Best Hybrid Cars in India

For Indian car buyers, mileage has always been one of the most important aspects of a car. However, due to hikes in fuel prices in recent years, it has become a very important buying consideration. Parallelly, carmakers and the government have given a great push to electric cars, which indeed are fantastic options to keep the cost of ownership down. But, it’s clear as day that the EV infrastructure in India is far from adequate.

These circumstances tip the scale in favour of hybrid cars since they add the benefits of an electric motor while retaining the practicality of a traditional internal combustion engine. A hybrid car features a hybrid system of an internal combustion engine, powered by fuel, and an electric motor, powered by electricity, working together to deliver pocket-friendly mileage. Appealing mileage figures have made hybrid cars a popular choice of late, and therefore, many carmakers have launched some capable hybrid cars in recent years. In this article, we explore the best hybrid cars available today to help you decide the right one for you.

Also Read – Best Petrol Cars In India

Best Maruti Suzuki Hybrid Cars

Let’s begin this list with the largest carmaker in India, Maruti Suzuki, that’s always been acclaimed for the pocket-friendly mileage of its cars. All the same, the popular Indo-Japanese carmaker joined hands with global auto marque, Toyota, a few years ago. And in the last couple of years, using Toyota’s hybrid technology, Maruti Suzuki has presented Indians with a couple of the best hybrid cars in the last two years.

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

SUVs weren’t the cars most bought for good mileage until the Maruti Grand Vitara made its debut in 2022. Its instant success redefined the narrative of SUVs, adding mileage as a key checkpoint for SUVs. With an ARAI mileage of up to 27.97 km/l, the Grand Vitara is one of the most fuel-efficient cars in India. It’s equipped with the Toyota hybrid system, which has a 1.5-litre petrol engine connected to an electric motor and mated to an e-CVT automatic. Unlike other Toyota hybrid systems which use a nickel–metal hydride battery, this system uses a 0.76 kWh lithium-ion battery, which is lighter and provides more instantaneous power.

Also Read: Complete Buying Guide: Maruti Grand Vitara

Maruti Suzuki Invicto

Maruti Suzuki’s version of partner Toyota’s Innova Hycross MUV, the Invicto is the largest and most expensive Maruti car yet and stands as the brand’s flagship. Sharing its powertrain with the Innova Hycross, the Invicto is equipped with a 2-litre petrol engine connected to a 114 PS self-charging electric motor, and this system transmits power to the front wheels via an e-CVT. The electric motor is powered by a nickel-metal hydride battery and assists the engine in delivering a mileage of up to 23.24 km/l. While such fuel efficiency and Maruti’s low maintenance cost help keep the running cost down, the Invicto offers an impeccable 7- or 8-seater premium MUV for large families.

Best Honda Hybrid Cars

On a global level, after Toyota, Honda is another Japanese car brand famous for manufacturing capable hybrid cars. While the popular Japanese carmaker has a good number of hybrid cars on sale overseas, in India, it sells only one such car as of now.

Honda City

The availability of a hybrid powertrain has taken the aura of the legendary Honda City to the next level. The Honda City Hybrid packs the same 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine as the standard Honda City, connected to twin electric motors. With this hybrid powertrain, the Honda City e:HEV can deliver up to 26.5 km/l mileage, elevating its appeal as an ideal family sedan and proving it as one of the best hybrid cars. Moreover, as is the case with the standard Honda City, the ride comfort of the Honda City Hybrid is unmatchable and it packs ample modern features to deliver a premium ride.

Best Toyota Hybrid Cars

The Japanese auto giant and a pioneer in hybrid technology, Toyota, holds an unmatchable reputation all over the world for manufacturing some of the best hybrid cars. In India, Toyota has the longest lineup of hybrid cars, while its luxury car division, Lexus also offers a range of high-end hybrid cars.

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Toyota’s version of the Maruti Grand Vitara, the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder has seen considerable success in India and stands strong as one of the best hybrid cars. Like its Maruti sibling, the Hyryder competes in the Hyundai Creta-led mid-size SUV segment and is built for high fuel efficiency rather than a high-spirited performance which significantly decreases the mileage. With the same hybrid system – a 1.5-litre petrol engine connected to an electric motor and mated to an e-CVT automatic, which is used in the Grand Vitara as well, the Hyryder claims the same mileage of up to 27.97 km/l.

Toyota Innova Hycross

In November 2022, the launch of Toyota Innova Hycross raised the bars in the premium MUV segment with its ground-breaking success. Essentially, the Innova Hycross is the latest generation of the legendary Toyota Innova, even though the previous generation is still on sale. As mentioned, the Innova Hycross is equipped with the same hybrid system as the Invicto, which is a 2-litre petrol engine with an electric motor, producing a combined 186 PS output) and mated with an e-CVT. Due to the same powertrains and underpinnings, the mileage is also the same at up to 23.24 km/l. However, despite being the same as the Invicto under the skin, the Innova Hycross is more premium in its overall offering, thanks to the ottoman function for the captain seats in the middle row, JBL sound system, and Level-2 ADAS safety suite, which aren’t part of the Invicto’s package.

