Are you considering buying a hybrid car in India? Look no further. This comprehensive guide showcases the best hybrid cars in India under 10 lakhs, providing detailed information and key insights to help you make an informed decision. We’ve covered everything from fuel economy to performance, features and specs. Let’s get started!
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What is a Hybrid Car?
- A hybrid car, also known as a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), combines an internal combustion engine (usually petrol-powered) with an electric motor and battery pack.
- This hybrid system is designed to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions compared to traditional gasoline engine vehicles.
Understanding the Different Types of Hybrid Cars
A hybrid car generates electricity and stores it in a battery, which can later be used to power the vehicle. If you want to switch to a hybrid car in India, you will come across the following types:
1. Mild Hybrid Cars
Mild hybrid cars in India under 10 lakhs use an electrical system to support the internal combustion engine. The charging battery powers a motor that assists with idle start/stop and low torque requirements.
These systems reduce fuel consumption significantly by reducing the engine load. Maruti Suzuki introduced mild hybrid cars in India under 10 lakhs with its Smart Hybrid Vehicle System (SHVS), which has also been adopted by Mahindra and MG Motors.
2. Strong Hybrids
Strong hybrid cars in India under 10 lakhs combine both an electric engine and an internal combustion engine when driving. Strong hybrids have a larger capacity battery than mild hybrids, meaning they can run on electricity alone. The engine charges the battery, providing extra power for higher-speed driving.
3. Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles
Plug-in hybrid systems have a larger battery that the driver can charge by plugging it into a charger. This type of hybrid vehicle offers a longer range of pure electric driving than full-power hybrids. The engine charges the battery, further extending the range or giving the car extra power at higher speeds.
List of Best Hybrid Cars in India Under 10 Lakhs
Here is the list of best hybrid cars in India along with their respective ex-factory prices.
1. Maruti Suzuki Brezza
With a 4-star safety rating from Global NCAP, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza comes with SHVS technology as one of its highly attractive features. The Brezza’s mild hybrid system uses a lithium-ion battery connected to an electric motor and offers features like idle start-stop, regenerative braking, and torque assist.
This hybrid system is limited to the automatic variant and enables the Brezza to achieve a fuel consumption of 19.80-20.15 kmpl.
2. Maruti Suzuki Ciaz
Smart Hybrid Vehicle System (SHVS) technology sets the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz apart from rivals like the Honda City and Hyundai Verna. The Ciaz comes equipped with a lithium-ion battery and electric motor for idle start-stop and torque assist, delivering impressive fuel consumption figures of 21.56 km/l (6-speed manual) and 20.28 km/l (4-speed automatic transmission with torque converter).
3. Maruti Suzuki Ertiga
With a bold new design, the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga is powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine with SHVS technology. This mild hybrid MUV produces 103 hp of power and 136.8 Nm of torque. The Ertiga achieves fuel consumption of up to 20.51 km/l, delivering a balance between performance and fuel economy.
4. Maruti Suzuki XL6
A premium six-seater mild hybrid MUV, the Maruti Suzuki XL6 comes equipped with the SHVS mild hybrid system in all variants. Available with manual and automatic transmissions, the system supports brake energy regeneration and provides torque support.
5. Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara
The Grand Vitara is available in two hybrid variants – SHVS Mild Hybrid and Intelligent Electric Hybrid (IEH). The IEH model draws power from a 1.5-litre petrol engine supported by an electric motor, delivering fuel consumption of up to 27 kmpl. The Grand Vitara IEH runs solely on electrical energy and produces no emissions.
The Strong Hybrid system delivers 115.56 hp of power and 122 Nm of torque, providing excellent performance while maintaining fuel efficiency. The mild hybrid SHVS comes with a 1.5-litre K-series engine mated to a 6-speed automatic or 5-speed manual transmission. The Grand Vitara mild hybrid produces 103 PS and 136 Nm of torque and offers a claimed fuel economy of up to 21.11 km/l.
