Kia has been one of the leading car manufacturers in the country. Since its debut, it has offered attractive SUVs and MPVs at interesting price points. Like most brands, Kia is also working on new models for our market. Many manufacturers have slowly started moving towards hybrid technology, and Kia is no exception. Here we have a list of five such hybrid cars that Kia is expected to launch in India soon.
Kia launched the new-generation Seltos this year. It has received a decent response from buyers. Kia will also launch a strong hybrid version of the Seltos in the market next year. It is expected to be launched after Hyundai introduces the next-generation Creta.
The strong hybrid version of the Seltos is expected to use a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine paired with an automatic transmission. The SUV is expected to remain largely unchanged in terms of features and design. The boot space may reduce slightly compared to the regular Seltos. The strong hybrid version of the Seltos may eventually replace the diesel version in the market.
This would be the first strong hybrid SUV that Kia would launch in India. The Sorento is available internationally, but in India, Kia is expected to bring a hybrid powertrain specifically developed for our market. Instead of the 1.6-litre strong hybrid available internationally, the Sorento is expected to get a new 1.5-litre petrol engine paired with an automatic transmission.
The Sorento is a premium seven-seater SUV and would be the flagship SUV from the Korean manufacturer in India. It is expected to remain the same as the international version in terms of design. It will compete with the likes of the Mahindra XUV 7XO but is expected to be priced slightly higher.
The current-generation Carnival MPV came to India in 2024. Like the previous version, the Carnival is currently available with a 2.2-litre diesel engine only. Kia had mentioned that the Carnival MPV will also go hybrid by 2030.
The international-spec Carnival already comes with a 1.6-litre hybrid engine. It remains to be seen whether the luxury MPV will borrow the same powertrain or use a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine specifically developed for our market.
Kia also has a seven-seater MPV, or recreational vehicle, as the company likes to call it. The Carens is already available in ICE and EV formats in our market. The hybrid version of the Carens or Carens Clavis is expected to arrive in our market by 2029. This MPV is expected to use the same 1.5-litre strong hybrid engine that we will see in the Seltos and the Hyundai Creta. It is also expected to eventually replace the diesel engine option.
Kia’s entry-level SUV, the Sonet, will also be getting a hybrid powertrain in the future. Kia is currently working on the next-generation Sonet, which is expected to be launched in 2027. It is expected to get a revised exterior design and more features. It will use the same platform as the Syros SUV.
Apart from the existing naturally aspirated petrol, turbo-petrol, and turbo-diesel engine options, Kia is also said to be working on a strong hybrid powertrain for the Sonet. The details are not out yet, but it is expected to be launched by 2028–29.
Comments are closed.