive Smart Hybrid Lithium Ion Battery which has torque assist function, idle start-stop and brake energy regeneration. The battery can power this mild hybrid car during acceleration, providing impressive performance without compromising on fuel efficiency. The engine automatically switches off when idle and starts when required to save fuel at traffic lights. The battery is recharged by the brakes when slowing down to further improve fuel efficiency when the throttle is used via the torque assist function. An important advantage of this technology is the reduced emissions from the 1.2 litre petrol engine with reduced running costs thanks to better mileage. The Baleno is poised to become the one the best hybrid cars in India under 15 lakhs.
Upcoming hybrid cars in India 2022
Hybrid cars provide excellent fuel economy as compared to their petrol/diesel car counterparts. Hybrid cars have an internal combustion engine plus an electric motor and are available in 3 types. The three different types of hybrid cars are series, parallel and plug-ins.
Hybrids face competition from fully electric vehicles (EVs) with the Indian Government focussing on EVs rather than hybrids for future sustainability. Still, hybrids are getting more popular because of their fuel economy, features, comfort, and all-important cleaner emissions as well.
Have a look at hybrids from major manufacturers that are slated for release in 2022
Hyundai Ioniq
The all-electric version of the Hyundai Ioniq is coming soon to India. However, charging time for the all-electric car will take about 9 hours, with a fast charge time of 4-5 hours. The range of the Hyundai Ioniq on a full charge is around 280 km which is quite impressive.
The car has a sleek and sharp design, and it is lighter than its stablemates due to an all-aluminum bonnet and boot lid. It comes with a range of features for infotainment and safety making this a good choice for buyers.
Toyota RAV4
A popular SUV around the world, the Toyota Rav4 is coming to India in 2022. The Toyota RAV4 is a plug-in hybrid that switches to hybrid mode when the charge in the battery runs out. The maximum power this car can generate is 219 PS which makes this quite a powerful SUV. Acceleration is also quick and nimble. The Toyota RAV4 gets a multi-function information display to control certain features. The top-end variant of the RAV4 gets fog lights as an option. The Toyota RAV4 is top-rated in other countries and Toyota hopes to gain a footing in India with the release of this upcoming electric hybrid SUV.
Next gen Maruti Suzuki Brezza
The Maruti Suzuki Brezza electric hybrid is scheduled for launch in India in 2022. It comes with the technologically advanced K15B 1.5 liter and there is a diesel option as well. The car comes fully loaded with features such as an infotainment system, wireless charging, and a touchscreen to control several functions at the tip of your fingers.
MG Hector
The MG Hector will come with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, paired with a 1.5-liter turbo petrol engine. This will boost the mileage of the MG Hector quite significantly. The MG Hector can only be had with a 6-speed manual gearbox in the top three trim levels, super, smart, and sharp.
The MG Hector uses a 48 volt mild hybrid system which is a simpler setup and more cost-effective than a full-blown hybrid system. The benefits are that when paired to the 1.5-liter turbo petrol engine, the 48 volt mild hybrid system will give the engine an additional 20 Nm of torque that will compensate for the turbo lag and help acceleration in stop and start traffic. The SUV will also come with regenerative braking, which will use the SUVs kinetic energy to charge the 48 volt battery. There is also an automatic engine start stop system that switches the engine off at idle to save fuel.
Related: Upcoming Cars From Hyundai India In 2021 & 2022
Hybrid Cars scheduled to be launched in India in 2021
Due to political and environmental pressures, hybrids are increasing in sales whether in mild, standard or plug-in form. Drivers prefer hybrids because they are the best of both worlds, electric and internal combustion power plants. The technology behind hybrid cars is getting more sophisticated with every new model, widening the choices for consumers. Hybrids can now be found from hatchbacks to SUVs.
The appeal of hybrid cars stems from their increases in fuel efficiency and they are the perfect cars for city traffic and cars that run limited kilometers.