6. Toyota Urban Cruiser Hi-Rider
The Urban Cruiser Hi-Rider offers two hybrid systems – a mild hybrid system and a strong hybrid system. The mild hybrid system supports the idle stop feature of the 1.5-litre engine and can be mated to a 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission. Meanwhile, the powerful hybrid system offers both pure electric and combined power with the 1.5-litre petrol engine achieved an impressive consumption of 27.97 km/l.
The powerful hybrid variant also includes an E-CVT transmission that seamlessly controls the power transfer between the electric system and the petrol engine.
7. MG Hector
The MG Hector played a key role in introducing MG Motors to the Indian market and stands out as one of the most accessible hybrid cars in this roundup. The MG Hector Hybrid is powered by a mild hybrid powertrain consisting of a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine, an electric motor and a 48V battery.
The battery is recharged through regenerative braking, further reducing petrol consumption by 1.65 km/l, resulting in an impressive fuel economy of 17.41 km/l. In terms of power transmission, the MG Hector Hybrid comes equipped with a six-speed manual transmission.
8. MG Hector Plus
The much-anticipated six- and seven-seater MG Hector Plus builds on the achievements of the MG Hector and comes with the well-known mild-hybrid technology. This 48-volt system comprises a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine, an electric motor and a 48-volt battery.
A mid-size hybrid SUV with a 6-speed manual transmission that achieves a fuel economy of 14kmpl.
9. Honda City eHEV
The Honda City eHEV uses a robust self-charging hybrid system to produce a combined power output of 126hp while achieving a fuel consumption of 26.5kmpl. Its powertrain consists of an electric drive motor (AC synchronous, permanent magnet) and a 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine, which together produces 109hp and 253Nm of torque.
In hybrid mode, the petrol engine acts as a generator to drive the wheels, while in EV mode it provides a quiet, emission-free driving experience.
10. Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry Hybrid is a luxury sedan that combines a luxurious interior with an efficient performance from a powerful hybrid system. The Camry Hybrid features a 2.5-litre petrol engine mated to an electric motor, resulting in a total output of 218 horsepower and 221 Nm of maximum torque.
This hybrid system gives the car a range of up to 23 kmpl and also offers a pure electric driving mode for eco-friendly urban commuting.
11. Lexus ES 300h
Lexus, Toyota’s luxury division, has made great strides in the hybrid market with a range of vehicles equipped with hybrid technology. Among them, the Lexus ES is the best-selling model in India. This luxury sedan comes in two variants: ES 300h Luxury and ES 300h.
Both versions are powered by a hybrid system that combines a 2.5-litre petrol engine with a self-charging electric motor to deliver a combined power output of 218 horsepower and a fuel economy of 22.6 km/l.
12. Lexus NX
The Lexus NX Hybrid is the latest addition to the Lexus range of luxury hybrid SUVs available in India. Like the Lexus ES, this hybrid SUV pairs a 2.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor to deliver an impressive 243 horsepower. It also delivers efficient consumption of up to 16.7km/l.
With this petrol-hybrid configuration, the Lexus NX proves to be one of the quickest hybrid SUVs in India. It can reach a top speed of 200km/h and accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in just 7.7 seconds.
13. Toyota Vellfire
Cutting-edge use of petrol-electric hybrid technology with a serial hybrid system makes the Toyota Vellfire a strong competitor to the Mercedes-Benz V-Class. The Vellfire’s powertrain consists of a 2.5-litre petrol engine working with an electric motor to deliver a combined power output of 115 PS and 198 Nm of torque. It also delivers impressive fuel economy of up to 16.35 km/l.
To accommodate its considerable size and weight, the Vellfire is fitted with electric motors at the front and rear, allowing it to be used as an all-wheel drive hybrid MUV. Like the Camry Hybrid, the Vellfire boasts the ability to run on electric power alone at low speeds in urban areas.
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