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 2022 and 2021, and the following year.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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 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 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
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.
Here were all the upcoming hybrid cars in India 2021 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 hybrid cars.
If you found this article 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
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