Kia's 4 New Hybrids For India, In Sequence!
The South Korean automaker Kia, a while ago, made an important announcement. It stated that it will be replacing the diesel engines offered in its cars with strong hybrid powertrains. Now, over the last few weeks, we have gathered information about the upcoming four strong hybrid Kias in India. So if you want to know which new Kia hybrid cars will be launched in India, you have come to the right spot.
The first Kia hybrid which is expected to make its official debut in India will be the Sorento Hybrid. This premium three-row SUV has already been spotted testing multiple times on Indian roads. These include sightings near Delhi and on NH-8 with temporary registration plates from Pune. These repeated sightings now suggest that Kia is gearing up for the launch of this SUV in India.
The Sorento will be a much bigger SUV than the Seltos. It will measure around 4,815 mm in length and offer a long 2,815 mm wheelbase. This will make it one of the largest monocoque SUVs in its segment. Once launched, it will sit above the Seltos and become Kia’s most premium ICE-based SUV in India.
In terms of design, the Sorento Hybrid will boast Kia’s current global styling language. It will get the signature Tiger Nose grille, vertically stacked LED headlamps, sharp body lines, large alloy wheels, and connected LED tail lamps. Its monocoque chassis, unlike ladder-frame platforms, will offer better ride quality, and its high-speed stability will be good, and there will be very less body roll.
On the inside, the Sorento is expected to offer a very premium cabin. Kia will most likely offer both 6-seater and 7-seater layouts, with captain seats for the middle row on higher trims. The dashboard is expected to feature a large dual-screen setup integrating the infotainment system and digital instrument cluster.
Other notable highlights will include a panoramic sunroof, ventilated seats, premium Bose audio system, multi-zone climate control, electronic parking brake, powered seats, soft-touch materials, and a Level 2 ADAS suite.
Now, coming to the biggest highlight of the Sorento, it will be its hybrid powertrain. The Sorento Hybrid is expected to come equipped with a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine. It will also come paired with an electric motor. The petrol engine alone generates around 177 bhp. Meanwhile, the electric motor will add 64 bhp.
This strong hybrid setup will help the SUV drive in pure EV mode during slow city traffic conditions, which will improve fuel efficiency. Kia is expected to offer both front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive versions. Transmission duties will likely be handled by a dedicated automatic gearbox.
Pricing of the Sorento is expected to start from around Rs 28 lakh and go up to Rs 35 lakh for the top-end AWD variant. Once launched in 2026, it will rival the Toyota Fortuner, MG Gloster, Jeep Meridian, Volkswagen Tayron, and Skoda Kodiaq.
The next strong hybrid model from Kia will be the Seltos Hybrid. The company has already started testing this SUV on Indian roads, and recently a fully camouflaged test mule was spotted near Pune. In terms of design, it will look identical to the newly launched second-generation Seltos from the outside.
As for the main highlight of the upcoming Seltos Hybrid, it will be its strong hybrid powertrain. It is expected to come offered with a new 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, which could get an Atkinson-cycle setup. This engine will come paired with an electric motor and offer a small battery pack to create a strong hybrid system.
The combined power output of this SUV is expected to be around 155 bhp and 265 Nm of torque. Apart from the powertrain, the Seltos Hybrid is expected to offer the same features and design as the current model. Its list of features will include dual 12.3-inch displays, panoramic sunroof, ventilated seats, powered driver seat, Bose audio system, ambient lighting, OTA updates, and Level 2 ADAS.
The hybrid version is expected to launch by early 2027 and will directly rival future hybrid versions of the Hyundai Creta, Maruti Grand Vitara, and Toyota Hyryder. Pricing is expected to be around Rs 18 to 25 lakh.
After the Seltos Hybrid, Kia will be launching the sub-compact SUV Sonet with the strong hybrid setup. Recently, like its siblings, a test mule of this SUV was spotted on public roads. The new-generation Sonet will be heavily inspired by the latest Seltos. It will get a larger grille with honeycomb inserts, redesigned bumpers, and sleek LED DRLs.
Kia is also expected to offer premium touches like flush-fitting door handles and a panoramic sunroof. The next-generation Sonet will be based on the reinforced K1 platform, which is also used by the Kia Syros. This platform is expected to improve structural rigidity, safety, and rear-seat comfort.
On the inside, the new Sonet is expected to receive a major upgrade. We can expect it to come offered with larger 12.3-inch screens, a fully digital instrument cluster, ventilated seats, leatherette upholstery, reclining rear seats, Level 2 ADAS, and a new overall dashboard and centre console design.
The standard Sonet will continue to offer the same 1.0-litre turbo-petrol, 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol, and 1.5-litre diesel engines. However, the main highlight later will be the hybrid version. The Sonet Hybrid, which has been codenamed QY2E, is expected to use the same India-developed strong hybrid technology that will also be seen on the Seltos Hybrid.
This will make it one of the first strong-hybrid sub-4-metre SUVs in India. Kia is expected to launch the new-generation Sonet in 2027. As for the strong hybrid version, it could arrive by 2028 or 2029. Pricing for the hybrid model is expected to remain in the Rs 15 to 18 lakh range.
The final hybrid model in Kia’s India lineup will be the next-generation Carnival Hybrid. Currently, the Carnival is sold only with a diesel engine in India. However, Kia is planning to offer it with a new strong hybrid powertrain. The new Carnival Hybrid is expected to arrive around 2030.
Internationally, Kia already offers the Carnival with a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol hybrid setup producing 272 bhp and 367 Nm of torque. There is also a possibility that the India-spec model could use the same 1.5-litre strong hybrid setup seen on the Sorento and Seltos. Pricing of the next-generation Carnival Hybrid is expected to remain in the Rs 60 to 70 lakh range.