Here is a list of hybrid vehicles that have been scheduled for release in 2021
Maruti Suzuki Swift Hybrid
Maruti Suzuki India showcased the Swift Hybrid at the 2020 Auto Expo. Don’t mistake for the Smart Hybrid that MSIL has been offering with the Ciaz, Ertiga and Baleno. Unlike the Smart Hybrid, the Swift Hybrid packs in an electric motor and a Li-ion battery pack. The electric motor churns out 13.5Hp and 30 Nm of torque whereas the figures for the engine stands at 91Hp and 118 Nm of torque. It is the same engine we get in the new Swift, Dzire and Baleno.
In terms of features, the Swift Hybrid offers ventilated seats, cruise control, paddle shifters and a suite of safety assistance systems. Maruti Suzuki could consider the Swift Hybrid for the Indian market as its claimed fuel economy of over 30 km/l will surely find buyers. The Swift Hybrid is one of the few upcoming hybrid cars in India under 10 lakhs.
Jeep Meridian
Jeep India is soon to launch the new Meridian SUV in the Indian market. It has been already unveiled in the global markets with the name Commander. However, in the Indian market, it will most likely be called Meridian. The Meridian will come powered with a 2.0-litre diesel engine that will be paired with a 48v Mild Hybrid system. Transmission duties will be handled via a 9-speed automatic gearbox along with an AWD. Jeep Meridian will be offered in 6- and 7-seater configurations along with other features like ventilated seats, 360-degree parking camera, panoramic sunroof and a lot more. Jeep Meridian is expected to get launched in mid-2022 and will take on the likes of the Toyota Fortuner, MG Gloster and Mahindra Alturas G4.
Honda City Hybrid
Honda Car India is going to launch the new City Hybrid in the Indian market soon. Honda Car India has confirmed the launch of the City e:HEV hybrid that is slated for mid-2022. It gets the 1.5-litre petrol engine that churns out 98Hp & 127 Nm of torque. The engine follows the Atkinson cycle and the electric motor puts out 109Hp and 253 Nm of torque. It will be the most-fuel efficient mass-market car in the Indian market with a claimed range of over 27.8 km/l. Honda is expected to price the City e:HEV in the region of Rs 16-18 lakh ex-showroom.
Related: Honda City Hybrid India Launch In 2022
2021 Honda HR-V
Honda Car India was considering to launch the last-gen HR-V in the Indian market but it was called off last moment. With the arrival of the new-gen HR-V, Honda is now considering the HR-V e:HEV to launch in the Indina market. Honda HR-V also gets the same e:HEV powertrain we get in the City e:HEV but it gets more power. Honda HR-V is also called Vezel in some markets and it will take on the likes of the Hyundai Creta. However, its expensive hybrid tech will rise the prices and it will be positioned above its competition.
Conclusion
Here were all the upcoming hybrid cars in India 202, 2022 and 2023 that are slated to get launched in the coming years. The prices of the hybrid cars mentioned could vary and so is the launch timeline. We expect more brands to take the initiative in launching the best hybrid cars in India 2022 and 2023.
If you found this article on the best hybrid cars in india 2021, 2022 and 2023 informative, make sure to check out other interesting reads on the Carorbis Blog and also read MG Astor Vs Hyundai Creta Vs Skoda Kushaq – Spec Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Name some plugin hybrid cars in India?
Ans. Some manufacturers that offer plug in hybrid technology in India include BMW and Volvo. The BMW 7 Series and Volvo XC90 are similar to standard hybrid cars in the country, but feature larger batteries that need to be plugged into a power source.
Q2. What is the difference between EV hybrid cars in India and plug in hybrid vehicles?
Ans. In hybrid car technology, an electric motor assists the petrol or diesel engine to improve performance and enhance fuel efficiency. Typically, a hybrid car cannot operate on pure electric mode albeit for a short distance at limited speeds. Plug in hybrid electric vehicles have more powerful electric motors than can be run in pure EV mode.
Q3. Are there any diesel hybrid cars in India?
Ans. Unfortunately, there are no diesel hybrids on sale in the country, and these types of cars are not common in the international market either. Diesel engines do not conform to new emission standards and it makes more economic sense to manufacture petrol and electric hybrid cars in India.
