SUVs continue to be in good demand in India. Strong hybrids now have limited representation in the SUV space. This is about to change. Here are 9 popular SUVs which currently use petrol (or diesel) engines which will take the hybrid route in the coming years.
Honda is known to be working on a strong hybrid version of the Elevate SUV. The new engine will likely debut on the facelift planned for the near term. This hybrid setup will also use a 1.5L petrol engine as its base, but will not be the same as that of the City e:HEV. It will use a lighter battery pack and a better electric motor. The e-CVT transmission will also be improved.
The Elevate’s hybrid powertrain will be less complex and more cost efficient than the City e:HEV’s setup. The carmaker will likely be able to price the hybrid SUV more competitively.
The don’t expect the facelift’s design to undergo a major overhaul. It will come with subtle tweaks. Inside, the material quality and feature list will improve. We may see the addition of features like a 360-degree camera.
The third-generation Renault Duster that went on sale in March this year, is now offered with two petrol engines- 1.0L turbocharged petrol and 1.3L turbocharged petrol. The former makes 98hp and 160Nm while the larger engine produces 160hp and 280 Nm.
Around Diwali this year, Renault will launch a hybrid version of the SUV which will use a 1.8L strong hybrid powertrain. This setup will have a 1.8L naturally aspirated petrol engine mated to two electric motors and a battery pack. This powertrain is expected to deliver excellent fuel efficiency and produce around 160hp.
Hyundai will launch the next-generation Creta sometime in late 2026 or early 2027. Initially, it will come with the same petrol and diesel engines. A strong hybrid version is also known to be under development. It will use a newly-developed 1.5L strong hybrid petrol engine. This unit will have a high degree of localisation, ensuring the hybrids are priced well.
The 1.5L hybrid engine will also be introduced on the Seltos sometime in 2027. The power and torque figures of this engine remain unclear. Globally, the Seltos is offered with a 1.6L hybrid petrol engine producing 139 hp and 264 Nm. This is unlikely to be brought to our shores. The localised 1.5L unit will allow Kia to price the product competitively. Changes in design and packaging are unlikely on the hybrid.
The Sonet will also get a strong hybrid petrol engine in the coming years. The new powertrain will be introduced on the second generation of the sub-four metre SUV, expected to launch in 2028- 2029. Codenamed QY2E, the new-generation will be underpinned by the reinforced K1 platform.
We lack clarity on which hybrid engine will be used on this model. It could do with the Seltos’ 1.5L hybrid engine or it could use the 1.2L hybrid-ready petrol engine that’s under development for use on models like the Bayon.
The 1.5L strong hybrid engine will also make it to the Alcazar in the coming years- likely in 2027. The hybrid Alcazar will sit below the upcoming Ni1i SUV in the carmaker’s portfolio.
Maruti Suzuki will launch the facelifted Fronx this year, which will see the introduction of a hybrid petrol engine. The crossover is likely to get series hybrid setup with a 1.2-litre Z12E three-cylinder petrol engine at its centre. It will function as a generate to charge the battery. This battery pack will power an electric motor that drives the wheels. The setup is expected to return high fuel efficiency. The facelift will also see the addition of features like 360-degree camera and Level 2 ADAS.
Sometime after Maruti Suzuki launches the hybrid Fronx, the Taisor, its Toyota counterpart will also get this powertrain.
The new Tata Sierra comes with three engine options- 1.5L naturally aspirated (NA) petrol, 1.5 turbo-diesel, and 1.5 turbocharged petrol. We expect the carmaker to introduce a strong hybrid version of it in the future, with the 1.5NA petrol engine as the base. Tata hasn’t explicitly announced this move yet, but considering the SUV’s NA petrol engine runs on Atkinson cycle, this seems very much possible.
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