Toyota Camry

The fuel expenditure of powerful engines equipped on luxury cars is an accepted drawback in exchange for performance. This is why cars like the Toyota Camry challenge the luxury cars not only with their high-end experience but also a lucrative mileage which puts a smile on your face as you calculate the running cost. The Japanese uber-premium sedan brings a powerful hybrid set-up consisting of a 2.5-litre petrol engine and an electric motor, which can deliver a combined output of 218 PS. While the Camry doesn’t feel as sprightly as its rivals from Audi, BMW, or Mercedes-Benz, its ARAI mileage of 23 km/l puts it in a different league altogether.

Toyota Vellfire

For a premium 7-seater MPV as hefty and luxurious as the Toyota Vellfire, hybrid technology is the cherry on the cake. With a 2.5-litre engine connected to an electric motor, the Vellfire has an ARAI mileage of 19.28 km/l. Along with a commendable fuel efficiency, this 5-metre-long and 2-metre-wide Japanese luxury MUV offers a business-class experience. Essentially, the Vellfire is the sister car to an even more luxurious model, Lexus LM and is priced at Rs 1.22 – 1.32 Cr (ex-showroom). To offer top-class opulence, the Vellfire packs in a slew of cutting-edge features such as retractable tables for the heated and ventilated captain seats in the middle row, a seat massage function, a 14-inch rear seat entertainment screen, a detachable control panel which allows passengers to control media, climate control, and sunshades, and more. These features, along with oodles of space, comfort, and practicality make the Vellfire a popular choice among celebrities and elites.

Best Lexus Hybrid Cars

The luxury vertical of Toyota, Lexus, with its phenomenal hybrid cars, has made a respectable mark on the global automotive space. However, in India, with Toyota being well-established, Lexus has a handful of luxury cars on sale. Here are two of the best Lexus hybrid cars available in the Indian market.

Lexus ES

The best-selling car of Lexus India, Lexus ES has a nifty hybrid powertrain as one of its strongest advantages over its rivals like BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz E Class, and Audi A6. This hybrid powertrain has a 2.5-litre petrol engine connected to an electric motor, and it uses an e-CVT to power the front wheel and delivers up to 23 km/l. All the same, like most hybrid cars, the ES doesn’t feel as exciting to drive as its rivals, even though it generates 218 PS of power. For someone who likes a linear power delivery and wants a fuel-efficient luxury sedan, the Lexus ES can be an ideal car.

Lexus NX

Like the Lexus ES, the Lexus NX is the only strong-hybrid car in its segment. The hybrid powertrain of the Japanese SUV has a 259-V battery, which supplies power to two motors, one on the front axle, and the other on the rear axle. However, the 2.5-litre engine powers only the front wheels via an e-CVT automatic, leaving the rear wheels on a pure-electric axle. Like most hybrid cars, the Lexus NX starts-off in pure EV mode, but the engine kicks in so smoothly that it’s next to impossible to feel the difference. The NX can deliver a mileage of 17.2 km/l, which are quite impressive figures considering the NX competes with cars like the Mercedes-Benz GLC, BMW X3, and Audi Q5.

Best Volvo Hybrid cars

The popular Swedish carmaker, Volvo, known for making some of the safest cars in the world, has also gained good ground in producing capable hybrid cars in the recent past. Today, all ICE-powered Volvo cars in India come with hybrid technology.

Volvo XC90

Despite being a massive luxurious 7-seater, Volvo’s first-ever SUV and their flagship, Volvo XC90 is the most fuel-efficient Volvo car in India and has a claimed mileage of 17.2 km/l. The Volvo XC90 uses a 2-litre turbo petrol engine paired with a 48-V battery, which transmits power through an 8-speed torque converter automatic. While the XC90 is powered by a mild-hybrid system unlike the strong-hybrid cars listed in this article, it’s considerably more fuel-efficient than its rivals Mercedes-Benz GLS, BMW X5, Range Rover Velar, and the Audi Q7. In addition to fantastic mileage, the XC90 offers opulent interiors, ample space across all three rows, and plenty of luxury features such as powered front seats with massage function, four-zone climate control, Bower and Wilkins sound system, and others.

Summary

Striking an apt balance between fuel energy and electricity, Hybrid cars are a great way to cope with the rising fuel prices. While hybrid cars have long been in the game, it’s the recent years that they have risen to a respectable prominence. In the mass-market space, both Maruti Grand Vitara and Toyota Hyryder have garnered massive success, revealing the number of mid-size SUV buyers looking for fuel-efficient offerings. Up the price ladder, the Toyota Innova Hycross and Maruti Invicto are the best options are premium family MUVs which remain light on the pocket. In the sedan segment, you have the option to own the legendary Honda City with a strong hybrid powertrain. Meanwhile, if you want fuel-efficient luxury hybrid cars, then the Toyota Carmy, Lexus ES, Lexus NX, Toyota Vellfire, and Volvo XC90 stand out from the rest as the most fuel-efficient cars in their respective segments.

Best Hybrid cars in India: FAQs