Best Hybrid Cars in India: Top Choices to Consider

Posted on: Dec 5, 2023 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

Best Hybrid Cars in India: Top Choices to Consider

Rising fuel costs and the impact on the environment are some reasons why car owners have been looking at alternatives for a while now. While electric vehicles have been growing in popularity in the past few years, hybrid cars can be an even better alternative. A hybrid car contains a conventional engine and an electric motor, which work in tandem to offer better fuel efficiency and lower reliance on fossil fuel. If you are looking for the best hybrid cars in India, here is a list of the same.

What are hybrid cars?

Hybrid cars are also known as HEV or hybrid electric vehicles and their operation combines a conventional internal combustion engine, an electric motor and a battery pack. Compared to traditional cars, they offer much better fuel efficiency and have a lower carbon footprint as well. Thus, allowing you to drive without feeling guilty about emitting harmful gasses. Irrespective of it being a hybrid or internal combustion engine, make sure that you opt for car insurance to safeguard it from any unforeseen events.

The three categories of hybrid cars include mild, strong and plug-in.

1. Mild

These cars use the hybrid system to assist the car with idle start-stop or to meet low-end torque demands.

2. Strong

These cars use a larger battery pack than mild hybrids and you can drive exclusively on electricity. However, the battery does not need any external charging.

3. Plug-in

Plug-in hybrids also use a larger battery pack and they can be driven in purely electric mode. However, the battery needs to be charged externally. Hybrid cars in India

Popular Hybrid cars in India

Now that you know what a hybrid car is, here is a list of the top hybrid cars in India.

1. Maruti Suzuki Brezza

One of the most popular compact SUVs in the country, Brezza packs in a mild-hybrid system, also known as SHVS. A battery pack in the car assists in various functions such as regenerative braking, idle start-stop and even torque assistance. Due to the mild hybrid characteristics, the car can deliver an efficiency of 19.8 to 20.15 kmpl.

2. Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Urban Cruiser Hyryder from Toyota offers the convenience of both a mild and a strong hybrid to choose from. Both systems are available with a 1.5-litre engine. While the mild hybrid system helps with the engine start/stop system, the strong hybrid system aids in power delivery, making it a very potent car with an efficiency of up to 27.97 kmpl. The strong hybrid comes with an e-CVT to seamlessly manage between the electric and petrol engines.

3. Honda City eHEV

The latest iteration of Honda City features an eHEV variant which boosts to be a strong hybrid system that charges itself. Apart from being impressive with the technology that it uses, the car delivers heavily on fuel efficiency at 26.5 kmpl. The 1.5-litre i-VTEC engine combined with Electric Drive Traction Motor delivers a smooth driving experience. The engine acts as a generator while you can drive the car in EV mode.

4. Toyota Innova Hycross

One of the most popular people movers in the country now offers a strong hybrid as an option. The new Hycross comes with a 2-litre TGNA petrol engine clubbed with a self-charging hybrid electric technology. The system ensures excellent performance and fuel efficiency. You can expect up to 23.24 kmpl from the car, which is an impressive feat considering the size of the car.

5. Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

While Maruti Suzuki has a slew of cars that offer mild-hybrid systems, the Grand Vitara is its entry into the strong hybrid domain. As Maruti calls it, an intelligent electric hybrid system, it offers a host of features and benefits for the driver to choose from. You can drive the car in entire mode for low-speed cruising. In the hybrid mode, you have the best of both worlds, with instant acceleration and better performance. When you drive entirely on the internal combustion engine, it charges the battery. The car also offers regenerative braking, which charges the battery when you apply brakes. Grand Vitara can offer fuel efficiency of up to 27.97 kmpl.

6. Toyota Camry Hybrid

A premium offering from Toyota, the Camry also offers a hybrid system. Camry offers a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine that has a power output of 175 bhp. It is combined with a hybrid system that uses a Nicket-Metal Hydride battery and not a Lithium-Ion battery like a lot of other cars. A 118 bhp motor ensures that you have instant access to power and better fuel efficiency. Due to the hybrid system, the car can be eerily quiet inside while delivering a fuel efficiency of 19.1 kmpl.

7. Lexus NX

The premium SUV isn’t just high in styling and performance but also environmentally friendly. The car is available in hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants. Lexus NX packs a 2.5-litre petrol engine and with the hybrid motor, it churns out 236 bhp power and 239 Nm of torque. The luxury SUV returns impressive fuel efficiency figures at 16.7 kmpl.

8. Toyota Vellfire

Vellfire is one of the most luxurious cars that you can buy in India. The formidable-looking car does not offer a host of premium features and safety. While it does all of this and even more, it has a hybrid system as well. The 2.5-litre engine on the car with a strong hybrid system ensures that you get a respectable 16.3 kmpl fuel efficiency from the massive car. On a full tank, you can travel up to 950 kilometres, making it ideal for long luxurious trips.

9. Maruti Invicto

Invicto is Maruti’s answer to the ever-popular premium people moving category. Invicto packs in a 2-litre engine with hybrid technology. The car offers an impressive fuel efficiency of 23.24 kmpl. You can drive the car in electric mode, hybrid mode or purely on an internal combustion engine. Maruti also offers regenerative braking to increase the efficiency of the car.

The inclusion of advanced technology such as hybrid systems makes cars a bit more expensive than their non-hybrid models. Opting for comprehensive car insurance online is sensible in such situations. While the law mandates third party car insurance, it does not offer adequate coverage. Comprehensive insurance will ensure that you can drive your car without any stress or worries. The option of add-ons is even more beneficial when you are buying a car with added technology.

Conclusion

The above is a list of the best hybrid cars in India. And they belong to a wide price range as well. Right from entry-level SUVs to premium SUVs. A hybrid car makes for an even stronger case since you do not have to rely on the EV infrastructure and the existing fuel station model works fine. You will not have to worry about range anxiety while getting better performance and fuel efficiency and even quieter drives. Ensure that you protect your car with comprehensive insurance for complete peace of mind.

FAQs

1. Are hybrid cars better than electric cars?

Hybrid cars offer better fuel efficiency than internal combustion engines without the hassle of plugging into an external charger like electric cars. Thus, offering the best of both ICE and battery management.

2. Can I use hybrid cars for long drives?

Yes. Hybrid cars will offer a much better tank range as compared to petrol engine cars and at times even equivalent to diesel cars, if not better. Making them ideal for long trips.

3. Are hybrid cars expensive to maintain?

The maintenance schedule and cost of a hybrid car are similar to that of an internal combustion car. In some cases, it might cost a little bit more. However, the savings in terms of fuel usage will easily compensate.

4. Can hybrid cars lower carbon footprint?

Yes, hybrid cars bring much better fuel efficiency as compared to internal combustion engines. Allowing you to travel further with the same amount of fuel and thus, reduce your carbon footprint. The lower emissions also help the cause.

5. Do hybrid cars run entirely on EV mode?

Depending on your throttle inputs, you can drive a hybrid car on entirely battery power up to a certain extent without any power from the internal combustion engine. It is ideal for start-stop, where it can run on the batteries completely.

6. Are hybrids automatic cars?

Yes, all hybrid cars have automatic transmission.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to the policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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