20 Upcoming Hybrid Cars That Will Challenge Toyota's Hybrid King Status
Toyota is currently the most successful hybrid carmaker in India. Its Innova Hycross is the best-selling hybrid in India, along with its Urban Cruiser Hyryder. Now, taking note of this dominance, a number of automakers are gearing up for the launch of their own hybrid vehicles. So, without any delay, here are the details of all the upcoming hybrid cars in India.
JSW MG Motor India is gearing up to launch its first hybrid, which will also be India's first plug-in hybrid SUV. It will be the MG 520, which will be based on the Wuling Starlight 560. This 7-seater plug-in hybrid SUV will come with a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated Atkinson-cycle petrol engine. It will also come paired with a 20.5 kWh battery pack and electric motors. Combined, it will make 194 bhp and 230 Nm of torque. Its EV-only range will be 125 km, and total range will be 1,100 km. Pricing is expected to be in the range of Rs 25 to 30 lakh, and it will be launched around October this year.
JSW Group is also launching its own car brand, which will be called JSW Motors, and its first product in India will be the Jetour T2 plug-in hybrid-based premium SUV. The main highlight of this SUV will be its 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine, which will make 154 bhp and 220 Nm of torque. However, when combined with dual electric motors, it will make 221 bhp and 390 Nm of torque. It will come mated to a dedicated 3-speed hybrid transmission and offer an EV-only range of 139 km. This drivetrain will also get a 26.7 kWh battery pack. Pricing of the Jetour T2 plug-in hybrid is expected to be around Rs 38 to 40 lakh, and it will be launched in the festive season this year.
The Maruti Suzuki Fronx will become the first vehicle in India to feature a series hybrid powertrain. It will use the Z12E, 1.2-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine as a generator, which will power the battery pack in the vehicle. The wheels, on the other hand, will be powered by an electric motor. It is believed that it will offer an impressive mileage of over 35 kmpl. It is expected to make its debut later this year or by early 2027. Pricing will be in the range of Rs 10 to Rs 15 lakh.
The upcoming sub-compact SUV, the Vision S from Mahindra, will become the first hybrid from the brand. It is expected to be offered with a 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine with hybrid assistance. This NU_IQ platform-based, Defender-inspired SUV is expected to be launched by the end of 2026. As for the pricing, it could be priced in the range of Rs 12-18 lakh.
Renault has already stopped taking more reservations for the Duster Hybrid even before delivering a single unit. The hybrid version of the Duster mid-size SUV will come equipped with a 1.8-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine with two electric motors and a 1.4 kWh battery pack. This powertrain will make 160 bhp and 172 Nm of torque. The deliveries of the Duster Hybrid will commence in the Diwali festive season of this year.
The Renault Boreal will be the 7-seater version of the Duster, and it too will be getting the same hybrid powertrain. It is expected to make its debut by mid-2027 and will be priced in the range of Rs 18 to Rs 22 lakh. The SUV will also use the exact same 1.8-litre hybrid powertrain as the Duster.
The Renault Bridger sub-compact SUV was recently showcased, and it will be a game changer for the brand in India. This sub-compact SUV will be offered with a 1.2-litre hybrid powertrain. It is expected to make its debut in 2027 and will be priced in the range of Rs 10 to Rs 15 lakh. This SUV will boast a very modern, rugged SUV stance, which will make it very popular in India.
Nissan will also be launching its first hybrid in India, the Tekton Hybrid. It will be based on the Tekton, which will be based on the same platform as the Renault Duster. This means it too will be using the same 1.8-litre hybrid powertrain. It is expected to make its debut by the end of 2026 or by early 2027. Pricing will be in the range of Rs 15 to 20 lakh.
Like the Boreal, Nissan will also be launching a 7-seater version of the Tekton. It too will be based on the same platform and offer the same 1.8-litre hybrid powertrain. We can expect this SUV to arrive in India by the end of 2027. Pricing will be around Rs 18 to Rs 22 lakh.
Nissan will once again use badge engineering to launch the Renault Bridger-based hybrid SUV in India. This sub-compact SUV will boast the same rugged styling but with Nissan badging and some minor changes on the outside. It will also be using the same 1.2-litre hybrid powertrain. This SUV will most likely be launched by 2028 in India.
The only non-badge-engineered hybrid coming from Nissan will be the recently unveiled (concept form) Terrano. It will be a hardcore off-road SUV which will boast a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine with electric motors and a large battery pack. It is expected to make 400 bhp and 800 Nm of torque. The sad part is we will not be seeing it before 2028, and it will be priced in the range of Rs 40 to 50 lakh.
Another premium hybrid SUV (not a plug-in) will be the Kia Sorento 7-seater. This SUV will sit above the Seltos in Kia's line-up and will be powered by a 1.5-litre petrol strong hybrid powertrain. It will be launched around the end of this year and will be priced in the range of Rs 30 to 35 lakh.
Kia is also planning to launch the hybrid version of the Seltos in India by the first half of 2027. This SUV will also be offered with a 1.5-litre petrol hybrid powertrain. Power figures have not been revealed at the moment. It will most likely be priced around Rs 20 to Rs 25 lakh and will rival the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder and the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara.
The second generation of the Kia Sonet is also expected to get a hybrid powertrain. The exact specifications of this hybrid system have not been revealed at the moment. However, it is believed that it will be making its debut late in 2028 or 2029. It will most likely be priced around Rs 15 to Rs 18 lakh.
The champion of the mid-size SUV segment, the Creta, is also expected to get a strong hybrid powertrain in India. It will most likely share the same 1.5-litre hybrid powertrain with its cousin, the Kia Seltos. It will most likely be launched by the end of this year. As for the pricing, it will be around Rs 18 to Rs 22 lakh.
Honda has been working on the development of the Elevate Hybrid for a while now. Most likely, it will finally launch in the second half of this year. It is expected to be priced in the range of Rs 18 to Rs 22 lakh. As for the powertrain, it will get the same 1.5-litre Atkinson-cycle petrol engine as its sibling, the City e:HEV, which makes 126 bhp and gets a CVT gearbox.
On May 22nd, Honda will be launching the facelifted iteration of its City e:HEV hybrid sedan. It will only get a few minor exterior and interior design updates. The powertrain will remain the same as the current model.
Honda, on May 22nd, will also be taking the covers off the ZR-V hybrid SUV. It will become the company's halo product in India. It will come offered with a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine with Atkinson cycle and e-CVT gearbox. As it will be brought in via the CBU route, it will be priced in the range of Rs 40 to Rs 45 lakh.
The first hybrid vehicle from BYD in India will be the Sealion 6. This SUV will feature a 1.5-litre petrol engine, which will come paired with an electric motor. Its battery pack size will be 18.3 kWh and will offer an EV-only range of 80-90 km. Combined, its range will be 1,000 km. It will be launched by the end of 2026 and will be priced around Rs 30 to 40 lakh.
BYD also recently filed a patent for the Leopard 8 in India. It will be a premium hybrid SUV which will be very capable in off-road conditions. It is expected to get a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine, which will come paired with dual electric motors and a 36.8 kWh battery pack. It will make a combined power of 738 bhp and 760 Nm, which will be very impressive.